Garden Design Diploma

This is an in-depth 12-module home study course for students who wish to explore the exciting world of garden design. It is an ideal starting point for the keen amateur designer as well as those hoping to build a successful professional career in garden design. The course fee includes course book: The Essential Garden Design Workbook and booklets Introduction to Presentation Tools and Drawing Skills.

All courses are despatched by courier.

Students have up to three years to complete this course, allowing them to work through the modules at their own pace. On average, however, it takes students around 12 – 18 months to complete the course, based on 4 – 6 hours study time per week.

Subjects covered include: practical garden planning and design; key design techniques; latest trends in garden design; selecting new materials and techniques; understanding soil; working with clients; harmony and cohesion; creating a sense of place; key styles – Minimalist, Mediterranean, Urban and Oriental; materials and styles; assessing the site; selecting and arranging plants. With many garden plans and three-dimensional design sketches.

Qualification

• Diploma in Garden Design

Professional Development

Students may apply to join the Society of Garden Designers as student members. Once their course is complete and they are practicing as a garden designers, they may apply to join as full members. Click here for more information on the Society of Garden Designers.

Why Choose Us?

Our tutorial support is second-to-none. You’ll be assigned a personal tutor as soon as you enrol who will work with you all the way through. You can contact your tutor directly at any time if you have any questions or problems, or if you would just like a chat about how the course is going. Tutorial support is by e-mail and/or telephone.

Tutors can also offer advice on developing your portfolio, working as a garden designer and your continuing professional development.

Course Outline

Course book: The Essential Garden Design Workbook.

Module 1: Basics of Design: Key elements. Introducing the survey. Analysis. A working plan. Zoning. Surveying and drawing equipment. Understanding client needs.

Module 2: Strong Foundations: The finished design. Presentation techniques. Drawing plans. Sections and elevations. Planning irrigation and drainage. Marking out. Planning your first garden.

Module 3: The Site Survey: Carrying out a detailed survey. Drawing a site plan. Site inventory and analysis. Garden layout plan. Engaging the senses.

Module 4: Understanding your Site: Landscape and existing features. Climate. Trees and established planting. Soil – soil types and their importance for plant growth, drainage, plant nutrients, organic matter and soil organisms.

Module 5: Selecting and Using Plants: Selecting plants (trees, plants and crops) to suit location, consideration of scale, position, facilities and features. Planting density. Planting plans. Considering function. Associations between plants and other features. Interior landscapes.

Module 6: Conservation and Garden Design.Habitat restoration and protection. Development and management of woodland areas, hedges and shelterbelts. Organisations that promote conservation and environmental awareness. Seedbanks. Creating widlife gardens.

Module 7: A Sense of Place. Exploring meaning and experience.Creating a sense of place. Engaging the senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste. The role of essential oils in the garden. Colour theory in garden design. Creating visual impact. Understand light and colour in the garden. Gardening for sensory impairment. Ideas from horticultural therapy. More on presentations to clients: 3D presentations, CAD. Legal issues in design. Selection and sourcing.

Module 8: History of Garden Design 1. Early history of gardens. Ancient East: hanging gardens of Babylon, Persian paradise gardens. Egyptian gardens. Roman gardens.Medieval garden design. Recreating the medieval garden: structure, features, plant selection.

Module 9: History of Garden Design 2. The Renaissance garden: high renaissance, Carolus Clusius, French influences, André le Nôtre. The Elizabethan garden. The Restoration. Georgian and Regency gardens. Victorian gardens: gardenesque, floral bedding, Joseph Paxton. Edwardian influence. Key designers: William Robinson, Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville West, Edwin Lutyens. The Arts and Crafts movement. The war years. Modernism and landscape architecture. Key designers: Fletcher Steele, Thomas Church, Christopher Tunnard, Garrett Eckbo, James Rose, Dan Kiley, Lawrence Halprin. More on landscape modernism: Carl Theodore Sørenson, Gunnar Asplund, Brandt, Geoffrey Jellicoe, Roberto Burle Marx, Luis Barrigan, John Brookes, Preben Jacobsen. Out door living: Russell Page, Dame Sylvia Crowe.

Module 10: Eastern Garden Design. Explore Eastern ideas on the role of the garden. History and principles of Chinese and Japanese garden design. The aesthetics of imperfection. Creating the fusion garden. Design Project Part A.

Module 11: Running Your Own Design Practice. Legal issues involved in setting up a design practice. Possible structures for your business. Planning your business. Developing key personal skills. Growing your team. Working with subcontractors. Health and safty issues.Design Project Part B.

Module 12: Marketing Your Design Practice. Understand the needs of your customer/client base. Learn how to understand and research your marketplace. Identify the most effective marketing approach for your business. Explore the opportunities offered by Internet marketing. Continuing professional development. Design Project Part C.

Payment Alternatives

You can also enrol by telephone or we can invoice your workplace – please call an adviser on 01896 860661 for more information.

Online Study Option Now Available

This course is also available online. Our online courses are delivered as pdfs direct to your email inbox. Our online courses are exactly the same as the postal version, but include a range of supporting study material instead of textbooks.

Learning Curve is one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers. All of our home study courses include study material, which is sent out in an attractive, hardwearing folder, essential course books and full tutorial support. We are accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council and registered as providers with the Learning Skills Council.