Gardening and Landscaping

Your at-home learning program includes three Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ in your new career as a gardener or landscaper. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer (running Windows Vista® or later) and the Internet in order to complete your program with ICS Canada.

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
• Introduction to Gardening and Landscaping
  • Basic skills of a gardener and landscaper; skills needed to recognize common gardening and landscaping problems.

Instruction Set 2

• Student Assignment Booklet — Gardening
  • Ornamental gardens; growing plants for food; taking care of your garden; a guide to plant names.
• Textbook: Illustrated Guide to Gardening in Canada

Instruction Set 3

• Student Assignment Booklet — Landscaping
• Landscape Designing
  • Using drawing instruments; lettering; graphic materials and techniques; analyzing the landscape site; the landscape process; the outdoor room concept; plant selection; the principles of design, flowers; Xeriscaping; enclosure materials; surfacing materials; enrichment; computers in design; pricing the proposed design.
• Landscaping Contracting
  • Landscaping calculations; understanding contracts and contractors; contract documents; specifications; installing landscape plants; selecting the proper grass; lawn construction; landscape irrigation; interior plantscaping.
• Landscaping Maintenance
  • Maintaining landscape plants; care of the lawn; winterization of the landscape; pricing landscape maintenance; customer service.
• Textbook: Landscaping: Principles and Design
• Learning Aids:
  • Landscape Design Kit
  • T-square
  • Compass

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.