SCENTED PLANTS BHT229

How to Grow and Use Scented Plants - A course for:

  • Landscape Designers and Contractors
  • Trade Gardeners
  • Horticulturists and plant lovers wishing to extend their plant knowledge
  • Herb farmers interested in exploring a wider scope of scented plants
  • Those setting up sensory gardens

Learn to identify, grow (propagation and culture), and use different types of scented plants. You will find out how to harvest and dry scented plants, and through practical assignments actually make a whole range of exciting herb crafts (e.g. pot pourri, soaps, candles). Learn also how to landscape a scented garden and expand your knowledge of dozens of different scented plant species.

 

Open Learning Fragrant Plants Course

  • Learn to identify and grow dozens of Fragrant Plant species
  • Learn to use fragrant plants for landscaping, crafts and the production of essential oils
  • Start a business, get a job, advance your career prospects

This is a course for:

  • Landscape Designers and Contractors
  • Trade Gardeners
  • Horticulturists and plant lovers wishing to extend their plant knowledge
  • Herb farmers interested in exploring a wider scope of scented plants

Course Structure and Content

The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:

  1. Introduction: Review of the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the group, information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.).
  2. Culture: Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest and disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt air, etc.
  3. Propagation: Methods of propagating this group of plants; creating a scented garden; growing in pots, inside, or in the open ground.
  4. Using Scented Plants: Crafts, cooking and other uses; fresh and dried herbs and scented plants.
  5. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties: Roses - how they can be used; Lavender and Gardenias.
  6. Other Important Scented Plants: Fragrant natives, boronias, the Lamiaceae family.
The Lesser Grown Varieties: Use of lesser known scented plants for craft or cooking.
Special Assignment: Students must complete a special assignment on one selected plant or group.

AIMS

  • Know the plant naming system and the uses of scented plants, indicate the genus, species and variety in a selection of plant scientific names.There are many ways you might classify scented plants.
    • By plant part -scented flower, scented foliage, scented fruit, scented root, etc.
    • By plant group -scented bulbs, scented climbers, scented trees, scented shrubs, etc.
    • By type of scent -strong scent, subtle scent, sweet scent, foul scent, etc.
    • By use -edible herbs, plants for landscape use, for use in perfumes & cosmetics, etc.
    • By plant family -plants which have similar botanical characteristics.
  • Become familiar with plant families, to develop a foundation for understanding and identifying scented plants.
  • Understand the cultural requirements of a range of scented plants
  • Learn how prevention is always the best cure. Try to keep the environment friendly to the helpful insects, a healthy soil structure with added compost, and maintain suitable environmental conditions for the plant. If you don't have the right plant in the right place, they tend to struggle more.Heat, cold, wind, rain, frost, shade, pollution and other environmental problems can have disastrous effects on plants. Learn how it affects them.
  • Learn how to harvest and process a range of scented plants.
  • Know how to make a range of products and uses from scented plants; such as drying herbs, making potpourri, cosmetic products lavender crafts, rose crafts, and other scented plant uses.
  • Understand harvest and post harvest techniques for the production of crops.
    If you are to reap the benefits of quality produce, crops must be handled properly during harvest and post harvest. The various methods for harvesting herbs is mentioned.
  • Know a range of the most commonly grown scented plants.  Many scented plants are also commonly known as herbs however there are many that are not herbs but still have a wonderful scent and should be considered for inclusion in a scented garden
  • Compare the cultural requirements of fifteen different scented Australian Native plants.
  • Understand commercial applications of scented plants.
    Many species of scented plants are grown commercially for their: Cut flowers, Oils, Foliage, Roots, and Tubers. Some producers set up to specifically supply commercial growers (i.e. producers of oil or bulk flowers) with tube-stock or grow scented plants for specialist retail nurseries.
  • Look at operation options, farming options. How to do market research
  • Learn about creating a scented garden.If you have always wanted to bathe your garden in the gentle fragrance of scented plants, then this is a good place to start! There is more that you can do to create fragrance in your life! Or if you have thought about starting your own business with the use of fragrant plants, you will learn a lot from this course. The course covers everything from soil types, pests and diseases and greenhouse growing to marketing and plant health. It's all covered, so now there is no excuse to not indulge your passion!

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

Make up a list of at least 50 sources of information, about the identification and use of scented plants.
Obtain one soil sample typical of your local area; name the soil and test the drainage of the soil.
Obtain (or make up) a potting mix appropriate for growing herbs in.
Make up a propagating mix, appropriate for striking seed or cuttings in.
Visit a nursery or garden growing scented plants.
Obtain any materials which are needed for propagating scented plants by grafting, stem cuttings, root cuttings, aerial layering and seed.
Harvest and dry parts from at least three different herbs.
Make the following scented products: pot pourri, a cosmetic product, a herb vinegar, a herb salt and one other craft product.
Make a bottle of either herb oil.
Prepare hot and cold herb teas.
Prepare one edible product, using a part of a scented plant for flavouring.
Produce one sample of a scented oil, using fresh harvested material from a scented plant.
Visit a general nursery. Note what herb seeds, and herb plants are commonly available.
Research the cultural requirements of some (or all) of the following genera: Viola, Viburnum, Lonicera, Jasminum, Daphne and Gardenia. Find information on Magnolias, Lilac,Conifers, Scented Camellias, Citrus, Convallaria (Lily of the Valley), Lilium, Hyacinthus, Forsythia and Michelia.
Visit a scented garden.
Visit and analyse the business operations of at least two herb enterprise.
Design a garden featuring scented plants.
Compare the commercial potential of three different types of herb enterprises, in your locality (based on the set task).
Propagate a scented plant
Prepare 48 plant review sheets of scented plants.

Duration 100 hours

Employment Oportunities:

  • Starting your own business with scented plants as your key feature
  • Designing gardens with scented plants for specialist groups such as children and elderly.
  • Working for a company that specialises in scented plant products