How to become a Gardener

Gardener

Gardeners grow and maintain plants in private and public green spaces including botanical gardens, plant nurseries, and open green spaces.

What do Gardener do?

Gardeners grow and maintain plants in private and public green spaces including botanical gardens, plant nurseries, and open green spaces. They care for and plant flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, lawns. Gardeners that work in public spaces can be involved in visitor management, leading garden walks and contributing to interpretation and marketing.

Gardeners use a range of tools and mechanical equipment, requiring specialised training. The work may involve basic building, such as erecting sheds or building patios, walls, and fencing. Gardeners who maintain parks and public spaces often work in small teams and responsibilities may include park safety and checking children’s playgrounds.

Gardeners can specialise in area like trees and shrubs (arboriculture), interior landscaping or garden restoration.

Gardener Projected Earnings

£19,500 - £26,000

Qualifications needed

Undergraduate degree in

College course
Apprenticeship
Working on the job
Specialist training

Skills & Atributes Needed

Understanding and implementing designs and schemes of work, measuring and marking out, safely operating tools and machinery, appropriate care and maintenance of machinery and tools
Hold a driving license
Being physically fit, working outside (whatever the weather)
Good communication and listening skills, following instructions
Able to work independently and/or part of a team
Demonstrate initiative, good organisation, willingness to learn/continue training