Self Paced 20-hour course to help you understand more about turf.

Lots of people mow lawns, but very few mow them really well.

This course teaches you to be a cut above everyone else whether you are a home gardener, a tradesman gardener, a groundsman, mowing contractor or someone preparing to work in the horticulture industry.

It will teach you more about mowing grass than what most professional horticulturists ever learn; but beyond that you also learn to understand lawns, evaluate turf quality, maintain turf and manage the business of providing a turf care service.

Our 20 hour courses are self paced and will help you understand a topic in a short amount of time.

There are 5 lessons as follows:

Lesson 1 – TURF QUALITY

• What varieties
• In unexpected drought conditions
• Evaluating turf quality and needs

Lesson 2 – MOWING

• Mowing calculations
• Basic calculations
• Mowing
• Understanding how grass grows
• Understanding how lawn mowers cut grass
• Other considerations for mowers
• How to mow grass
• Before you mow
• Length of cut
• Direction of cut or pattern of cutting
• Other considerations
• Mowing newly established turf
• Raking before cutting?
• Collecting grass clippings
• Summary of points
• Cutting steep slopes
• Using growth regulators
• Problems that may occur by mowing
• Mowing safety
• Mowing and its impact on the environment

Lesson 3 – MAINTAINING TURF QUALITY

• Maintaining turf
• Maintenance tasks
• Turf/lawn aeration
• Soil pH
• Other ways to improve soils
• Weeding
• Dealing with pest and diseases
• Environmental problems in turf
• Watering

Lesson 4 – TURF EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS

• Types of mowing equipment
• Cylinder mowers
• Rotary mowers
• Tractor mounted Ride on mower
• Push type mowers
• Hover mowers
• Options for power
• Deciding what you need
• Mower maintenance
• Electric mowers
• Petrol mowers
• Changing mower blades
• Other turf maintenance equipment
• EdgerLeaf rakes/vacuums
• Forks
• Rollers
• Wheelbarrows
• Strimmer/brush cutter/whipper snipper
• Spray equipment
• Should you buy, lease or hire?

Lesson 5 – TURF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

• Starting your business
• Before you start
• Be informed
• Developing a customer base
• LocationEmployees
• Equipment
• Finance
• Buying into a franchise
• Avoiding disputes
• Other services you might offer
• Legal requirements
• Professional advice
• Keeping business records
• Taxation
• Understanding contract law
• Developing your business
• Managing growth

Who would benefit from this course?

• Gardeners and Tradesmen
• Horticulturists
• Turf Industry
• Employees (Mower shops, turf farms, etc)
• Parks Staff
• Sportsground
• Staff
• Mowing Contractors
• Home Gardeners
• Students
• Anyone planning to buy or establish a mowing business

How does this course work?

You can enrol at any time.

Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.

Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.

You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.

There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need internet access to complete the self assessment tests.