Horticulture
Free online taster horticulture courses
This collection of courses introduces you to a wide range of topics including propagation, cultivation, design and plant biology.
These courses were developed by the Horticulture department at UHI Argyll.
Drystone Walling
In this intensive introduction to drystone walling, you’ll learn how to repair and construct field walls and drystone garden features. Ideal for beginners, this course equips you with the basics to safely build drystone walls and features at home.
Suitable for ages 14 and above. For inquiries related to physical disabilities affecting tool use or stone lifting, please contact us.
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Planting Design & Plantsmanship
This course will run online on Monday evenings 6-8.30pm, from Monday 16th March 2026 for 12 weeks.
In this course you will learn how to identify a wide range of types plants and learn about the environmental conditions that they need to thrive in gardens. You will learn how to design plant combinations and draw up planting plans. In your practical day you will learn how to best prepare ground, establish a range of plants and maintain them once planted.
During the course you will design a plant collection for your own garden, or an alternative suitable site and specify the materials required to establish your collection. You will learn about soils and how to improve them for different types of plant and learn about the different types on maintenance different plants need including feeding, staking and pruning.
- Where? Online
- Full-time or Part-time? Evening Part-time: 12 weeks
- Want to book a place? Book your place here
Budding Minds: STEM Horticulture for Primary and Early Years
This course will run online on Monday evenings 6-8pm, from Monday 2nd February 2026 for 6 weeks. Practical day: Wednesday 4th March 10am-3pm at UHI Argyll, Helensburgh centre.
This course is aimed at Early Years and Primary School teachers who would like to introduce or improve STEM Horticulture activities in school. This course is delivered by an experienced horticulturist who has been teaching horticulture for many years and will provide you with invaluable hints and tips for delivering practical horticulture in a fun and manageable way that fits into a term time pattern.
- Where? Online with one practical day in our Helensburgh centre
- Full-time or Part-time? Evening Part-time: 6 weeks & 1 practical day
- Want to book a place? Book your place here
Plant Propagation (Dunoon)
This course will run in Dunoon on Thursday 10.30am-2pm, from 30th April for 6 weeks.
This course is a series of workshops in which you will learn plant propagation skills, including taking cuttings, sowing seeds, layering, division of herbaceous perennials and more.
You will learn how to choose the best propagation method for different plants and the advantages and disadvantages of a range of propagation techniques.
This course will also improve your plant identification skills.
Propagation workshops held in the Struan Lodge Community Garden. Weather permitting, the course may also include a trip to a commercial propagation unit.
- Where? Dunoon
- Full-time or Part-time? Part-time from Thursday 30th April
- Want to book a place? Book your place here
Introduction to Garden Design
This course will run Online on Monday evenings 6-8.30pm, from 20th October for 13 weeks.
In this course you will learn how to design a garden space of your choosing, which could be your own garden or that of a friend, a local school, or any other suitable location (your lecturer will give you advice about choosing a suitable site to design).
You will learn about the principles of design, how to gather a client brief or decide what you really want from your own space, how to carry out a basic site survey, and how to create a design, drawn to scale, for your site.
This course would suit anyone with an interest in improving their garden or interested in learning basic design skills to begin designing for other people.
You will receive guest lectures from Chelsea Flower Show award winning designer Amber Crowley who will show you various projects that she has designed and built as well as supporting you to produce the best design you can for the garden you choose to design in your project.
- Where? Online or from a mainland UHI Arygyll centre
- Full-time or Part-time? Part-time evening for 13 weeks
- Want to find out more and Book a place? Visit Eventbrite page
Horticulture Pathways
These part time courses are a wonderful way to improve your gardening skills. You'll work alongside out full-time students undertaking up to 4 units in each semester.
With a mix of theory and practical work , our part time courses are a perfect start if you are considering a career in horticulture and would like an introduction to basic horticultural skills.
The practical elements of our courses will be delivered face to face in the wonderful surroundings of Struan Lodge Community Garden in Dunoon, and Hermitage Park in Helensburgh depending on your location.
- Where? Helensburgh, Dunoon
- Full-time or Part-time? Part-time: 17 weeks
- Want to find out more? Visit the course page
Horticulture NC
Whether you simply want to improve your skills in the garden or are considering a career in horticulture, this highly practical course will equip you with all the essentials you need to succeed.
- Where? Helensburgh, Dunoon
- Full-time or Part-time? Full-time, starts Jan 2026
- Want to find out more? Visit the course page
Horticulture HNC
The HNC Horticulture is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of horticulture and landscape and develop – at a practical level – an understanding of plants' characteristics, growth, and use.
The course will be delivered by very experienced horticulture lecturers and an award-winning garden designer.
- Where? This course can be studied from anywhere in Scotland with two days per week of online theory classes and 5 residential field trips to carry out practical work.
- Full-time or Part-time? Full-time
- Want to find out more? Visit the course page
Horticulture HND
The HND Horticulture will develop your skills in plant and crop physiology and breeding, planting design, soil management and landscape surveying, as well as experience in the care, maintenance and management of plants. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience in ecology and plant habitat conservation.
- Where? This course can be studied from anywhere in Scotland with two days per week of online theory classes and 5 residential field trips to carry out practical work
- Full-time or Part-time? Full-time
- Want to find out more? Visit the course page