When our Regional Managers initially visit a potential placement garden they are looking for a wide range of features to provide a broad scope of experience. Not all gardens can offer opportunities to practice everything so we try to ensure that a garden can cover at least 80% of the skills below:
1. SOIL CULTIVATION AND COMPOST
Weeding, hoeing, digging, incorporation of bulky organic manures, application of fertilizers, mulching, creating compost & leaf mould. Selection of appropriate times and conditions to perform these tasks.
2. PLANTING TECHNIQUES
Planting & transplanting containerised and bare-rooted trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, bedding plants and bulbs. Planting up containers. Aftercare.
3. PROTECTED GROWING
Seed sowing & pricking out. Soft, semi-ripe, hardwood and root cuttings. Potting up & on. Aftercare.
4. OUTDOOR PROPAGATION
Seed sowing in situ, thinning out, transplanting, division, layering. Aftercare.
5. PEST, DISEASE AND WEED CONTROL
Identification of common pests, diseases and disorders. Treatment with appropriate cultural remedies (trainees not to use chemicals – please see Health & Safety Responsibilities).
6. VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
Planting out, pruning, training, watering & feeding, mulching, cutting back, pinching out, P&D protection. Harvesting.
7. LAWNS
Mowing, edging, top dressing, spiking, raking, rolling, feeding. Repair or treatment of damaged or diseased areas. Laying/sowing new lawn. Experience with different types of mowers e.g. rotary, cylinder, ride-on.
8. TREES & SHRUBS
Identification & pruning. Supporting & training climbers & wall shrubs.
9. HEDGES
Trimming hedges at appropriate time depending on hedge type e.g. flowering, evergreen/deciduous, formal/informal, using secateurs, shears or hedge trimmers as appropriate. Planting a hedge. Elementary design and layout
10. HERBACEOUS BORDERS
General maintenance, deadheading, staking, cutting back, weeding, fertilising and mulching at appropriate times. Planting or replanting an herbaceous border. Preparing the ground, lifting, dividing, replanting. Identification of common herbaceous plants
11. OTHER PLANTING SITUATIONS if available
Herb gardens, rock gardens, ponds, conservatories, meadows
12. TOOLS AND MACHINERY
Use of mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, leaf blowers/vacuums. Cleaning and maintenance of hand tools and machinery including resetting & sharpening of mower blades.
13. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Correct handling and lifting of heavy materials. Knowledge of protective clothing & when it should be worn. Safe handling & use of electrical & mechanical equipment & ladders. Understanding safe handling of garden pesticides, herbicides and applicating machinery (see item 5).