Gardening for Beginners
Course Outline:
Whether you have a large garden or small balcony, learn the basic skills of good gardening.
Discover what type of soil you have, which potting mix is best, how to choose ‘the right plant for
the right place’ and find out how to maintain your outdoor space with the minimum of effort
from the ground up.
Course introduction:
The living plant - plant requirements
Soil - types, analysis, soil testing, improvement
Pot selection, potting mixes, fertilizers
Plant selection - for sun, shade, dry, wet, privacy, fragrance, allergies
Maintenance - correct procedures for watering, fertilizing, pruning, staking
Pest and disease identification and organic controls
What to Bring:
Notepad & Pen
Comprehensive notes are provided and places are limited.
About The Tutor:
Judith Sleijpen graduated from Ryde School of Horticulture with distinction in Urban Horticulture and gained experience in the retail nursery industry for several years. As a Member of the Horticultural Media Association, Judith writes a monthly gardening column for “Peninsula Living” and has also published articles in “Landscape Contractor and Manager”, “Better Homes and Gardens”, “Gardens and Outdoor Living” and “The Garden Gurus”. Passionate about plants, gardens and bees, she is a Member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, a former Committee Member of the Sydney Executive Committee of Open Gardens Australia and a former member of the Speakers' Bureau of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Apart from conducting her garden design and horticultural consultancy business, “Gardens, Balconies and Beyond”, Judith is a tour leader for the David Jones Flower Show and judges garden competitions in Ryde, Camden, Campbelltown, Bayside and Randwick.
This course has no current classes. Please the waiting list.
Course testimonials:
- Cameron was very knowledgeable and really made an effort to encourage questions.
- Cameron was so knowledgeable and easily answered everyone’s questions
- Very friendly, helpful advice.
- Friendly and a very good atmosphere to learn in. Great interaction with the trainer. I have already recommended this course to family.
- Gardening is a broad topic and Cam did an excellent job covering a lot of it. The small class meant there was ample opportunity to ask questions relevant to our individual situations, and Cam was generous in sharing his extensive knowledge. It was fun to break up the theory with some hands on propagating too. The day whizzed by and I left far more informed than when I started.
- Group atmosphere, everyone’s questions and the depth of knowledge and helpfulness of the teacher. It was a really useful course. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
- This was a great course and I would highly recommend it! Cameron had a huge amount of knowledge and communicated it in a way that was easy to understand and apply at home. The soil testing was a fun element that really helped me understand my garden.
- Cameron was excellent and so knowledgeable and patient with all our questions. I really learnt a lot and thought it was one of the best courses I have done.
- Was a fabulous course. A beginner or experienced gardener will learn lots. Cameron could answer every question and was so knowledgeable. I'd recommend as 10 out of 10.
- I gained a lot of practical tips and knowledge how to look after my plants and garden. I really enjoy this course.