Landscaper

You may find it useful to build up your skills by doing a course, like:

• Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture and Amenity Horticulture
• Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture
• Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture

Entry requirements

You may 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, for a level 3 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can get into this job through a horticulture and landscape operative intermediate apprenticeship, which has 2 options:

• horticulture
• landscape construction

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

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

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

If you have some related work experience, this could help you to get an assistant job.

There are no formal requirements to be a landscaper, but most employers will expect you to have some horticulture knowledge and experience.

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.

Professional and industry bodies

You can apply for membership of the British Association of Landscape Industries for advice, training support and details of job vacancies.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a landcaper from:

• The Royal Horticultural Society
• GoLandscape
• Grow Careers

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• sensitivity and understanding
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• the ability to work well with your hands
• customer service skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• discussing clients’ needs 
• working from plans made by garden designers or landscape architects
• ordering supplies
• preparing the ground or interior space
• turfing and seeding lawns
• planting and pruning trees and shrubs
• putting in new plants
• installing features like paving, paths, water features and rock gardens
• advising the client on how to look after the space
• providing on-going maintenance

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

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.