Science of Gardening 2
UndergraduateTAS-KPZ0032024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Science of Gardening 2
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Identify the major environmental constraints on plant growth for your garden.
- Assess the suitability of a range of plant species or varieties for a particular environment
- Explain how different plant species can interact in a competitive or complementary manner.
- Describe measures to attract desired organisms and to minimize unwanted organisms into an ecosystem
- Articulate a rationale for your garden design in terms of your identified priorities and limitations.
- Module 1: Right Plant for the Right Place
- Introduction
- Origins of plants
- Understanding climate
- Plant adaptations to climate
- Microclimate
- Module 2: The Soil Community
- Soil formation
- The soil food web
- Root systems
- Module 3: Growing Together
- Habit and habitat
- Life strategies
- Niche theory, competition, and companion planting
- What makes a weed?
- Module 4: Friend or Foe?
- Your garden as an ecosystem
- Vertebrates
- Invertebrates
- Fungi, bacteria and viruses
- Plant defences
- Module 5: Designing your Garden
- Climate change
- Sustainable gardening
- Permaculture
- Your garden
This subject aims to develop your awareness of the ecological processes operating in your garden, to assist informed decision making about garden design and management. You will explore the environmental parameters of your garden (e.g. macro and microclimate, geology, and soils), the nature of the complex interrelationships between garden organisms (including pollinators, herbivores, and pathogens), and how the origins and adaptations of plants determine their suitability to your purpose. This exploration of underlying ecological principles will inform your garden design in terms of preferred style, purpose, and practicability.
- Quizzes (x5) (20%)
- Your Abiotic Factors (20%)
- Garden Design (40%)
- Your Biotic Factors (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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