GROW YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MULCH AND COMPOST
& GROW YOUR ABILITY TO GROW PLANTS
Mulching and composting are well established gardening techniques used for improving soils and plant growth. They can also help with regulating soil moisture and temperature and supress weeds.
All too often though, these techniques are not fully understood and as a result not used to their full potential.
COURSE OUTLINE
There are four lessons, taking around 10 hours to complete.
LESSON 1 SCOPE OF MULCHING FOUNDATIONS OF MULCHING AND DECOMPOSITION
What is mulching?
Why is mulch used?
Types of mulches
Mulch, soil conditioner or fertiliser – what is the difference?
Selection of mulch
General rules
Mulching materials
Plastic mulch
The process of decomposition
Some precautions when using mulch
Organic mulches
Decomposition rate
How mulch decomposes
Undecomposed mulch
LESSON 2 MULCH ECOLOGY, CHARACTERISTICS AND APPLICATIONS
Effects of mulching materials on soil health and crop production
Mulching and climate change
Characteristics and applications
Characteristics of organic mulches
Characteristics of inorganic mulches
Mulching applications
LESSON 3 MULCH LAYING TECHNIQUES AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
How to lay mulch
Sheet mulching
Hydro mulching
Living mulch
Different mulches for different plants
Types of mulches
Bacterial vs fungal soils
What mulch to use in different situations
LESSON 4 COMPOSTING
Composting
Composting methods
Carbon to nitrogen ratio
Take-away points from this lesson
Mulch and composting assignment
In this course, we’ll explore:
- the essential principles of mulching,
- its role in soil health,
- different types of mulches and their applications, and gain,
- understanding the decomposition process and how it impacts soil fertility.
Additionally, we’ll consider the ecological effects of mulching, and the various techniques for applying mulch effectively.
We’ll touch on the importance of composting and how it complements mulching to create healthier, more sustainable gardens and agricultural systems.
How Your Learning Experience Works
- Each lesson begins with a lesson aim, so you know up front what the goal of that lesson is.
- You then begin reading through information presented in concise notes throughout that lesson.
- Learning tasks are scattered throughout the lesson at strategic points. These are activities which are away from the computer. They may involve discussing something with a friend, colleague or someone who has some experience with mulch; or simply looking at how people in your neighbourhood have been using mulch. These tasks are are always easy to achieve without too much effort or difficulty, even for people living in isolated situations. If you have a hiccup you can contact the school and an expert will aways be available to help you navigate any issues that stump you. These tasks draw on ways we have developed to direct practical learning experiences, over 47 years of teaching people through distance education.
- Interactive online Q & A tests are tackled at the end of each lesson, which further reinforces the learning of important information.
- A list of take away key points are given at the end of each lesson, so you know what are the most critical things to remember from that lesson. By revisiting these things at that point, you are strengthening them in your memory.
- Across the course you also watch two short videos we have made (repeatedly if you want). These videos present key facts which will be further strengthened in your memory by encountering them again, and in a different way.
- An additional assignment is completed, submitted, and marked by a tutor; then returned to you, further deepening the learning.
- On conclusion of all lessons, the student sits an online assessment of 70+ questions, which on passing, leads to awarding a micro credential - certificate of completion.
These courses are designed to be able to be completed in 10 hours; making them ideal for CPD or staff training. They are ideal study options for anyone who needs or wants to improve a skill but is pressed to find time for study