Horticulture and professional landscaping

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A welcome from the Head of Horticulture and Professional Landscaping - Zephaniah Lindo

Hello and congratulations on your offer to study with us! I'm delighted you've chosen to join our horticulture department at Capel Manor College.

Whether you're beginning your journey into horticulture, looking to develop your gardening knowledge or aiming for a professional career in the industry, you've chosen a course that combines practical learning with expert teaching in some of London's most inspiring gardens. Horticulture is about so much more than growing plants. It's about understanding how plants thrive, creating beautiful and sustainable landscapes, protecting our environment and developing the practical skills needed to care for gardens, parks and green spaces.

Depending on your course, you'll study at either our Enfield, Mottingham, Regent's Park or Gunnersbury Park Campus, where you'll learn in working gardens and specialist horticultural facilities. As London's only specialist environmental college, you'll learn in some of the capital's most diverse teaching gardens, from historic landscapes at Gunnersbury Park to our working gardens and production areas at Enfield and Mottingham. The gardens themselves become your classroom, changing with every season and providing endless opportunities to learn.

Our tutors bring a wealth of professional experience and are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Whether your ambition is employment, university, a career change or simply becoming a more knowledgeable gardener, we'll support you every step of the way.

I hope you're as excited as we are to get started! We look forward to welcoming you and helping you grow your skills and confidence.

Course overview

Our horticulture courses combine practical, hands-on learning with the scientific knowledge needed to become a skilled horticultural professional or knowledgeable gardener.

Based at our Enfield, Mottingham, Regent's Park and Gunnersbury Park Campuses, you'll spend much of your time learning outdoors in our gardens, glasshouses and specialist growing areas. You'll develop practical skills in plant cultivation, garden maintenance, propagation and landscape management while learning about plant science, soils, sustainability and the environment.

Whether you're studying a full-time programme or one of our professional part-time qualifications, you'll develop practical skills that reflect current industry practice. Depending on your course, you'll work towards industry-recognised City & Guilds, BTEC or Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) qualifications, helping you progress into employment, further study or to simply become a more confident and knowledgeable gardener.

Horticulture student at Capel Manor College smiling with his hand on a spade.

Modules and structure

Your course combines classroom learning with practical experience in our gardens and horticultural facilities. As you progress, we'll encourage you to become increasingly confident and independent, preparing you for employment, further study or a lifelong enjoyment of horticulture. Throughout the year you'll develop your knowledge and skills in areas such as:

  • Plant identification and classification
  • Plant care and maintenance
  • Soil science and growing media
  • Seed sowing and plant propagation
  • Trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants
  • Garden design principles
  • Lawn care and maintenance
  • Pest, disease and weed management
  • Sustainable gardening and biodiversity
  • Safe use of horticultural tools and equipment
  • Seasonal garden maintenance
  • Working as part of a professional horticultural team
Horticulture student at Capel Manor College raking soil.

Equipment and uniform

Horticulture is a practical subject and you'll spend much of your time working outdoors in all seasons. You'll also be using laptops/computers and the Microsoft Office suite, including Microsoft Teams. Don't worry if you don't have everything on your first day - we'll explain what you'll need during induction. Before you start we'd recommend bringing:

  • Steel toe-cap boots or sturdy outdoor footwear
  • Waterproof clothing
  • Warm layers suitable for outdoor working
  • Practical clothing that you don't mind getting muddy
  • Gardening gloves
  • A notebook and pen
  • A refillable water bottle

Meet the team

Zephaniah Lindo

John Wix

Guy Deakins

Tee Robertson

David Riddle

Ben West

Neeth Abey

Rachel Godfrey

Esther De Groot

Faye Thomsit-Ireland

Helga Krauss

Rafia Sultana-Hogg

Preparing for study

If you'd like to get a head start before September, here are a few ideas:

Watch

• Garden Rescue
• RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage
• BBC Gardeners' World
• Love Your Garden
• Your Garden Made Perfect

Think about how gardens are designed, maintained and adapted throughout the seasons.

Visit 

If you have the opportunity, visit:

• Kew Gardens
• Garden centres
• RHS Garden Wisley
• Local parks and public gardens
• National Trust gardens
• Community gardens

Notice the planting, seasonal colour, maintenance and design choices that make each space unique.

Keep curious

Follow:

• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
• Chartered Institute of Horticulture
• British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI)
• National Trust
• Kew Gardens

Keep up to date with seasonal gardening advice, environmental issues and new developments within horticulture.

Horticulture and landscaping FAQs

Horticulture offers a huge range of rewarding careers and progression opportunities. Our aim is to help you develop the practical skills, knowledge and confidence needed to take the next step, whatever that looks like for you. Our students progress into roles and areas including:

• Professional Gardener
• Parks and green space management
• Landscape maintenance
• Garden design
• Nursery production
• Arboriculture
• Grounds maintenance
• Estate and historic garden management
• Self-employment
• University and higher education
• Apprenticeships

Throughout your course you'll gain experience in:

• Plant identification
• Plant cultivation and propagation
• Trees, shrubs and garden plants
• Seasonal garden maintenance
• Sustainable horticulture
• Soil and growing media
• Practical gardening techniques
• Garden design principles

By the end of your course, you should be able to:

• Identify a wide range of garden plants
• Care for and maintain healthy plants
• Propagate plants using a variety of techniques
• Understand seasonal gardening practices
• Work safely with horticultural tools and equipment
• Show that you've developed practical and professional horticultural skills
• Show that you are ready for employment, further study or a rewarding hobby

Not at all! Our courses are designed for learners with a wide range of experience.

Whether you're completely new to gardening, already have an allotment or are looking to develop your professional skills, our tutors will support you throughout your course. We're looking for enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn - everything else can be developed with practice and experience.

Throughout your time with us you'll have opportunities to:

• Learn in beautiful gardens and specialist horticultural facilities
• Take part in practical projects throughout the seasons
• Meet industry professionals and guest speakers
• Visit gardens, parks and horticultural events
• Develop practical skills valued by employers
• Build experience that supports employment or further study
• Become part of London's specialist environmental college

Have questions?

Speak to our Admissions team via live chat from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday or email admissions@capel.ac.uk.