The role
What a gardener actually does, day to day.
The work is mowing lawns, planting and pruning, weeding, clearing leaves, maintaining beds and using tools and machinery to keep spaces looking their best through the seasons. Physical fitness, a feel for plants and reliability matter, along with a willingness to work outdoors in all weathers.
You may work for yourself, a landscaping firm or a council, often outdoors year-round with busier spells in spring and summer, and pay commonly starts around the minimum wage and rises with skill. Self-employed gardeners build their own round of regular customers, which brings independence and the ups and downs of finding work.
Many gardeners learn on the job or through a horticulture course or apprenticeship, building plant knowledge over time. No degree is needed, a driving licence and your own tools are often useful, and experience can lead to landscaping or garden design.
Day to day
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