Garden Centre Management

Achieve excellence in your garden centre! Designed in 1986, in conjunction with the state garden department manager of a major retail chain store; this course has been very successful in training both staff and managers of retail nurseries and garden centres across Australia and beyond. It was thoroughly updated recently by horticultural professionals in both Australia and the U.K. to be relevant to countries around the world.

Lesson Structure: Garden Centre Management BHT213

There are 12 lessons:

1. Introduction:
   
   • Plant classification, plant cultural requirements, soil and nutrition, watering requirements, drainage, temperature, light, humidity.
2. Plant Health:
   
   • How to diagnose a problem, pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, frost, sunburn, chemical damage, insufficient light, overwatering.
3. Stock Maintenance:
   
   • Quality standards, buying new stock, inspecting stock, extending stock life, disposing of below- standard stock, watering techniques, fertilising, pest and disease control.
4. Display and Display Techniques:
   
   • Display units, product location, sales area layout.
5. Garden Product Knowledge I:
   
   • Plant containers, tags, soil mixes, equipment, tools.
6. Garden Product Knowledge II:
   
   • Chemicals, fertilisers, baskets, terrariums, cut flowers.
7. Indoor Plants:
   
   • Major groups, common problems, plants for specific situations, customer attitudes.
8. Container Stock:
   
   • Trees and Shrubs.
9. Seedlings, Bulbs, Herbs and Perennials.
10. Deciduous Trees, Fruit, Nuts, Berries. Seed.
11. Marketing:
    
    • Pricing strategy, advertising, promotions.
12. Management:
    
    • Staff control, staff productivity, work scheduling.

This course is taught by:

Katie Freeth
BSc. (Hons) Horticulture, (University of Bath); RHS General Examination; FI Hort; MIfpra.

An experienced and professional horticulturist with extensive management skills gained internationally; experienced in landscape management, staff supervision and management, written and oral communication, horticultural knowledge and application, supported by organisational and administrative skills and attention to detail.

Katie brings 20 years experience in Horticulture and is an accomplished lecturer, horticulture consultant and freelance writer. Katie is a judge for the International Awards for Liveable Communities in the Whole City Category.
Katie also worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in France for approx 5 years first as a Sector Manager and then as an Area Manager; management of the cemeteries, peripatetic teams of gardeners (UK & French nationality) for the constructed cemeteries and memorials and static French nationality gardeners for small town/village plots.

Susan Stephenson
BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.
City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)
Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.

Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.

Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Her experience is wide and varied and she has designed gardens for families and individuals. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.

Susan is a Professional Associate and exam moderator and holds the RHS General with Distinction. She continues to actively learn about horticulture and plants and (as her students will tell you) remains passionate and interested in design and horticulture.

She also supervised the Area Arboriculture Team and was Exhumations Officer€“ in charge of collecting discovered remains and arranging identification (if poss) and interment of same.

Learning Goals: Garden Centre Management BHT213

• Classify and identify a range of different plants, according to their botanical characteristics.
• Describe a range of plant health problems and their treatments.
• Understand the importance of maintaining healthy stock and its relationship to maintaining a profitable business.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of garden products sold through garden centres.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of plants, including indoor plants, container-grown plants, deciduous plants, bulbs, herbs and perennials.
• Describe effective marketing techniques.
• Demonstrate knowledge of management procedures.

Practicals:

• Read the supplied course material.
• Undertake simple and relevant practical tasks.
• Submit written assignments at the completion of each lesson.
• Prepare 72 plant review worksheets.
• Research and analyse the operation of garden centres and nurseries.

Those who would like to manage a garden centre.

None.

Garden Centre Management.