What does a Gardener do?

A Gardener is responsible for the general care and maintenance of gardened areas. They can work for nurseries, greenhouses or landscaping companies, or a hotel, park or store can hire them directly to handle the gardens on their property. Using plant knowledge and gardening skills, Gardeners create and maintain garden areas, making sure the plants are healthy and receive the right type of care. Most Gardeners work outdoors in various weather conditions and use hand tools or light equipment, such as mowers and trimmers. They often work around chemicals, including fertilizers and pesticides, to help the plants grow well.

Gardener skills and qualifications

Gardener careers require candidates to have a variety of skills and qualifications to perform the duties well, including:

• Strong knowledge of plant care and an understanding of various plants’ needs

• Interpersonal skills to communicate plant care information to others

• Attention to detail

• Problem-solving and decision-making to deal with gardening problems

• Knowledge of health and safety regulations regarding landscaping and gardening

• Ability to use various gardening tools

• Comfort working outdoors in all types of weather and natural elements

• Math skills to calculate fertilizer and pesticide application rates and chemical dilutions

Gardener experience requirements

When hiring a gardener, most companies look for previous experience working with plants and gardening equipment. If you have specific equipment or treatment protocols you use, you might look for someone with previous experience using those. Entry-level Gardener positions might not require any previous gardening experience if you’re willing to provide all training.

Gardener education and training requirements

Most companies have minimal education requirements, usually a GED or high school diploma. Some companies prefer candidates with a horticulture or landscaping certification. Most training for Gardeners happens on the job while working for a landscaping company or as part of a maintenance or gardening team. Some people become Master Gardeners through universities. The program is designed for those who complete the program to volunteer and share their knowledge. However, having the Master Gardener designation means the candidate has gone through intensive training in horticulture, which can provide transferrable skills and knowledge to a Gardener position. While this isn’t a required certification, finding a candidate who is a Master Gardener could be beneficial.

Gardener salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Gardener is $17.60 per hour. This hourly rate can vary based on the location, company, gardening experience and responsibilities of the job.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this isn’t the exact job description you need for your company, explore these job description samples for similar positions:

• Landscaper

• Groundskeeper

Gardener job description FAQs

What qualities make a good Gardener?

A good Gardener enjoys plants and nature. They don’t mind getting dirty and doing the manual labor required to maintain a garden. Being a Gardener requires patience to see things grow and nurse them back to health. It also requires math skills for calculating fertilizer and pesticide amounts.

What should you look for in a Gardener resume?

Look for previous experience maintaining a large garden or landscaped area. A previous Gardener or landscaping position can indicate that the applicant has the skills and knowledge to handle the role. Gardening certifications can also show that the candidate has knowledge that can assist with the role.

What is the difference between a Gardener and a Landscaper?

Gardeners and Landscapers both work with plants, but they typically have a different focus. Gardeners spend more time caring for and maintaining the health of plants. Landscapers often focus more on the hardscape features, such as retaining walls and patios. They’re more likely to design and create a garden, while a Gardener will maintain it.

How can you make your Gardener job description stand out?

Since gardens can vary significantly, describe what type of grounds, plants and other garden features the chosen candidate will handle. Mention specific tools, equipment and chemicals the Gardener will use and the responsibilities they’ll have, such as identifying diseases or planning new garden areas. Discuss training and support they’ll receive to make their job easier.