Online Australian Native Trees Course

Learn to identify and grow a wide range of Australian Native Trees

This is a serious course for the plant enthusiast, collector, nurseryman, landscaper or aspiring horticulturist.

• 100 hours of learning
• Tutored by qualified, Australian Plant experts with decades of experience
• Course developed by a team of experts led by John Mason, nurseryman, parks director , author of Growing Australian Natives" (pub. Simon & Schuster) and over 40 other books.

We mostly use Australian plants as garden specimens but they have many other valuable domestic and commercial uses. In the home garden we grow native plants to attract birds and wildlife. Native plants are also grown for their distinctive flowers, foliage and fruits which are highly valued by florists and craftspeople. Other useful products from native plants include essential oils, bush tucker and timber.

WHAT'S IN THE COURSE?
 

The content of each of the eight lessons is as outlined below:‑

1. Introduction
   Review of the system of plant identification
   Genus, Species
   Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
   Characteristics of main Australian Plant Families
   General characteristics of native trees
   Information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.)
   History of nomenclature
   International Code
   Ranks of Taxa
   Principle of priority
   Selection and spelling of plant names
   Changing names
   Hybrids
2. Culture
   Planting Procedure
   Planting on slopes
   Fertilizer
   Time of planting
   Staking
   Mulching
   Pruning native trees
   Steps in removing a branch from a tree
   Soils (Physical, chemical, biological structure)
   Soil profile
   Improving soil profile
   Colloids
   Water and air
   Soil temperature
   Soil life
   Soil Problems (Loss of soil fertility, Erosion, Salinity, Soil compaction, Soil acidification, Build up of dangerous chemicals)
   Improving soils (soil additives etc)
   Limestone Underlay Technique
   Fertilisers
   Fertilising established trees
   Plant Nutrition
   Water Problems
   Drainage
3. Propagation
   Choosing the right propagating technique
   Seed
   Seed sources
   Hybrid seed production
   Storing seed
   Difficult seeds
   Dormancy facftors
   Maintaining genetic identity
   Propagating Media
   Propagating Eucalypts
   Propagating Acacias
   Cuttings
   Improving curtting success rates
   Grafting
   Top graft
   Whip & Tongue graft
   Irrigated graft
   Grafting selected plants ... Eucalypts, Grevilleas, Banksias, Hakeas
   After care of seed and cuttings
   Transplanting (seedlings, cuttings)
   Potting up plants and Growing on
4. Most Commonly Grown Varieties
   Review dozens of relevant genera
   Allocasuarina
   Casuarina
   Melia
   Pittosporum
   Acacia
5. More About Important Groups
   Eucalyptus
   Banksia
   Brachychiton
   Grevillea
   Diagnosing Tree Problems
   Tree Surgery Techniques
6. Other Varieties
   Rainforest Trees
   Constructing a Rainforest
   Acmena
   Eugenia
   Mallotus
   Melicope (Euodia)
   Neolitsia
   Nothofagus
   Schefflera
   Stenocarpus
   Syzygium
   Aracaria
   Agathis
   Actinostrobus
   Callitris
   Podocarpus
   Adansonia
   Agonis
   Albizzia
   Alstonia
   Alphotinia
   Angophora
   Barklya
   Buckinghamia
   Castenospermum
   Elaeocarpus
   Ficus
   Macadamia
   Melia
   Nuytsia
   Tristania/Lophostemon
7. Making The Best Use of Native Plants
   Why plant trees in the Landscape
   Problems with trees
   Biological controls
   Parasitism
   Symbiosis
   Planting Techniques (Pocket planting, slope serrration, Wattling, Planting arid sites, Direct seeding, Spray seeding)
   Edible Australian Tree Crops (Davidsonia, Quandong, Backhousia, Citrus, Acacia, Syzygium, Tasmannia, Kunzea)
   Australian indigenous timber trees
   Essential oils
   Useful Australian Conifers (Actinostrobus, Athrotaxus, Agathis, Araucaria, Callitris, Podocarpus)
   Australian Indigenous Palms
8. Special Assignment
   You select and conduct an in depth study of one plant genus or group (eg. Timber trees, conifers, trees from a particular region)

NB: Tree Identification is an important part of this course. You will develop a systematic approach to tree identification based upon a knowledge of plant families and the taxonomic system.

Aims

• To identify a wide variety of trees that are indigenous to Australia
• To describe the culture of Australian Native Trees.
• To propagate Australian Native Trees
• Compare characteristics and cultural requirements of different commonly grown species of Australian Native Trees.
• To compare characteristics and cultural requirements of conifer and rainforest species of Australian Native Trees.
• To describe a range of uses for Australian native trees.
• To study one type of Australian Native Tree in depth.

Sound like you? Request a free information pack today!