Course Overview

The Royal Horticulture Society’s (RHS) Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture for the first time offers from the RHS a practical qualification at Level 3. This is a very comprehensive practical course which can be taken on its own or as part of the Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation & Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting.

This course is designed for those who wish to gain an advanced level in a range of practical horticultural skills; therefore this course is ideal for the keen amateur gardener and professional horticulturist.

The RHS Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture consists of five units. The units and their content are as follows:

• Collecting and testing of soil samples and specifying adjustments for horticulture (2 credits)
• Collecting and preparing and propagating from seed (3 credits)
• Establishing and maintaining a range of plant types and forms (4 credits)
• Identification of a range of common garden plants, weeds, pests, diseases and disorders (3 credits)
• Planning, collecting, preparing and establishing propagation material (3 credits)

The RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Practical Horticulture has a credit value of 15, which after study of the RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation & Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting (28 credits) leads to the RHS Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture worth 43 credits.

Assessment Methods

The assessment of this course is by on-going practical assessment and plant identification tests. There are a series of practical skills assessments in subjects such as plant propagation, pruning and training of plants. There are also regular plant identification assessments which help to improve a student’s plant knowledge which is essential skill for the practicing horticulturist.

Progression Options

After further study of the RHS Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation & Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting, students can achieve an RHS Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice of Horticulture.

The RHS Level 3 Certificates can be used as entry for higher education to study both horticulture and garden/landscape design at Level 4.