Gardening Tips from the Experts

May 2004

No 131 


Need some expert help and advice in the garden? If so, you might wish to turn to the experts at one of the regions most exquisite gardens- the University of Leicester Botanic Garden in Oadby.

The University has arranged a series of introductory gardening courses with Peter Ball as the course tutor. He has worked in the horticultural industry for 25 years and is also a college tutor.

People can book for any of the following courses by downloading a booking form from http://www.le.ac.uk/biology/botanicgarden 

Forms should be returned with payment to: The SEED store, University of Leicester Botanic Garden, Stoughton Drive South, Oadby, Leics LE2 2NE. All courses are held at the Botanic Garden - meet at the Glebe Road entrance.

Details of all the courses listed below are on www.le.ac.uk/press/press 

ALLOTMENT GARDENING 
(Saturday 22nd May 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop providing all the essential information needed for a productive allotment. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Soil 
Fertiliser use 
Cropping plans 
Harvesting and storing 
Pest and disease control 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30 

HERB GARDENS 
(Thursday 3rd June 2004) 
A three-hour hands-on workshop looking at culinary and medicinal uses of herbs. The fee includes a container of herbs for you to take home. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Site and soil 
Design and styles of herb gardens 
Plants and planting 
Aftercare and propagation 
Herbs in containers 
Picking and preserving herbs 
Pest and diseases 
Herb identification 

Cost: £30 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester)
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

FRUIT GARDENING 
(Saturday 5th June 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop that explains and illustrates the basic skills of fruit gardening. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Site and soil 
Design and styles of fruit garden 
Plants and planting 
Pest and disease control 
Exotic fruit in containers 
Harvesting and preserving the fruit 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester)
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30 

COMPOSTING 
(Saturday 12th June 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop that explains and demonstrates all you need to know about composting. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Types of containers available 
Compost mixing and ingredients 
Use of activators 
Wormeries 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester)
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

FLOWER ARRANGING 
(Saturday 19th June 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop to give you a basic grounding to get you started in flower arranging. The fee includes an arrangement to take home. Topics of study will include: 

Mechanics 
Materials 
Containers 
Principles and elements of design 
Uses 
Cost: £30 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30 

LAWN CARE 
(Saturday 3rd July) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop that shows you how to create and maintain the perfect lawn. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Types of equipment available 
Maintenance methods throughout the season 
Turfing and seeding a new lawn 
Common weeds, pests and diseases of turf and how to deal with them 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30 


PROPAGATION 
(Thursday 2nd September 2004) 
A three-hour theory/ hands-on workshop that explains and demonstrates in detail the ins and outs of plant propagation. The fee includes a selection of plant material to take home in a propagator. Topics of study will include: 

The correct environment 
Growing media 
Seed sowing - indoors and outdoors 
Vegetative propagation techniques 
Tour of Botanic Garden propagation area 
Aftercare of propagated material 
Cost: £30 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30 

GREENHOUSE GARDENING 
(Thursday 16th September 2004) 
A three-hour hands-on workshop that deals with the growth and care of plants in a greenhouse or conservatory. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Types of structure available 
Managing the protected environment 
Pest and disease control 
Edible and ornamental crops 
Cost. £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time. Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

FOUR-SEASONS VEGETABLE GARDENING 
(Thursday 14th October 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop providing essential information and skills necessary for all-year-round fruit and vegetable production. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Site layout 
Cultivar selection 
Protected cropping 
Cropping plans 
Deep bed system 
Harvesting and storage 
Pest and disease control 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

ORGANIC GARDENING 
(Saturday 16th October 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop covering all aspects of organic gardening for the environmentally friendly gardener. Topics of study will include: 

The soil is the key 
Principles of organic gardening 
Plant selection 
Demonstration of organic techniques within the Botanic Garden 
Organic pest and disease control 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time. Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

GARDEN DESIGN 
(Thursday 28th October & Saturday 30th October 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop that will equip you with the basic concepts of garden design. Topics of study will include: 
Site analysis 
Principles of garden design 
Soft landscaping 
Tour of Botanic Garden selecting plants of merit 
Hard landscaping 
Stages of plan draw ing 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30


PRUNING 
(Thursday 11th November & Saturday 13th November 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop covering a variety of plant subjects that require pruning. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Tools and equipment available 
Formative pruning techniques 
Routine pruning techniques 
Renovation pruning techniques 
Treatment of pruning wounds 
Pruning of soft and top fruit 
Cost: £25 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

WINTER TROUGHS 
(Thursday 25th November 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop outlining the principles and procedures to create excellent winter troughs. The fee includes a planted winter trough to take home. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Types of container 
Compost mixes 
Use of fertilisers 
Gallery of examples 
Cost: £30 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester) 
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

CHRISTMAS WREATH-MAKING 
(Thursday 2nd December, Thursday 9th December & Saturday 11th December 2004) 
A three-hour theory/hands-on workshop teaching the art and design of wreath-making. The fee includes your Christmas wreath to take home. Topics of study will include: 

Introduction 
Styles and design of wreaths and swags 
Materials used in construction 
Gallery of examples 
Cost: £30 per person per workshop (please make cheques payable to: University of Leicester)
Time: Choice of morning workshop 9.30 to 12.30, or afternoon workshop 1.30 to 4.30

This document has been approved by the head of department or section.