Develop maintenance programmes for hard and soft landscaping course schedule

The next course starts on September 15 2009. Each class will meet at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Centre on Lovelock Ave where we be learning about garden maintenance. Contact Horty Kim if you wanna join in: Phone 021735498 or kimt@tekotago.ac.nz

Session 1 - Orientations

Old push mowers. Image by Kim Thomas

Welcome ! This week we'll take an overview look at the unit and the assessment tasks. We'll also be going on a tour of the Lister Garden at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.

To do

1. As a group we'll look at the unit and this course schedule and run through the assessment requirements and tasks where we'll establish a hand in date together.
2. Kim Thomas will show you some examples of student assignments from last year to help you formulate how you would like to present your assignment.
3. Kim Thomas will take you through a power point presentation on creating a bedding display at the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
4. As a group we will walk down to the Lister Garden in the Lower Dunedin Botanic Garden and meet Stephen Bishop at 11.00am.Steve is the plant collection curator for the Lister Garden and he will give us some useful information on his approach to maintaining this interesting garden.
5. After the session, find an Internet connection and look at the video clips listed below. The videos take you through a bedding display change over. Free access to computers and the Internet is available at Otago Polytechnic Community Learning Centres, as well as any public library in Dunedin.

Bonus activities for the gungho!

1. Help your learning facilitator find useful resources web or print, whatever you think would be helpful resources to add to the existing list.You will have to read widely to find all the information for your assessment and don't forget to read the gardening pages in the ODT or whatever your local paper is. The New Zealand Gardener is also a great resource, for instance, check out issue October 2008 as it has a great article on spring lawn care !
2. Listen to the recording of David Howard talking to the HortTalk 1 August 2008 seminar.This will be one of the topics for our next session together.

Resources

Below is a list of resources related to this week's activities. The videos of the bedding display changeover may be of particular interest.Feel free to add to these resources.

How to create a bedding display

• bedding-display-at-dunedin-botanic-garden-presentation

Videos of the bedding display changeover

• Steve Bishop,Plant Collection Curator ,steps Otago Polytechnic students thru creating a bedding display at the Dunedin Botanic Garden , New Zealand.
• Stephen Bishop from the Dunedin Botanic garden demonstrates digging over techniques using the whole spit of his spade and more bedding tips.
• Steve talks about suitable fertilisers for a bedding display and demonstrates raking techniques.
• Steve demonstrates raking techniques.
• Steve talks about the marking out rake.
• Tips for planting tulip bulbs.
• Steve explains how to plant annuals.
• Steve explains how to efficiently plant annuals,there are 4,000 annuals for the plant display which is not a lot!
• Steve explains how to do random planting with polyanthus.
• Hortykim videos completed bedding change ovah.
• Hortykim re- visits a bedding display that was changed over by Otago Polytechnic students and Botanic Garden Staff during the week of April 14 - April 18

Videos of our walk through The Lister Garden with Steve Bishop

• The collection curator for the Lister Garden gives horticulture students a tour of the Lister Garden
• Steve Bishop explains how the Lister Garden was planted out according to the original design
• Hortykim asks Steve what climbing plants would suit the Lister Garden
• Steve Bishop explains what plants thrive in the different micro climates within The Lister Garden
• Steve explains why certain plants were selected for the Lister Garden
• Steve explains future plans for the "hosta river"
• Steve explains the maintenance requirements for more plants in Lister Garden
• Steve shows us a very rare plant
• Steve shows us some of the small trees and shrubs he maintains in The Lister Garden
• Steve talks about perennial care in The Lister Garden

Links

• Dunedin Botanic Garden - http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/botanic-garden
• Dunedin Botanic Garden map - http://tinyurl.com/4taw3n
• Hortykim's blog - http://hortykim.wordpress.com
• Otago Polytechnic Community Learning Centres

Books

• Handreck, K. (1993). Gardening Down Under. CSIRO, Australia.
• Bryant, G. (Edit). (1994). The Ultimate New Zealand Gardening Book. David Bateman Ltd, New Zealand.

Session 2, - Lawn Maintenance and Perennials

This week we'll be watching some grass grow. We will be checking out lawns, how they are established and how we can maintain them. We'll also be looking at perennials and how to maintain them .

To do

1. If you are unsure how to use WikiEducator then have a look at the folowing link and see if this is helpful or ask your learning facilitator for a one on one tutorial. .*Wiki Tutorials
2. Group question time about assessment requirements and tasks.
3. We will then have a look at the virtues of perennials and their maintenance.Be sure to check out some of the vid below from Linda Hellyer,Collection Curator from the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
4. We will then look at lawn and turf establishment, and their ongoing maintenance if you were unable to attend class or want to re-fresh your memory then click on the links under Audio/Video Resouces.

An activity for the gungho!

1. Find out what a lych gate is before our group meets again.
2. Prepare some questions for next week's guest speaker, Brent McKenzie. Brent has more than thirty years of experience in garden design and maintenance and will join us for the entire session.Brent will be able to offer tips on all aspects of this assessment and he has excellent experience with costings.

Resources

Audio

• the recording of David Howard talking to the HortTalk 1 August 2008 seminar on lawn care.
• Recording of David Howard's talk on Maintaining Turf and Sown LawnsPart One Oct.20 2008
• Recording of David Howard's talk on Maintaining Turf and Sown LawnsPart Two Oct.20 2008
• Recording of David Howard's talk on Maintaining Turf and Sown LawnsPart Three Oct.20 2008

Video

• Linda introduces herself and talks about The Herbaceous Border in the DBG
• Linda shows us two of her top ten perennial favourites
• Linda shows us the white themed border
• Linda explains different staking systems used for perennials
• Linda shares another one of her top ten perennials-a real knockout but high maintenance
• Linda shows us another one of her top ten perennials
• Linda also talks about the technique for dividing perennials

Links

• NZ Sports Turf Institute
• Dunedin Botanic Garden - http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/botanic-garden
• Otago Polytechnic Community Learning Centres

Books

• Aldous, D. (1991). Lawn Care and Lawn Care Alternatives. Lothian Publishing, Australia
• Hessayon, D.G. (1998). The Lawn Expert. PBI Publishing, England
• Phillips and Rix (1989). Perennials Vol 1&2. Pan Books, UK

Session 3, - Garden Maintenance and How to Prepare a Costing for a Defined Term Landscape Maintenance Programme

This week we will re-visit The Lister Garden with Brent McKenzie who will step us through the maintenance requirements for various plants in The Lister Garden and formulas for preparing a costing. Brent has over 30 years experience in garden design and maintenance.Do not miss this fantastic opportunity to learn from an expert currently working in the horticulture industry.

To Do

1. By this time you should have a pretty good idea of what plants you will include in your maintenance programme so have your list on hand and prepare questions about The Lister Garden and Herbaceous Borders.
2. We will spend the entire session in The Lister Garden so please prepare for a class that will be on the move and at the mercy of the weather(such is a career in horticulture).

An activity for the gungho!

1. Add one resource to the categories listed below or give Kim the details of a resource you have found really helpful for your assessment.

Resources

Videos of our walk through The Lister Garden with Brent McKenzie

• Brent introduces himself and shares his credentials as an experienced gardener
• Brent and the horticulture students get to the bottom of a Rhody
• Brent looks at cabbage trees
• Brent explains the one third, one third, one third principle for tree maintenance
• Brent explains bulb care including fertilizer application
• Brent comments on maintenance for the pond
• Brent and hort students discuss some pest management options
• Brent looks at the winter rose and asks the class to comment on flowering times
• Brent comments on the difficulty with the foliage from bulbs
• Brent points out another job to add to a small tree maintenance
• Another useful tip regarding a weed from the sea
• What climbers would Brent choose for The Lister Garden?
• Brent talks about costing garden maintenence.Break it down.

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_arboreum

Session 4, - Maintaining Hard Landscaping Features

This week we will look at maintaining hard landscaping features and review formulas for preparing a costing.Hard landscape features are the structures that are the backbone of any garden and include:

1. hard surfaces like paving,sculpture,concrete slabs/driveways and stonework
2. timber features like pergolas,decks,fences,furniture, and retaining walls
3. water features like ponds,fountains,bird baths,swimming pools,outdoor baths and streams.

To Do

1. Your learning facilitator will take you through a powerpoint presentation about maintaining hard landscape features.The powerpoint presentation will focus on the features found in The Lister Garden but will also include information for features commonly found in suburban gardens.
2. Watch DVD on how to oil exterior timber decking and outdoor furniture.
3. Discuss presentation styles for the assessment and look at examples for a similar assessment.
4. Clarify and discuss formulas for preparing a costing.
5. Discuss dates allocated for tutorials and a plan of attack for these tutorials.
6. Discuss opportunities for updating or putting together a new CV.The Otago Polytechnic offers a wide range of support and information for students including the opportunity to create or update your CV.Contact Steve White on 0 800 smart move and he can book an appointment for you or contact one of the Otago Polytechnic Community Learning Centres and enroll in their Work Ready course.

An activity for the gungho!

1. Update your CV and create a business card.

Check out http://www.vistaprint.co.nz/vp/ns/studio3.aspx?pf_id=064&combo_id=4298&gallery_id=64&category_id=11&referer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.vistaprint.co.nz%2fvp%2fgateway.aspx%3fS%3d8181306683 to order your free business cards.

Resources

Audio/Video/Powerpoint

• maintain-landscape-features-presentation/

Links

• http://www.30seconds.com.au/product_odc.html
• http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=6EKpAknc-ZcC&pg=PA250&lpg=PA250&dq=filling+cracks+in+concrete&source=web&ots=u750t-mKbd&sig=s1hDJgttA3_r5cx7qYnE9TA2RMM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA241,M1