City & Guilds
    Level 3
    QN: 600/6115/7
    Curriculum Active

    City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Horticulture

    Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by City & Guilds. Classified as a Vocationally-Related Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 2550 hours.

    Qualification Level
    Level 3
    Awarding Body
    City & Guilds
    Syllabus Units
    45 Units
    Guided Hours
    2550 hrs
    Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.

    Course Syllabus & Study Modules

    Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.

    1

    Business Management in the Land-based Sector

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Know the breadth and importance of an industry within the environmental and land-based sector.
    • Understand business resources and structures.
    • Understand the business marketplace.
    • Understand how to use financial and physical record keeping systems
    2

    Construct and Establish Sports and Amenity Turf Areas

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to investigate and survey a site for a new sports or amenity turf area.
    • Understand the principles of grading and drainage.
    • Understand the construction and preparation of land for sports turf construction.
    • Understand the use of artificial or ameliorated rootzones and specialised constructions.
    • Be able to establish swards from seed and turf.
    3

    Construct and Maintain Decorative Landscape Features

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to construct and maintain rock and water features.
    • Understand the construction of rock and alpine features.
    • Understand the construction and maintenance of ponds and water features.
    • Be able to establish and maintain climbing and wall plants.
    4

    Construct and Maintain Timber Landscape Features

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to construct timber features.
    • Understand the construction of timber features.
    • Understand the maintenance and preservation of timber features.
    5

    Construct and Restore Walls

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to construct outdoor walls.
    • Understand the construction of outdoor walls.
    • Be able to restore a wall.
    6

    Construct Horizontal Landscape Surfaces

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to form ground profiles for landscape works.
    • Understand the formation of ground profiles for landscape works.
    • Be able to construct horizontal surfaces and simple steps.
    • Understand the maintenance of horizontal surfaces and simple steps.
    7

    Establish and Manage Exterior Plant Displays

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to plan and establish annual and herbaceous plant displays outdoors.
    • Be able to plan
    • establish and maintain plants in outdoor containers.
    • Understand the selection and use of plants in temporary and permanent outdoor displays.
    • Understand the establishment and maintenance of rose gardens.
    • Be able to manage the establishment and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
    8

    Establish and Manage Interior Plant Displays

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to establish and manage plants in a permanent indoor setting.
    • Understand the establishment of permanent interior plant displays.
    • Understand the management of permanent interior plant displays.
    • Be able to establish and manage temporary interior plant displays.
    • Understand the management of interior plant displays.
    9

    Maintain Turf in Parks and Gardens

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Know the factors affecting the maintenance of established fine and coarse turf.
    • Be able to maintain grassed areas.
    • Be able to repair and renovate grassed areas.
    • Be able to prepare an annual maintenance programme for a high quality turf area.
    • Understand wildflower meadows and low maintenance swards.
    10

    Manage Advanced Nursery Stock Production

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand how to plan nursery stock production activities.
    • Be able to establish container-grown nursery stock.
    • Be able to manage the development of nursery stock.
    • Understand field production of nursery stock
    • Be able to manage the health and growth of plants in nursery sales environments.
    11

    Manage Amenity Turf

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage amenity turf to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of amenity turf surfaces to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of amenity turf surfaces.
    12

    Manage Plant Propagation Activities

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Know how to develop propagation schedules.
    • Be able to manage vegetative propagation.
    • Be able to manage seed propagation.
    • Know how to manage the aftercare of propagated plants.
    • Understand seed treatments and supply.
    13

    Manage Soil Water

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the requirements of soil water management for horticultural use.
    • Be able to maintain irrigation systems.
    • Be able to install and maintain drainage systems.
    • Know the legal requirements applicable to irrigation and drainage of horticultural facilities.
    14

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Association Football

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage association football pitches to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of association football pitches to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of association football pitches.
    15

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Bowling Greens

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage bowling green surfaces to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of bowling greens to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of bowling greens
    16

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Cricket

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage cricket surfaces to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of cricket surfaces to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of cricket surfaces.
    17

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Golf

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage golf surfaces to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of golf surfaces to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of golf surfaces.
    18

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Horseracing

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage horseracing surfaces to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of horseracing surfaces to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of horseracing surfaces.
    19

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Rugby Pitches

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage rugby pitches to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of rugby pitches to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of rugby pitches.
    20

    Manage Sports Turf Surfaces - Tennis

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage tennis courts to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of tennis courts to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of tennis courts.
    21

    Manage Winter and Summer Sports Turf Surfaces

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to manage winter and summer sports turf surfaces to Performance Quality Standards (PQS).
    • Understand the management of winter and summer sports turf surfaces to Performance Quality Standards.
    • Be able to evaluate maintenance operations and their contribution to overall quality.
    • Understand the determination and maintenance of the level of quality of sports turf surfaces.
    22

    Prepare Landscape and Garden Design Briefs

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to present a fee bid and form of agreement to meet client’s requirements.
    • Understand procedures to produce a fee bid and form of agreement.
    • Be able to undertake site evaluation and analysis.
    • Understand site evaluation.
    • Understand landscape and garden site problems.
    23

    Understand and Carry Out Identification, Planting and Care of Trees

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to identify trees and shrubs.
    • Understand the site and establishment requirements of trees.
    • Be able to plant trees and shrubs.
    • Understand the planting of trees and shrubs.
    • Know the aftercare requirements of trees and shrubs.
    24

    Understand Historical Influences on the Development of Gardens

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the styles of gardens through history.
    • Be able to use historical data to influence current plans.
    • Understand British gardens.
    • Understand the introduction of plants into the UK.
    25

    Understand the Principles and Carry Out the Practice of Wildlife Population Surveys, Ecology and Conservation

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand changes in global ecosystems.
    • Understand national and international conservation strategies for wildlife and their habitats.
    • Understand population dynamics.
    • Be able to conduct a field study of habitats and wildlife populations.
    26

    Understand the Principles and Identify the Signs of Pests and Diseases of Trees

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the principles of pathology and the common causes of disease.
    • Be able to identify the signs and symptoms of common biotic and abiotic pathogens.
    • Understand common biotic pathogens.
    • Understand monitoring, prevention and control measures of common bioticpathogens.
    27

    Understand the Principles and Practices of Landscape and Garden Design

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the elements and principles of design as they relate to landscape and garden design.
    • Be able to produce landscape and garden design plans.
    • Understand the production of concept plans.
    • Be able to produce a range of plans and visualisations.
    • Understand the production and delivery of presentation plans and visualisations to the client.
    28

    Understand the Principles of Advanced Horticultural Science

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the physiology of flowers and seeds.
    • Understand the principles and processes of plant growth regulation.
    • Understand plant breeding and genetics
    • Understand plant adaptations in response to environment.
    • Understand the characteristics and classification of soils.
    29

    Understand the Principles of Organic Crop Production

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the principles of organic crop production.
    • Understand the importance of soil fertility in an organic system.
    • Understand growing methods and markets for organic crops.
    • Understand methods of pest, disease and weed management in organic systems.
    30

    Understand the Principles of Plant Health and Protection

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to identify pests, diseases, disorders and weeds.
    • Understand problems caused by pests, diseases, disorders and weeds .
    • Understand methods to deal with plant problems.
    31

    Understand the Principles of Plant Science

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the function of plant structures
    • Understand the main processes of plant physiology
    • Understand plant growth and development
    32

    Understand the Principles of Soil Science

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to investigate soil characteristics
    • Understand how soil characteristics affect plant growth and development
    • Understand how soil characteristics affect plant selection
    33

    Understand the Principles of Sustainable Management of Turf

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the principles of sustainable turf management.
    • Be able to analyse and evaluate turf management information.
    • Understand turf management strategies in relation to the sustainability of the surface.
    34

    Undertake Advanced Arboricultural Practices

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to carry out aerial inspections of trees.
    • Be able to carry out pruning operations within tree canopies.
    • Understand how to dismantle trees.
    35

    Undertake an Investigative Project in the Land-based Sector

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to identify and research a suitable topic for an investigative project in the environmental and land-based sector
    • Be able to plan for an investigative project in the environmental and land-based sector
    • Be able to carry out an investigative project in the environmental and land-based sector
    • Be able to report on an investigative project in the environmental and land-based sector
    36

    Undertake and Review Work Related Experience in the Land-based Industries

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the opportunities in the environmental and land-based industries
    • Be able to prepare for a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry
    • Be able to undertake a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based industry
    • Be able to review a work-based experience in the environmental and land-based sector
    37

    Undertake Computer Aided Design in Horticulture, Treework and Blacksmithing

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to produce two-dimensional drawings using a Computer Aided Design package
    • Be able to edit and modify two-dimensional drawings using a Computer Aided Design package.
    • Understand the production and modification of two dimensional drawings using a Computer Aided Design package
    • Understand the usefulness of Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages in land-based industries.
    38

    Undertake Contract Management in the Land-based Industries

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand UK planning and legislative regulations and the effects of European law relating to a specific land-based industry.
    • Be able to develop contracts and plan projects.
    • Understand the function of preliminaries and specifications.
    • Be able to estimate and cost land-based projects.
    • Understand the estimation and costing of land-based projects
    39

    Undertake Estate Skills

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to construct, repair or maintain boundaries
    • Be able to construct, repair or maintain structures
    • Be able to construct, repair or maintain surfaces
    • Be able to carry out practical habitat management work
    40

    Undertake Horticultural Production Techniques - Outdoors

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Know the requirements of site preparation and planning for outdoor crops.
    • Be able to prepare sites and establish outdoor horticultural crops.
    • Be able to manage outdoor horticultural crops.
    • Understand harvesting and grading requirements of outdoor horticultural crops.
    41

    Undertake Horticultural Production Techniques - Protected

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Know how to plan production of crops in protected growing environments.
    • Be able to establish crops in containers in protected environments.
    • Be able to establish crops in the ground in protected environments.
    • Understand the maintenance, harvesting and grading requirements of protected horticultural crops.
    42

    Undertake Identification, Selection and Use of Ornamental Plants

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to identify plants.
    • Understand the factors that affect the selection of plants.
    • Be able to prepare ornamental planting designs.
    • Understand the planting of trees and shrubs.
    • Know the aftercare requirements of ornamental plants.
    43

    Undertake Site Surveying, Levelling and Setting Out

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Be able to measure site dimensions and levels.
    • Understand site survey equipment and techniques.
    • Understand the presentation of survey data.
    • Be able to set out on the ground from plans, including shapes and levels.
    44

    Undertake Tree and Shrub Pruning and Maintenance

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand pruning as a means of maintaining trees and shrubs.
    • Be able to prune and maintain trees and shrubs.
    • Be able to assess trees and shrubs for potential failure.
    45

    Undertaking Land-based Machinery Operations

    Verified
    Key Learning Objectives:
    • Understand the purpose and operation of land-based machines.
    • Be able to prepare land-based machines ready for work.
    • Be able to safely operate land-based machinery.
    • Be able to carry out operator maintenance and simple repairs

    Regulatory & Verification Details

    Qualification Number (QN)
    600/6115/7
    Regulated Status
    Available to learners
    Awarding Body
    City & Guilds
    Qualification Type
    Vocationally-Related Qualification
    Operational Start
    Sept 2012