Gardener Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a gardener your tasks could include:

• raising plants from seeds or cuttings
• digging, planting and weeding flower beds and borders
• pruning shrubs
• checking the health of plants by identifying any pests or diseases and controlling them
• applying nutrients to plants and maintaining moisture levels
• using machinery such as lawn mowers, rotovators and hedge trimmers
• maintaining high levels of presentation in public parks and gardens
• cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment.

You may also carry out basic building tasks, such as putting up sheds and building walls, fences and patios.

If you work in a garden that is open to the public you may have to answer questions from visitors.

Hours

If you work as a gardener for employers such as local authorities, you will usually work 37 hours a week. These hours may vary with the different seasons of the year. You may be able to do overtime, weekend and part-time work, particularly during busy times.

If you are self-employed, you can arrange your own hours, although you will need to be flexible as your work could often be disrupted by the weather.

For some jobs you will need to wear safety equipment such as gloves, eye protectors and hard hats. Gardening involves a lot of lifting, digging and carrying.

Income

Gardeners can earn from around £11,000 to £19,000 or more a year.

Self-employed gardeners usually agree an hourly rate with their customers. Average rates will vary according to the area of the country.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You do not need any particular qualifications to work as a gardener, but you must be able to show real interest in gardening. Some gardening experience would help you.

If you do not have any experience of gardening, you could start by doing courses such as:

• BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Horticulture
• National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) Level 2 Certificate in Gardening
• BTEC and NPTC Certificate/Diploma in Horticulture levels 2 and 3.

If you are self-employed you will need a driving licence, as you will have to take your equipment to the places you are working at.

You may be able to start in this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To find out more, see the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

Training and development

You may be able to work towards the Award/Certificate/Diploma in Work-based Horticulture at levels 2 and 3.

If your job involves tasks such as operating chainsaws and using pesticides, you must by law have certificates of competence. These are awarded by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) and Lantra Awards. See their websites for details.

• National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)
• Lantra Awards

You could add to your skills and knowledge by doing further training, including:

• short courses awarded by the NPTC and Lantra Awards
• distance learning courses run by the Horticultural Correspondence College
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture.

See the following websites for details:

• Horticultural Correspondence College
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)

You could then take higher-level courses such as:

• BTEC HND, foundation degree or degree in horticulture
• Kew Royal Botanical Gardens Diploma in Horticulture
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh diplomas
• RHS Diploma in Horticulture.

Skills and knowledge

To be a gardener, you should have:

• an interest in plants and nature
• an enjoyment of working outdoors
• good practical skills
• patience
• a good level of strength and fitness
• creativity and an eye for detail
• awareness of health and safety
• good business sense if self-employed.

More information

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
20A Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR
Tel: 0131 552 7171
www.rbge.org.uk

National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)
Building 500
Abbey Park
Stareton
Warwickshire
CV8 2LY
Tel: 024 7685 7300
www.nptc.org.uk

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
www.rhs.org.uk

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
www.rbgkew.org.uk

LGcareers
www.lgcareers.com

Horticultural Correspondence College
Fiveways House
Westwells Road
Hawthorn
Corsham
SN13 9RG
Tel: 01225 816700
www.hccollege.co.uk

Lantra Awards
www.lantra-awards.co.uk

Lantra
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk

Opportunities

You could find work as a gardener with organisations such as local authorities, private companies, the Royal Parks, botanical gardens and voluntary organisations like the National Trust. Some gardeners work for garden centres.

You could also set up your own business, offering gardening services to private customers.

With experience you could apply for a supervisory job, such as senior or head gardener, with responsibility for staff. You may be able to move into management, although you are likely to need some qualifications to do this.

You could use your gardening experience to move into other work such as landscaping, greenkeeping or arboriculture (the care of trees and shrubs). See the profiles elsewhere on this website for details.

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, in Jobcentre Plus offices and on the following websites (links open in a new window):

• LGjobs.com
• growcareers.info
• Horticulture Week

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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