City & Guilds
Level 3
QN: 500/8385/5
Curriculum Active
City & Guilds Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Horticulture
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by City & Guilds. Classified as a Vocationally-Related Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 2280 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 3
Awarding Body
City & Guilds
Syllabus Units
40 Units
Guided Hours
2280 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 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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.
8
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.
9
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
13
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.
14
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
15
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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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.
20
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.
21
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.
22
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.
23
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.
24
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.
25
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.
26
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.
27
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.
28
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.
29
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
30
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
31
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.
32
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
33
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.
34
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
35
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.
36
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.
37
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.
38
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.
39
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.
40
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)
- 500/8385/5
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- City & Guilds
- Qualification Type
- Vocationally-Related Qualification
- Operational Start
- Sept 2010
- Operational End
- Aug 2026