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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

£25,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends flexibly

How to become

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 1 Diploma in Skills for Working in Horticulture Industries
  • Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture
  • Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture

Entry requirements

You may 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

Apprenticeship

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

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 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

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
  • physical skills like lifting, bending and carrying
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

On a typical day you may:

  • discuss clients’ needs 
  • work from plans made by garden designers or landscape architects
  • order supplies
  • prepare the ground or interior space
  • turf and seed lawns
  • plant and prune trees and shrubs
  • put in new plants
  • install features like paving, paths, water features and rock gardens
  • advise the client on how to look after the space
  • provide on-going maintenance

Working environment

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 physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

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.

Current opportunities

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Groundsperson

  • Wage: £17,230.00 Annually
  • Location: Birmingham

Groundsman Apprentice

  • Wage: £280.00 Weekly
  • Location: London
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Horticulture

  • Provider: BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON EDUCATION BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: Dunstable

Certificate in Practical Horticulture

  • Provider: ASKHAM BRYAN COLLEGE
  • Start date: 06 September 2021
  • Location: YORK
Find courses near you

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