This unit applies to the process of production and preparation of specialised, unusual or rare plants in a production nursery or by other organisations, groups and individuals with a wide range of species and cultivars as the specialised plants or individual cultivars under production. This standard involves working under limited supervision from others, with checking only related to overall progress. The work requires the application of horticultural knowledge and a broad range of horticultural skills. Specialist plant preparation is usually done according to established enterprise guidelines where some discretion and judgement is required in the selection of equipment, work organisation, services, actions, and achieving outcomes within time constraints.

This unit covers the process of preparing specialised plants for sale and defines the standard required to: identify customer requirements and treatments to achieve the effect; prepare equipment and plants for treatment; carry out plant treatments; maintain the appearance and growth pattern of treated plants.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

This unit contains employability skills.

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following: identify customer requirements and treatments to achieve the effect prepare equipment and plants for treatment carry out plant treatments maintain the appearance and growth pattern of treated plants.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communicate with work team members, supervisors, suppliers and clients interpret production/marketing plans and plant quality specifications organise and co-ordinate planned activities estimate treatment and plant requirements, sizes and quantities; and calculate ratios, proportions and application rates co-ordinate work group, materials, equipment and own activities to sequentially and effectively complete operations in a timely manner use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

characteristics of a range of potted plants commonly treated for special aesthetic purposes different treatments which are applied to specialised plants to get desired aesthetic appearance optimum timing of treatments aftercare requirements of treated plants nursery industry best practice guide.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Specialised plants may include:	a range of specialised plants including: weeping specimens potted trees and shrubs bulbs bonsai ferns cacti succulents indoor foliage espaliering topiary ready-made hedges.
Specialist techniques may include:	formative and decorative pruning staking tying and training working with other aids such as baskets frames specialist tools materials.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice	Yes	No	Comments/feedback
Customer requirements are analysed and clarified by market research or with a supervisor.
Specialist plants requiring treatment are selected for appropriateness to the requirements.
Treatments appropriate to the specialised plant are selected according to production and/marketing plan of an organisation, or the creative talent of the individual entrepreneur.
The timing of the treatments is determined according to the seasonality of the plant species and market considerations.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards in carrying out specialist plant treatments are identified, risks assessed and controls implemented.
Materials, tools and equipment required for the job are selected, prepared and used.
Treatments are undertaken to meet the aesthetic requirements of the plant.
Treatments are carried out according to enterprise OHS requirements.
The health and aesthetic appearance of the plant is monitored to ensure quality standards are met.
Water is applied according plant requirements.
Environmental parameters are modified to ensure optimum growth of plant.
Remedial or preventative measures are applied to the plants to ensure they maintain their aesthetic appearance.

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCNSY305A - Prepare specialised plants

Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCNSY305A - Prepare specialised plants

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: