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Landscaper

Alternative titles for this job include Landscape gardener, landscape designer

Landscapers create and maintain gardens, parks and other outdoor and indoor areas.

Average salary (a year)

£16,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends flexibly

How to become a Landscaper

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 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) for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a level 3 course

More information

Apprenticeship

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

This apprenticeship usually takes 2 years to complete, and offers 2 options:

  • horticulture
  • landscape construction

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

Work

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.

Direct application

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

Other routes

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) 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

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:

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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
  • Being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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

Working environment

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

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

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.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Under Gardener

  • Wage : £160.00 Weekly
  • Location: Ipswich IP7 7HG

Horticulture Landscaping Apprentice

  • Wage : £157.50 Weekly
  • Location: Liss GU33 6HQ
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Horticulture Skills

  • Provider: Bedfordshire & Luton Education Business Partnership
  • Start date: 01 September 2019
  • Location: Dunstable

Horticulture & Gardening taster

  • Provider: Derbyshire County Council
  • Start date: 30 April 2019
  • Location: NEW MILLS HIGH PEAK
Find courses near you

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