Job Description
This job is part of our sustainability series: > See more sustainable job ideas > Find out more about sustainable careers
Landscape Gardeners will create and maintain gardens, parks and other outdoor and indoor areas. They will discuss ideas with their client and work from plans to create the garden required. This could be for a private garden large or small, or for a large organisation such as the National Trust.
Duties will include preparing the ground, turfing and seeding lawns, planting and pruning trees and shrubs, installing new features such as paving, paths, water features or rock gardens, putting in new plants. They will also need to advise their client on how to maintain the garden and provide on-going support if required.
Entry Requirements
There are various ways you could get into this role.
College
You could gain useful skills by doing a college course, such as:
- Diploma in Horticulture (Level 2)
- Extended Diploma in Horticulture (Level 3)
- Landscape Construction (Level 3)
You will usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a level 3 course
Apprenticeship
You could get into the role through an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship in horticulture or landscape construction
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
Work Based Route
There are no formal requirements to become a landscape gardener but most employers will expect you to have some horticulture knowledge and experience
Career Tips
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has details of RHS qualifications and course providers. City and Guilds Land Based Services and Lantra Awardshave details of other relevant short courses.
You may need a driving licence to get to work and transport your tools. You might also need a CSCS card if you work on construction sites. You’ll need to be fit for lifting, bending and digging.
Career Path and Progression
In larger firms, you could progress to a supervisory or management position. With experience, you could become a self-employed contractor.
You could also move into a teaching role.
Related careers you may be interested in:
- Fence installer
- Gardener
- Groundsperson
- Horticultural worker
Required Skills
- A keen interested in plants, shrubs, trees and all aspects of gardening
- Physically fit
- Practical
- Prepared to work outside in all weathers
- To be thorough and pay attention to detail
- Good customer service skills
- Able to make decisions
Salary Range
£16,000 to £30,000
