Landscape Gardener
Design and create outdoor spaces — from domestic gardens to public parks and commercial landscapes — combining hard landscaping skills with horticultural knowledge.
High
Moderate
1–3 years via apprenticeship, college, or direct site experience
Level 2 or 3 NVQ (Horticulture or Landscape and Ecosystems Management)
typical
What you do
Landscape gardeners plan and install outdoor environments: building patios, paths, walls, decking, water features, and garden structures, as well as planting borders, lawns, trees, and shrubs. Many landscape gardeners handle both design and installation; others focus on one or the other. Commercial landscape work includes public realm, housing development landscapes, and corporate grounds. Ongoing maintenance contracts provide regular income for self-employed gardeners. Skills in outdoor lighting, drainage, and sustainable planting are increasingly valued.
Why this career is resilient
Landscape gardening requires physical site work and skilled design judgement that cannot be automated for the custom residential and small commercial market. Demand for garden renovation and improvement is consistently strong — driven by house price growth and changing lifestyle preferences. The green infrastructure agenda (biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage) is expanding the professional scope of landscape work.
A typical day
A team day might begin with hard landscaping — sawcutting and laying porcelain paving to a precise level — followed by planting a mixed border to a customer's design brief, mulching, and an end-of-day site tidy.
Routes in
Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn: work with an employer and study part-time, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Typically funded by the government and your employer.
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Employed landscape gardeners earn £22,000–£35,000. Self-employed landscapers with design skills commonly earn £35,000–£60,000. Specialist designers and project managers earn more.
Training costs: Apprenticeship: no upfront cost. College: £1,000–£2,500 for Level 2–3 horticulture or landscape qualifications. Hand tools and basic equipment: £300–£800 to start.