Online Class: Basic Gardening and Plant Care

Discover the profound influence of your garden on the earth's ecosystem in 'Gardening: Cultivating Beauty and Sustenance,' where you'll learn to orchestrate soil, plants, and resources for maximum growth and bountiful harvests. As you delve into sustainable practices and advanced technologies, transform even tiny spaces into lush havens while fostering a lifelong connection with nature.

Self-Paced, Online Class
Mathews Memorial Library
 
  • 15
    Lessons
  • 22
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 6
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.6
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Imagine stepping into a world where your fingertips hold the power to coax life from the earth. Welcome to "Gardening: Cultivating Beauty and Sustenance," an enchanting journey that transforms the way you perceive and interact with nature. This isn't merely a course; it's an awakening to the profound impact you can cultivate every single day within the boundaries of your garden, however modest or expansive it may be.

In this course, your journey begins with the most fundamental element of gardening--understanding the dance between soil and plants. Picture yourself as a conductor, orchestrating the symphony of minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms. Learn how soil diversity--whether it's the free-draining sand or the rich containment of clay--affects each plant's ability to thrive. You will acquire the knowledge to modify and enhance your soil to create a nourishing foundation, setting your garden apart as a thriving ecosystem.

As your garden's architect, you'll delve into the meticulous art of seed selection and propagation, cultivating a spectrum of plant life that speaks to your personal taste and local ecology. You will gain insights on how to interpret seed packets like a seasoned botanist, distinguishing the resilient heirlooms from their hybrid counterparts. Imagine the pride of watching your garden flourish under your care, bringing an array of vibrant, resilient plants to life.

Water is to plants what breath is to life. Here, you'll master sustainable watering techniques, from straightforward methods to employing innovative technology. Envision your garden blossoming with health as you manage its watering needs with precision, conserving resources while ensuring every leaf and petal glistens with vitality. This knowledge empowers you to be not just a consumer, but a steward of the earth's most precious resource.

The dance of sunlight across your garden is yet another chapter in your journey. Imagine positioning each plant, understanding its sun-kissed needs, and transforming this knowledge into a canvas of living art. You'll learn the nuances of daylight variations and become adept at using both natural and technological advances to light your garden perfectly, maximizing its beauty and bounty.

But what's a garden without its celestial helpers--pollinators buzzing, fluttering, spreading life from flower to flower? Delve into the world of creating havens for them, ensuring your garden is a buzzing hub of activity all year round. With the guidance from this course, you'll develop the skills to nurture a balanced ecosystem that mirrors nature's elegance and resilience.

Let's not forget the intricate dance with garden pests, an inevitability for any gardener. Fear not, as we arm you with cutting-edge strategies to manage these challenges. Picture yourself as a vigilant guardian, using traditional wisdom coupled with modern technology like drones and infrared tech to protect your verdant abode against unwanted intrusions.

And for those with limited space, we unveil the secrets of container and vertical gardening. Discover the joy of transforming even the tiniest balcony into a thriving garden, and how vertical gardens can enhance both beauty and air quality in urban settings. The course ensures that no matter where you are, your connection to nature remains strong and fulfilling.

This course is more than just a series of lessons. It is a mentor, guiding you not just to grow plants, but to evolve with them. Each season will bring new lessons, challenges, and triumphs, reflecting the very cycles of life itself. Every module nudges you closer to becoming a confident curator of green spaces, transforming you into an ambassador of sustainability and earth stewardship.

Enroll in "Gardening: Cultivating Beauty and Sustenance" today, and unlock the gateway to a transformative journey that marries the science of horticulture with the art of personal enrichment. This is not a mere class--it's an invitation to redefine your existence in harmony with the natural world, fostering a lifelong bond with the soil beneath your feet and the sky above your garden. Join us, and watch your life bloom.

 
 

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Soil Dynamics: Essential Guide for Successful Gardening

Soil texture, notably the mix of sand, silt, and clay, dictates the drainage and nutrient-holding capacity crucial to plant vitality, urging consideration of plant-specific soil needs. While sandy soils suit dry-condition plants like succulents, loamy soils are ideal for nutrient-demanding crops, demonstrating the importance of matching soil types to plant preferences. 21 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-1-Activity-20376.pdf
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete: Lesson 1 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Review Exam

Lesson 2. From Sandy Shores to Clay Heartlands: Enhancing Soil for Plant Health

Sandy soil, with its excellent drainage due to large gritty particles, suits plants that prefer drier conditions, while clay soil retains moisture well but requires amendments for better drainage. Enhancing nutrient retention in sandy soil and promoting aeration in clay soil ensures a balanced environment for diverse plant growth. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-2-StudyGuide-20379.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Review Exam

Lesson 3. Empowering Your Green Thumb with Essential Garden Tools

Innovative designs in gardening tools cater to ergonomics and functionality, supporting gardeners in reducing fatigue and enhancing results. Smart technologies and sustainability drive modern tool evolution, enabling informed decisions and eco-conscious practices in garden stewardship. 21 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-3-WorkSheet-20381.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 3 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Review Exam

Lesson 4. Seed Selection and Propagation: Cultivating Diversity

Transforming soil into a nurturing medium through preparation and organic matter integration is foundational to robust plant growth. Recognizing soil type, enhancing its structure, and maintaining optimal nutrient levels are crucial steps in creating a healthy garden ecosystem. 19 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-4-StudyGuide-20383.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 4 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Review Exam

Lesson 5. Mastering the Art of Watering for Sustainable Growth

Water management in gardening is pivotal, encompassing understanding soil composition and using methods such as rainwater harvesting to support sustainability. Embracing technological advances like smart irrigation systems allows gardeners to precisely cater to plant needs, creating eco-friendly and vibrant garden spaces. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-5-HomeWork-20386.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Review Exam

Lesson 6. Harnessing Sunlight: Decoding Plant Needs for Thriving Gardens

Sunlight's role in gardening is crucial, driving photosynthesis and impacting plant growth by varying throughout the day and seasons, requiring a keen understanding of plant-specific light needs for optimal development. By strategically placing different plant types based on their sunlight preference, gardeners can maximize their garden's health and productivity, while embracing technology and design innovations to overcome light-related challenges. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-6-WorkSheet-20389.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Review Exam

Lesson 7. Revitalize Your Garden with Compost: Methods, Benefits, and Best Practices

Microorganisms in composting break down organic matter, generating heat that eliminates pathogens and weed seeds, making the compost safe for garden use. Their unseen work improves soil structure and sustains nutrients for healthier, more resilient plant growth. 21 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-7-Activity-20392.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 7 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Review Exam

Lesson 8. The Battle of Bugs: Mastering Garden Pests

Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, causing leaf damage and fine webbing; increasing humidity and using neem oil can help manage them, highlighting the risk of climate-driven infestations. Drones with infrared technology provide early detection by identifying infestation patterns through thermal variations. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-8-StudyGuide-20394.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Review Exam

Lesson 9. Vital Garden Tools and Techniques: A Pruner's Guide

The art of pruning blends timing, technique, and understanding plant biology to elevate garden vitality and longevity. The seasonal cycles guide gardeners in optimizing growth and preventing disease through strategic cutting practices. 21 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-9-HomeWork-20398.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 9 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Review Exam

Lesson 10. Gardening from the Ground Up: Understanding Seed Selection and Germination

Examine seed packets to gain insight into origin, optimal planting dates, and germination rates, which are critical to successful gardening. By recognizing the benefits of heirloom seeds over hybrids, you'll ensure diversity and resilience in your garden. 17 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-10-StudyGuide-20401.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Review Exam

Lesson 11. Vessels of Growth: Unveiling the Secrets of Container Gardening

Vertical gardening creatively maximizes limited space by using walls and stacks to cultivate plants, marrying aesthetic appeal with practicality. Such setups enhance small spaces' biodiversity and support eco-friendly practices, encouraging beneficial insects and creating urban havens filled with greenery. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-11-Downloadable-20403.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Review Exam

Lesson 12. From Soil to Sky: Strategic Planning for Garden Success

Understanding soil composition through testing and amendments transforms the ground into a rich vessel of growth, blending sand, silt, and clay for balanced and fertile conditions. Incorporating organic matter like compost further enhances texture and fertility, supporting plant vitality and increasing potential crop yield by up to 30%. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-12-Downloadable-20405.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Review Exam

Lesson 13. A Profound Connection with Nature: Lessons from Seasonal Gardening

Each season in gardening presents specific climate challenges that demand strategic adjustments to support plant health. Understanding and adapting to these shifts help gardeners cultivate thriving ecosystems while reflecting their own growth and adaptability. 19 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-13-Activity-20407.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 13 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Review Exam

Lesson 14. Gardening Beyond Beauty: Nurturing Native Pollinators

Creating a year-round pollinator habitat involves strategic plant selection, with plants blooming at different times and offering nectar, pollen, and shelter. This approach supports the life cycle of various pollinators and maintains ecological resilience in gardens, mirroring natural ecosystems. 20 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-14-Downloadable-20408.pdf
  • Complete: Lesson 14 Activity
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Review Exam

Lesson 15. Sustainable Indoor Gardening Practices

Technological advancements simplify plant care, making precision cultivation accessible to all skill levels and enhancing the health of indoor plants. Through digital tools, gardeners optimize their plant ecosystems, fostering a deepened relationship with nature's beauty and complexity. 12 Total Points
  • Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-15-StudyGuide-20411.pdf
  • Lesson discussions: End of Course Poll; Course Comments
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Review Exam
291
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define the role of soil composition and structure in nutrient and water retention across varied plant systems.
  • Identify appropriate soil pH levels for optimal nutrient uptake in different plant types and methods to adjust pH effectively.
  • Demonstrate understanding of different soil types by describing their characteristics and impact on plant growth.
  • Identify appropriate soil amendments to enhance plant health based on soil type and pH levels.
  • Demonstrate the correct usage and care for power tools in gardening, ensuring personal safety and tool longevity.
  • Identify and describe the function of at least three different gardening hand tools and their specific benefits to garden health.
  • Demonstrate the process of transplanting seedlings effectively to enhance plant growth and resilience.
  • Identify key factors for successful site selection and soil preparation in gardening.
  • Define the critical factors affecting soil moisture and apply suitable strategies to manage irrigation for diverse plant species.
  • Demonstrate the use of traditional and modern tools to accurately gauge soil moisture, optimizing watering techniques for plant health.
  • Describe the process of photosynthesis and explain how sunlight intensity and duration affect plant growth and health.
  • Identify different plant light requirements (full sun, partial shade, full shade) and demonstrate strategic plant placement to maximize garden productivity based on available sunlight.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Basic Gardening and Plant Care
Course Number: 57701445
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is offered online and is accessible in every state across the U.S., including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. Learners in English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa can also enroll.
Last Updated: February 2025
CEU Value: 0.6 CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher for successful completion.
Course Type: Curriculum-Based, Online Class
Instructional Method: Self-Paced, Asynchronous
Assessment Method: End of lesson review exams and course final exam

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