Gardener
Look after a garden and care for the plants so people can enjoy the green space all year round.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£375
Entry level
£500
Experienced
Monthly
£1,625
Entry level
£2,167
Experienced
Yearly
£19,500
Entry level
£26,000
Experienced
8,500
people are currently employed
High growth
200 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would look after a garden or other green spaces like public parks, school and sports grounds so people can enjoy them all year round.
You’d grow and care for all types of plants like flowers, trees, shrubs and lawns.
Your tasks might include
raising plants from seeds or cuttings
digging, planting and weeding flower beds and borders
pruning shrubs
checking the health of plants by identifying any pests or diseases and controlling them
giving plants food and water
using machinery such as lawn mowers, rotovators and hedge trimmers
maintaing high levels of presentation in public parks and gardens
cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment
You could also design planting schemes for gardens. You’d use your knowledge of plants and creativity to select plants and position them so there’s something to see in the garden all year round.
You may also carry out basic building tasks, such as putting up sheds and building walls, fences and patios.
There are many different types of gardens you could work in, such as:
private gardens
green spaces around buildings
street plant displays
public parks and community gardens
botanical gardens like the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh
historical gardens such as Inverewe Gardens in The Highlands or at heritage sites like Culzean Castle in Ayrshire
If you work in a garden that is open to the public you might also answer questions from visitors or lead garden walks.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- time management
- taking initiative
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- respecting
- creative
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Environmental Science
Practical Craft Skills
Science
Skills for Work: Rural Skills
There are no set qualifications to enter this job but some employers ask for a good general education (usually SCQF level 4).
To enter a relevant Scottish Vocational Qualification such as Horticulture (SVQ level 2/3) may require qualifications at SCQF level 4-5.
You may also be able to do a Modern Apprenticeship.
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills and an understanding of the natural environment will be useful. For example, Skills for Work: Rural Skills (SCQF level 4) or the John Muir Award
Business and enterprise related subjects such as SQA Enterprise and Employability Award (SCQF level 4/5) may also be of value as many gardners are self-employed.
Previous work experience is helpful too.
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