Become a Turf Professional
This course is aimed at those who would like to work at golf courses, bowling greens, council facilities, sports grounds, or other locations where turf grasses need to be maintained.
- It's a 600-hour course specifically designed to meet the needs of turf workers.
- Delivery by distance learning means you can study in your own home, at your own pace.
- Highly qualified and knowledgeable tutors will guide you along the way.
WORKING IN THE TURF INDUSTRY
A perfect lawn really looks great; but it does take a lot of work to both establish and maintain such a lawn – more work than most people realise. If you think about it, a bowling club employs a greenkeeper full time to maintain an area of lawn not much bigger than the lawn in many home gardens. If you want a better lawn you need to do two things:
- To be doing the right jobs – either learn how to do it from an expert, or hire an expert to do it for you.
- To be putting the required time into doing the work.
Winter Lawn Care
To keep the lawn in good condition over winter:
- raise the mower height to help maintain its vigour
- keep winter weeds under control, especially Winter Grass, mosses and sedges
- improve drainage – no lawn grasses thrive in heavy wet soil
- improve soil aeration – spike the lawn with a garden fork to aerate the root zone
- spread lime over the lawn if the pH is acid (below pH7). Fertilisers used over a long period can make the soil too acid
- control winter diseases – brown patch and dollar spot – using lawn fungicides and improving drainage
- use a lawn mix that includes ‘cool season grasses’ – bent, rye and fescues. These stay green throughout winter in cool climates.
CHECKLIST
If you want to improve your lawn, ask yourself:
- am I mowing it at the best height, with the best machinery?
- am I keeping the soil in good condition … fertile, well drained, not too compacted etc?
- am I keeping it watered in dry weather?
- do I have the best varieties of grass?
- are lawn weeds being kept under control?
- are pest and disease problems always controlled?
- is it protected from over-use and is any damaged turf repaired or replaced?
WHAT A LAWN EXPERT SHOULD KNOW
To maintain a top quality lawn, you (or the lawn expert you employ) should be familiar with all of the following aspects of lawn establishment and maintenance:
Lawn Establishment
- soil preparation
- choosing appropriate grass varieties (eg. grasses for high quality lawns, high-use lawns, lawns in shade, low maintenance lawns)
- sowing techniques
- laying turf lawns
Lawn Care
- mowing techniques (including mowing heights and use of appropriate machinery)
- edge trimming
- watering
- fertilising
- weed prevention and cure
- winter care
Lawn Repair
- aerating
- oversowing
- topdressing
- pest and disease control
Why You Should Study This Course
Designed by professionals for professionals, this course is perfect for those who want to gain a qualification to show for their experience in the field, or those who want to learn more about turf care and restoration. The inclusion of horticulture and irrigation modules gives students a broader understanding of plants and watering which is required by anyone in any horticulture specialty. The course will be of most value to those looking for a career in the following areas:
Turf care & repair
Green keeping
Sportsgrounds
Grounds maintenance
Parks & gardens
Lawn mowing
Landscaping