Horticulturist/Gardener

Gardeners grow and look after plants in many different settings. These include public and historical parks, private and botanical gardens, plant nurseries, sports facilities, roadside verges and green areas around public buildings. This area of work is known as amenity horticulture and most gardeners work in this area of horticulture.

Many gardeners work in gardens open to the public and can be engaged in visitor management, events, leading garden walks and contributing to the interpretation and marketing of the site. Gardeners must work to maximise visitor enjoyment by maintaining excellent standards of presentation within the environment.

A gardener’s work involves a variety of jobs including:

cutting grass and hedges
edging lawns
seasonal maintenance of shrubs and trees
digging, planting and weeding flower beds and borders
laying mulch (compost, bark or other materials) around plants
propagation, plant production and maintenance under glass
clearing and planting flower beds
providing plants with support and protection
pest and disease control and the timely and safe use of pesticides as directed
clearing leaves and litter
recycling garden rubbish
cleaning and maintaining machinery and equipment.

Gardeners will be expected to use a range of hand tools and mechanical equipment, ranging from hand forks to large vehicle-mounted equipment requiring specialised training.

The work may involve basic building, such as erecting sheds or conservatories or building patios, walls, decking and fencing.

Gardeners involved in ground maintenance may work in small teams to make sure parks and public spaces are regularly maintained. Some gardeners may also be involved in park safety, carrying out regular checks on children’s playgrounds.

Gardeners may specialise in:

trees and shrubs (see Arboriculturist)
maintaining specialist play surfaces such as cricket and football pitches (see Groundsman/woman) and golf courses (see Greenkeeper)
interior landscaping and looking after plants in office blocks, shopping arcades and other indoor areas
restoring old gardens
tree-planting schemes
the regeneration of derelict land.

Hours and environment

Gardeners’ hours can vary according to the season. In the growing season, they often start very early in the morning, and need to be flexible and willing to work extra hours at peak times to keep gardens and parks looking at their best. Overtime, part-time and casual or seasonal work are available.

Many gardeners are self-employed, working for private individuals and offering services from basic lawn mowing and hedge trimming to full garden design.

Gardeners work outdoors in all weathers. Some jobs, such as working in the gardens of a historic house, involve regular contact with the public.

Gardeners may also have to climb ladders, use noisy machinery or apply chemicals and fertilisers to improve soils or kill pests and diseases.

A driving licence could be an advantage. The work could be difficult for people with allergies to grass and pollen or those who get hay fever.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

Gardeners working for a local authority may start at around €18,000 to €25,000 a year.
More experienced gardeners may earn up to €30,000 a year.
Senior gardeners specialising in ground maintenance or in management jobs may earn around €35,000 a year.

Self-employed gardeners normally negotiate an hourly rate, which varies depending on their experience and where they work.

Skills and personal qualities

A gardener should:

understand plant science
have a willingness to develop a full range of horticultural craft skills
be prepared to work outdoors in all weathers
be capable of undertaking all aspects of horticultural work and the physical challenges that the role presents
have good ICT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records
have an understanding of all current health and safety legislation
be confident when dealing with the public
work well independently and as part of a team
be able to work with different types of people and have good negotiating, communication and business skills.

Interests

A gardener should:

understand plant science
have a willingness to develop a full range of horticultural craft skills
be prepared to work outdoors in all weathers
be capable of undertaking all aspects of horticultural work and the physical challenges that the role presents
have good ICT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records
have an understanding of all current health and safety legislation
be confident when dealing with the public
work well independently and as part of a team
be able to work with different types of people and have good negotiating, communication and business skills.

Given the opportunities within the role of gardener, there are many different types of employers; they include:

local authorities
private companies and contractors
developers
voluntary sector organisations
sports clubs
theme parks
universities, colleges and large industrial companies
plant nurseries
heritage organisations such as the National Trust
private individuals.

Gardening itself is becoming more popular, leading to greater demand for gardening services. Employment opportunities are increasing as local authorities seek to improve the ‘green spaces’ they control. Many local authorities contract out their gardening and horticultural work to landscaping contractors.

Self-employment prospects are good, particularly in areas such as landscape maintenance, contracting and design.