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For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

I would like to do a course in garden design. I know I cannot keep on doing just maintenance because my body wont be able to keep it up.

Can only do online due to time, not interested spending lots of money nor studying for more than a year.

Don't need all the plant, growing or soil knowledge etc, just interested in the measuring, drawing parts and hard landscaping parts etc. I touched a bit on this subject whilst training with the RHS.

So I chose these three courses as the most suitable to my needs. I am wondering if any of you have done these and any feedback would be appreciated:

1. http://www.gardendesignacademy.co.uk/garden_design_diploma.php

2. https://www.nda.ac.uk/study/courses/diploma/garden-design

3. http://www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk/courses/garden-design

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  • Hi Daniela. I know where you are coming from! If it were me I would do a one day release at college so that you can actually have a real 121 conversation and working relationship with your tutor. I am often ask to design a client's garden and though I am not a trained designer I feel my wealth of gardening knowledge and experience having worked for the National Trust for years, plus my intuitive horticultural senses enable me to put together a garden for my customers. Having said that I know of several people who have studied the English Gardening School and have enjoyed it for thier own gardens. Have faith in your own skills and experience. What you also need is to have a skilled builder who can lay paths and terraces and create structures. Ideally you would project managed the project.
    • Yes that's the idea. I cannot find a one day a week course near me. They also take so long and are way more expensive.
  • I believe the Horticultural Correspondence college (if it is still called that) offer a garden design course by distance learning that may suit.Not sure if my information is current though.

  • I did two courses with the Open College of the Arts, now sadly taken off the curriculum - they were excellent.  My Garden School used to have a diploma but I can't find it on the site - https://www.learningwithexperts.com/gardening - they have good lecturers. Do places like Inchbald or Pickard do online courses?  I do think if I'd not been ill I would have done a course with at least one day a week inhouse as there's so much to learn and so many questions to ask!  Having an online course where you can ask questions of your own tutor and get good feedback from your tutor on your assignments is pretty important I think.  Good luck, sorry I've no experience of the courses you cite.  Jane

  • Try this LIST provided by the RHS. All are either distance learning or have it as an option.

    I've been considering this myself and for the same reasons. I do think though that unfortunately you will also need to provide the build in one form or another.

    Maybe a good time to start building a relationship with some decent installers and project manage as mentioned by Andrew.

    • These are courses for RHS qualifications, you may already have these.  From your list the school I recognise is the English Gardening School, they are based at the Chelsea Physic Garden and I think would be good. Jane

  • Hi Daniela, I did a distance learning course with KLC School of Design.  Whilst I enjoyed it immensely, it took a very long time to complete as I was working full time at the same time.  It took me just over 4 years, and I did work hard and consistently.  To get the course completed in a reasonable amount of time, you probably would need to look at a course where some attendance is required, and deadlines are mandatory otherwise it can go on and on.  It was really easy to get questions answered by a tutor, and face-to-face tutorials could be booked - but at an additional cost. 

    • PRO

      Nicola 

      could you give an idea of how much time per week you dedicated to this course ? 

      Ive looked at this course but four years would be way too long for  me 

      Thanks for any info 

      • Hi Dan 

        For the first 3 years, probably only averaging 4 hours a week - some weeks much more, there were a couple of months where I didn't do anything.  I could have completed it a lot faster - but I'd say part time you'd be pushing it to do it under 2 years.   The final year, I worked on it about 25 hours a week - but that got me through 4 modules out of a total of 6.

        Nic

  • I have opted for this course: HND in two years. Its hard going and I opted for the weekly offering where I have to work to a strict schedule so that I will finish in two years time. 

    It really is not easy and I am a bit behind due to my operation and the holidays.

    http://www.thedesignecademy.com/

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