Gardener
Look after a garden and care for the plants so people can enjoy the green space all year round.

About the job
Salary (before tax)
Entry
£19,500

Experienced
£26,000
In this job, new workers in Scotland start around £19,500 per year. Experienced workers can earn up to £26,000.
Source:
National Careers ServiceWhat it's like
You would look after a garden or other green spaces such as public parks, school and sports grounds so people can enjoy them all year round.
You’d grow and care for all types of plants, such as 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, such as the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh
historical gardens, such as Inverewe Gardens in the North-West Highlands
heritage sites, such as 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.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
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