RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and Applied Propagation

Online study

This course is delivered online or via mixed study¹ and consists of two units which are broken down into 4 topics.

Upon enrolment you receive access to our unique online learning platform and lesson materials, providing you with the learning resources you need.

You can start as soon as you want and progress through the course at your own pace. Your enrolment includes 2 years of course access, so you can study when and where you choose. This flexibility makes it easy to fit learning around work and family commitments.

The extensive course materials have been developed by gardening experts and are clear and straightforward, so your studying is easy and enjoyable. As you complete each lesson, your tutor will return your marked assignment with constructive feedback and guidance. (You can also contact your tutor or the support team for help at any point during your studies.)

All the required study materials are included, although wider reading is encouraged.

On successful completion of your studies and the RHS exams you will be awarded a nationally recognised RHS qualification.

Additional study options

Mixed Study¹

As part of your enrolment onto this course you will receive access to our unique online platform which will provide you with online access to your course materials – making them easy to access on-the-go.
Once logged on, you can also request to have the materials supplied in printed format for you to keep, make notes and use for future reference.

¹ Mixed study option is available to request from within the online platform, a small one-off fee is payable to cover printing and postage costs (available for UK based students only).

RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and  Applied Propagation consists of 2 units which are broken down into 4 topics each:

Unit 1

Topic 1: Horticultural Heritage

1. The history of horticultural space
2. Key influences on the development of horticultural space
3. The importance of horticultural heritage
4. The impact of horticultural heritage on gardens management

Topic 2: Plant Knowledge

1. The role of exploration on plant diversity
2. Plant information sources
3. Applied plant knowledge
4. Managing plants within botanic and other gardens

Topic 3: Plant Selection and Cultivation

1. Selecting plants for a purpose
2. Plant procurement
3. Combining plants
4. Planning plant maintenance

Topic 4: Plant Propagation

1. Propagation facilities
2. Planning propagation
3. Advanced propagation techniques
4. Development of propagation protocols

End of unit examination

Unit 2

Topic 1: Garden Styles and Specialist Areas

1. Garden styles and areas
2. Planting styles
3. Hard landscaping elements
4. Management of tree

Topic 2: Productive Growing

1. Growing systems
2. Selection of crops and planning cropping
3. Optimising yield
4. Research and development in productive growing

Topic 3: Gardens Management

1. Managing people in a garden
2. Managing material resources in a garden
3. Planning projects and maintenance activities
4. Maintenance standards

Topic 4: Gardens, People and Spaces

1. Gardens and visitors
2. Gardens and their communities
3. Wellbeing
4. Feedback and evaluation

End of unit examination

RHS qualification:

Upon successful completion of RHS examinations you will be awarded:

• RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and Applied Propagation

Your course materials and the valuable tutor feedback you will receive during your studies will help to prepare you for the Royal Horticultural Society qualifications.

When you commence your course, RHS requires you to register with HCC as a candidate for the qualification. HCC administers this process on your behalf. You will receive an invoice for your Learner registration fee of £230.00 which includes registration, assessment and certification. These are due within 30 days of commencing your studies.

We offer advice and assistance for booking examinations when you are ready. Please click here for RHS and assessment centre requirements and fees.

We are proud of our friendly, caring ethos and aim to do all we can to help you succeed.

Our tutors are all experienced, highly qualified and passionate about sharing their love of their subject. You can phone or email your tutor throughout the course – to ask questions, for advice, encouragement or to draw on their wealth of knowledge.

You can also contact the support team who are here to help you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

While there are no formal entry requirements, we recommend that you have successfully completed our RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development or similar before starting on this course. Please get in touch if you are unsure about the level of the course.

If needed, you have 2 years to complete the course. Many students are able to complete this course in approximately 9-12 months (approx 180 learning hours (Total Qualification Time – TQT))*.

* Timescales are approximate and depend upon application and motivation. Your enrolment includes 2 years of course access. If you need access beyond 2 years from enrolment, additional fees may apply.

• As this is a Level 3 qualification, if you have the required practical experience you could do the jobs listed above at a supervisory level such as garden supervisor, team leader, retail manager etc.
• Achieving Level 3 also allows learners the opportunity to progress to further learning opportunities at a higher level such as the RHS Master of Horticulture (MHort).
• If you already work in the horticultural profession, this qualification would demonstrate to prospective employers or clients an in-depth knowledge of garden planning, construction and planting.