Gardener

Alternative titles for this job include

Gardeners grow plants and look after them in private and public green spaces.

Average salary (a year)

£16,000 Starter

to

£25,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 variable

You could work

freelance / self-employed managing your own hours

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a gardener

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• applying directly
• specialist courses run by a professional body

College

You could do a college course in gardening or horticulture to get some of the knowledge and practical skills needed for this career. Courses include:

• Level 1 Certificate in Horticulture Skills
• Level 2 Diploma in Practical Horticultural Skills
• Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture

Courses would cover things like identification of plants, growing plants from seed and how to use gardening machinery safely.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 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, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through a horticulture and landscape operative intermediate apprenticeship.

The Royal Horticulture Society also offers horticultural apprenticeships in some of its national gardens for 16 to 19 year olds.

You could move onto a landscape or horticulture supervisor advanced apprenticeship as you get more experience.

To become a head gardener or garden manager you could go on to do a horticulture and landscaping technical manager higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

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
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Work

You could start as an assistant gardener and work your way up.

If you have some related work experience, for example in garden centre work or in conservation, this could help you to get a job.

Volunteering

You can get experience by volunteering with:

• The Conservation Volunteers
• National Trust
• The Wildlife Trusts

You'll also find volunteering opportunities through organisations like:

• Do-IT
• NCVO

Direct Application

To work as a gardener you would need to be able to show employers that you have the gardening skills, knowledge and enthusiasm they are looking for. Experience in gardening or a horticultural role is highly valued by employers.

Other Routes

The Royal Horticultural Society offers courses which are suitable if you want to learn more about gardening, or if you want to get qualifications that will help you get a job in horticulture.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a gardener from Grow Careers and Horticulture Week.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work well with your hands
• customer service skills
• the ability to operate and control equipment
• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• physical skills like lifting, bending and reaching
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• have a Certificate of Competence, if you carry out hazardous tasks using a chainsaw

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

On a typical day you may:

• raise plants from seeds or cuttings
• dig, plant and weed flower beds and borders
• prune shrubs and trees
• check the health of plants and control pests
• use machinery like lawn mowers and hedge trimmers
• look after the appearance of plants and the surrounding landscape
• clean and maintain equipment
• do basic building tasks like laying patios, or putting up sheds and fences

Working environment

You could work in a garden, in a park, at a client's business, at a client's home or in woodland.

Your working environment may be at height and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a senior or head gardener.

You could move into other work like landscaping, greenkeeping or the care of trees and shrubs (arboriculture).

You could move into work doing tree inspections and surveys through an arboriculturist higher apprenticeship.

You could also set up your own business, offering a service to private customers.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a gardener right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Level 2 Horticulture (Landscape Gardening)

• Provider: WILTSHIRE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE
• Start date: 05 September 2022
• Location: Chippenham

Horticulture Level 1 Certificate: Gardening Basics

• Provider: SHIPLEY COLLEGE
• Start date: 17 April 2023
• Location: Shipley

Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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Not what you're looking for?

Search further careers

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• Horticultural worker
• Landscaper
• Groundsperson
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