When planning a new lawn, or renovating an old one, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different grasses, and why certain grasses are used in preference to others. The intended or actual use (and maintenance) of a particular area is the deciding factor. This Green Keeping (Turf Care) course teaches you about the different grasses, the techniques used to establish them and the measures that must be taken to maintain an acceptable surface.
Link to Student Daniel’s Interview at Today Australia >
Course Aims:
- Identify the range of grasses and other species available for Green Keeping (turf) culture.
- Explain the management of soils for growing turf.
- Identify methods for the establishment of turf.
- Explain the management of problems in turf including weeds, pests and diseases.
- Explain maintenance practices used in turf management.
- Plan the development of different turfs used for sport.
- Develop plans to establish a turfed area.
- Develop management strategies for the care of established turf.
Detailed Course Outline
There are 11 lessons in this Green Keeping (Turf Care) course:
Introduction
- Benefits of turf.
- History of Turf.
- Turf Varieties (Bent, Couch, Buffalo, Fescue, Rye, Carpet grass, Kikuyu, Brome, Bluegrass, Philaris, etc.).
- Lawn mixes.
Turf Grass Physiology
- Morphology, flower, stems, leaves, roots.
- Other characteristics.
- How to identify grasses.
- Plant Keys.
- Identifying short cuts
Turf Establishment
- Soil preparation.
- Seeding.
- Sodding.
- Stolonizing.
- Sprigging.
- Plugging.
- Chitted Seed.
- Drainage.
- Work scheduling.
- Estimating costs.
Soils
- Understanding soil.
- Texture.
- Soil blends.
- Structure.
- pH.
- Buffering capacity.
- Improving Soils.
- Choosing soils.
- Calculating soil quantities.
- Cation exchange.
- Plant nutrients.
- Fertilisers.
Turf Weed Problems
- How weeds spread.
- Non chemical controls.
- Chemical controls.
- Chemical safety.
Turf Pests and Diseases
- Chemical and non-chemical controls.
- Common turf health problems (Environmental, Nutrition, Pest, Disease).
Turf Maintenance Techniques
- Mowing.
- Mowers.
- Length of Cut.
- Getting a clean cut, pattern of cutting, cutting on slopes, after cutting.
- Mower safety.
- Aeration.
- Coring.
- Scarification.
- Spiking.
Irrigation – An Overview
- Water loss from soils.
- Improving water retention.
- Movement of water in soil.
- Field capacity.
- Estimating water needs of turf.
- Watering turf.
- When to irrigate
- Irrigation rate.
- Types of irrigation
Playing Fields and Bowling Greens
- Gradients and dimensions for different surfaces (ornamental, types of sports etc.).
- Construction of a playing field.
- Sand based technology.
- Golf Courses.
- Cricket Wickets
Managing Established Turf
- Mowing.
- Watering.
- Topdressing.
- Fertilizing.
- Weed and Pest control
Establishing Ornamental Turf
- Assessing the site.
- Developing Plans.
- Preparing a budget
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It’s okay if you don’t want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
The post Green Keeping A (Turf Care) Online Course appeared first on Careerline Courses.