- Agriculture & Horticulture, SIT Online
#Horticulture #SITOnline
As founder and General Manager of The High Leaf Rangers, a commercial grounds maintenance and mowing company, Davie already had extensive hands-on experience in landscaping, gardening, mowing, and grounds maintenance.
“Before enrolling, I could mow a lawn, trim a hedge, plant a garden, and deal with Southland weather having a tantrum, but I wanted to understand more of the ‘why’ behind the work,” he explains. “Why certain plants suit certain places, why soil matters, why drainage can make or break a job, and why planning is just as important as turning up with tools.”
“I decided to study the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Landscape Construction) (Level 3) through SIT Online because I wanted to back up the practical side of what I was already doing with proper knowledge and a recognised qualification.”
As a practical learner, Davie found SIT Online suited his needs.
“I was looking for study options that would actually fit around real life. I needed something flexible, because stopping work to study full-time was not realistic for me. It allowed me to keep working, run a business, support my family, and study at the same time.”
“SIT Online stood out because I could study from home and still complete practical work using real sites and real examples. That made a big difference for me.”
Davie says the programme met his expectations by connecting learning directly to industry practice.
“I was able to use actual gardens, actual client situations, and real projects, which made the learning much easier to relate to.”
The course expanded his knowledge of soil, plant care, irrigation, drainage, garden design, maintenance planning, and client communication.
“One of the biggest things I learned was that good landscaping is not just about making something look tidy on the day. It is about planning for what that site will look like in six months, one year, or five years. Plants grow, weeds come back, soil changes, weather gets involved, and maintenance matters.”
The ability to apply learning immediately to his business was particularly rewarding.
“The most rewarding part was being able to apply the learning straight into real work. I was not just completing assignments for the sake of it. I was using real sites, real problems, and real solutions.”
Davie says the qualification strengthened both his confidence and professionalism.
“I already had practical experience, but the study helped me put proper reasoning behind it. It helped me explain things better to clients and think more professionally about the work.”
He also valued tutor feedback, which helped him refine his work and understanding throughout the programme.
Balancing study alongside running a business, family life, and client commitments was the biggest challenge.
“Work, family, weather, deadlines, clients, machinery, and study all had to fit into the same week, and sometimes there were not enough hours in the day.”
“The written side was also a challenge. I am more comfortable with tools, mowers, and soil than I am with long assignments.”
Now Davie approaches projects with a broader perspective.
“Before studying, I would often look at a job and think about what needed to be done physically. Now I look at the whole site. I think about the soil, drainage, sun, shade, plant selection, maintenance, safety, client needs, and long-term result.”
“It is one thing to do the work, but it is another thing to understand the reason behind the work and be able to explain that properly. It’s more than cutting the grass and pull a few weeds. There is planning, science, plant knowledge, problem-solving, communication, and a fair bit of patience involved.”
The qualification has also helped him strengthen The High Leaf Rangers.
“I can take on bigger work, plan better, communicate better, and make better decisions for clients and sites.”
Looking ahead, Davie plans to continue growing the business, creating employment opportunities, and supporting local communities across Southland.
“I want The High Leaf Rangers to be known as a local business that turns up, does the job properly, and actually cares about the places we look after.”
His advice to prospective students is straightforward: “Go for it, but be ready to put the work in. SIT Online is flexible, but flexible does not mean easy.”
Reflecting on the experience, Davie says the effort was worthwhile.
“There have definitely been late nights, deadline pressure, and a few moments of wondering why I signed myself up for more paperwork. But it has been worth it.”
“It has helped me see that I was not just doing a job. I was building skills, knowledge, and a future in an industry I genuinely care about.”
“SIT Online gave me a way to study that actually fitted around my life, my work, and my family. For that, I am grateful.”