This horticulture course teaches you to to classify, identify and culture deciduous trees and develops your ability to select and cultivate appropriate varietes of Australian Native Trees in different situations. Deciduous plants shed their leaves in autumn or early winter, and are fully or partially devoid of foliage over the colder months of the year. This is an adaptation that allows the plant to better survive unfavourable conditions (such as extreme cold)

Course Structure for Deciduous Trees BHT244

There are 9 lessons:

1. Introduction
   • Review the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the conifer plant group, information contacts you can use (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc).
2. Culture
   • Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt air, propagation, etc.
3. Trees
   • Conifers that reach tree proportions, their characteristics and requirements, how to grow conifers by seed propagation and grafting techniques.
4. Common Medium Size Shrubs
   • Many conifers fall into this height category. Some of the popular conifers are Chamaecyparis, Juniperus and Thuja. How to prune conifers.
5. Small Shrubs
   • How to choose small and prostrate conifers and their care. How to care for seedlings up to planting out stage.
6. Australian Native Conifers
   • Araucaria, Callitris, Podocarpus are three good conifers for use. The importance of environmental zones in Australia and how it can effect plant growth.
7. Rarer Conifers
   • Hemlocks, Podocarpus, Larches and leaf characteristcs of Cephalataxus.
8. Using Conifers
   • As timber, oils, edible seed, christmas trees, etc.
9. Landscaping with Conifers
   • Developed in conjunction with the Rural Industries Industry Training Board in Queensland and accredited from 1995-2000 as an Advanced Diploma Module. Notes are continually upgraded to maintain relevance to current and future needs.

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Lesson Aims

• Review foundation knowledge in plant identification and culture as needed to properly build expertise specific to deciduous trees
• Develop knowledge in classification, identification and culture of plants, from the genus Acer
• Develop knowledge in classification, identification and culture of plants, from the genus Betula
• Develop knowledge in classification, identification and culture of plants, from the genus Fraxinus
• Develop knowledge in classification, identification and culture of plants, from the genus Quercus
• Develop knowledge in classification, identification and culture of plants, from the genus Prunus
• Review a range of other significant deciduous tree genera not covered previously in this course
• Plan the establishment of a collection of different cultivars of deciduous trees suited to growing in a specified locality

What You Will Be Able To Do

• Describe the binomial system used for naming plants, using examples of two conifers.
• Distinguish, using labelled illustrations, between different conifer families, including: Pinaceae, Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae, Araucariaceae and Taxaceae.
• Use a botanical key to identify two different conifer genera.
• Compile a resource information guide for conifers, including scope of operation and contact information (ie: address, phone, fax), for 30 different contacts, including:
• other organisations
• product suppliers
• clubs/societies
• nurseries
• Prepare reviews of fifty conifers, not collected elsewhere, each including:
• a photo, drawing or pressed specimen
• plant names (scientific and common)
• cultural details
• uses/applications.
• Propagate five different conifers, using at least three different techniques.
• Determine the preferred soil requirements, for typical conifers, in your locality.
• Prepare a potting media suitable for container growing an advanced conifer, in a tub.
• Explain the planting requirements which are common to most conifers in your locality.
• Explain irrigation techniques appropriate for conifer culture, in your locality.
• Explain the nutrition requirements of two different conifer species, from different families.
• Explain five health problems common to conifers, including identifying features, significance to the plant, and control.
• Describe how to prune two different conifer species, in your locality.
• Determine two routine cultural procedures, to be undertaken in each month of the year, with conifers in your locality.
• Describe ten conifer species, growing in a specified locality, including:
• plant description
• preferred habitat
• propagation
• growing requirements
• uses
• Compare the cultural requirements of ten commonly grown conifer species.
• Explain why it is often difficult to grow other plants beneath the canopy of conifers.
• Determine procedures for successfully establishing two specified conifer species on a specific site which you survey.
• Determine any native conifers endemic to your locality or nearby localities.
• Describe the different features of six specific native conifer species, including:
• uses
• growing requirements
• propagation
• natural habitat
• plant description
• Describe different features of five specified uncommonly grown conifer cultivars, including:
• hardiness
• preferred site
• foliage shape
• foliage colour
• height
• Determine two different “non standard” propagation techniques, that may be successful in propagating “rare” and uncommonly cultivated conifer species.
• Formulate a schedule of cultural tasks to be undertaken over a twelve month period, to establish new plantings of a conifer species not commonly grown in your locality.
• Determine ten conifer varieties, including at least five different species, suitable for pot culture.
• Determine five conifer varieties suitable for hedging.
• Compare cultural techniques required for growing two specified conifers in containers with growing them in the ground.
• Describe the culture of conifers in different situations, including:
• as screening
• as a rockery planting
• as a hedge
• as bonsai
• as topiary
• Determine conifer species which have commercial value as a plantation crop, including:
• foliage/filler for florists
• essential oils
• timber
• Evaluate the use of conifers, in a garden with both conifers and flowering plants, using a supplied checklist of design criteria.
• Evaluate the use of conifers, in a garden which is either all, or predominantly conifers, using a supplied checklist of design criteria.
• Design a conifer garden bed of thirty square meters, which incorporates at least ten different conifer varieties, and satisfies both aesthetic and cultural requirements of a specified site, that you survey.

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