Private Gardener Job Description

Considering a career as a private gardener? 

Here are our answers to some of the questions we are frequently asked by candidates thinking about becoming private gardeners:

Duties, Responsibilities & Skills

What are the duties and responsibilities of a gardener?

It’s always a very hands-on job. Depending on the role, it can involve:

  • Weeding

  • Propagation

  • Planting

  • Garden design

  • Lawn and hedge maintenance

It could also involve:

  • Soft & hard landscaping

  • Vegetable gardening

  • Woodland care

  • Maintenance of items such as fencing, garden furniture

  • General handyman duties

What skills are needed to be a gardener?

  • Varying levels of horticultural knowledge, depending on the role

  • Qualifications are needed for some of the more senior roles, but not all

  • A passion for plants and a knowledge of differences in soil and climate

  • A great work ethic and willingness to work outdoors in all weathers

  • Flexibility, and the ability to work on your own and with others

What are the main gardening tools?

  • Strimmer

  • Ride on mower

  • Chainsaw

  • Spade

  • Rake

are a few of the main tools of a gardener.

Gardener Career

How do you become a professional gardener?

  • A degree / diploma in horticulture or RHS qualifications can be an advantage

  • Start in a junior role and gain on the job experience

What kind of career can one expect to have as a gardener?

  • It can be very fulfilling if you love working outdoors

  • It can be varied and offer lots of scope for creativity, depending on the seasons and location of the garden

  • There are opportunities to look after the same garden for many years, and collaborate with your employer, helping to implement their vision and see it come to life

What is a professional gardener?

  • Someone who has an in-depth knowledge of plants and propagation, who has a passion for what they do

  • Someone who is creative and sees the plants as the focus of the garden

How can I be a successful gardener?

  • Get as much hands-on experience as possible and a thorough grounding in plants (where to plant and when)

  • Qualifications would help

  • Have a long term perspective, as gardens can take years to mature

  • Work hard and show commitment

  • Also common sense, creativity, vision and intellectual curiosity will get you a long way

Do you have to be qualified to be a Gardener?

Not always, it will depend on the role and what level of knowledge is required to do the job.

Why is gardening so important?

  • It creates a connection between the property and the outside environment

  • It creates a place to relax

  • It creates the first impression of an estate/property

What are the pros and cons of being a gardener?

Pros

  • Working outdoors in the summer; not desk-bound

  • Being able to use your creative skills and see your vision come to life

  • Creating a beautiful environment that gives pleasure to others

Cons

  • The Principals don’t always have the funds to realise the gardener’s vision

  • Working outdoors in all weathers, including rain and cold weather

  • Work can be physically demanding at times

Gardener Salary

What is the average pay for a Gardener?

Full time roles can vary from £23,000 for a lower level Under Gardener, up to £30,000+ for more senior roles (salaries tend to start at £20k in Scotland).

How many hours do gardeners work?

Gardeners can be full-time or part-time. Full-time would be 40 hours per week, but the hours in summer can be longer than in the winter.

Gardening vs. Horticulture

What is the difference between gardening and horticulture?

Horticulture is the science of growing plants for a purpose (eg. food, ornamental, medicinal), whereas gardening is the act or process of cultivating an environment where plants can flourish.

What are the 3 areas of horticulture?

The 3 areas are called: pomology, olericulture, and ornamental horticulture.

  • Pomology involves planting, harvesting, storing and processing fruit and nut crops

  • Olericulture involves the production of vegetable food crops

  • Ornamental horticulture covers the growth and use of plants for their beauty

Landscaper vs. Gardener

What is the difference between a landscaper and a gardener?

  • Landscaping involves planning and creating an outdoor space – it incorporates plants (including trees, lawns and shrubbery) with hardscapes, such as pathways, furniture, water features and fences

  • Gardening involves the design, planning and maintenance of the plants in a space. Gardeners are responsible for planting, weeding, cultivating, replacing and harvesting the plants

You can browse all our latest Gardner vacancies here.

  • ski-season-chef-jobs-why-you-should-consider-it

    Ski Season Chef Jobs - Why You Should Consider It

    If you are a professional chef looking for something a little different, then the winter season may just present the ideal chance to broaden your horizons in an exciting role as a private ski ch...

  • hiring-christmas-staff

    A Guide to Hiring Christmas Staff This Festive Season

    Christmas is fast approaching, and with the merry festivities just around the corner, many of our clients are gearing up to celebrate this particular time of the year. But the joyful occasion does ...

  • emergency-nanny-service

    Why We Are the Go-to Emergency Nanny Service

    A late business trip, a delay returning home from a holiday, or your usual childcare falling through, can all lead you to require an emergency nanny service. But searching for a last-minute nanny, ...

  • chef-for-christmas-day

    Why You Should Consider Hiring a Chef for Christmas Day

    Christmas really is one of the most wonderful times of the year. A day of celebration, laughter and spending quality time with your loved ones. It may be a few months away but planning now will sav...

  • ski-chalet-host-jobs

    The Ultimate Guide to Becoming A Chalet Host

    Ski season is fast approaching and for many people becoming a chalet host offers a very exciting career opportunity. Not only does it allow you to work in beautiful winter surroundings but gives yo...

  • ski-chalet-staff-who-what-when-why

    Ski Chalet Staff: Who, What, When, Why?

    ​At Greycoat Lumleys, we are experts in placing experienced, premier staff in seasonal work all over the world - the ski season is no different. From December to April, we’re working hard to provid...

  • what-can-a-private-chef-do

    What Can A Private Chef Do?

    ​A private chef can fulfill many different roles. Whether you need to hire a private chef for the night, or you want to have someone able to travel with you and provide Michelin star level dining, ...

  • tackling-sexism-in-the-industry-hiring-a-male-nanny

    Tackling sexism in the industry: hiring a male nanny.

    ​At Greycoat Lumleys, we look to not only provide a premier service as a domestic staffing agency, but also to stay at the forefront of this industry, which occasionally includes talking about some...

  • could-a-combination-nanny-and-housekeeper-be-the-right-fit-for-you

    Could A Combination Nanny And Housekeeper Be The Right Fit For You?

    ​Families are complicated, and in our experience, every family has different needs, especially when it comes to helping around the house. Many of our clients require a multitude of services, and on...

  • corporate-staff-with-greycoat-lumleys

    Corporate Staff With Greycoat Lumleys.

    ​You might not have realised it, but corporate staffing is an important part of our offering as a premier domestic staff agency. In our opinion, ‘corporate’ doesn’t have to be synonymous with ‘impe...

  • key-takeaways-from-our-2023-salary-survey

    Key Takeaways From Our 2023 Salary Survey

    ​Earlier this year, we carried out our 2023 salary survey. We’re embarking on our 27th year of business, and it’s been 27 years of placing the very best candidates in the very best positions, build...

  • private-governesses-what-why-and-where

    Private Governesses: What, Why, and Where.

    ​The idea of a private governess might, at first glance, feel old fashioned, outdated, and a little stiff. However, a governess might be the ideal solution for your needs - closer to a teacher than...

  • sun-sea-and-staff-international-placements-through-greycoat-lumleys

    Sun, Sea, and Staff: International Placements Through Greycoat Lumleys.

    ​At Greycoat Lumleys, we are able to provide a variety of placements for candidates who are looking to work abroad - whether you’ve got extensive experience with working on yachts, or you’re an acc...

  • april-showers-may-flowers-private-gardeners-and-landscapers

    April Showers, May Flowers: Private Gardeners and Landscapers.

    What pops into your head when you think of a private gardener or a landscaper? Huge country estates, neatly manicured lawns and flowerbeds, and immaculately shaped hedges? Although these are all th...

  • time-for-a-spring-clean-try-a-private-housekeeper

    Time For A Spring Clean? Try A Private Housekeeper.

    ​Although you might not guess it from the weather forecast (hello grey skies and ever-persistent drizzle), we’re heading into a new season. If you keep your eyes focused on the ground, you might ge...

  • rural-jobs-for-couples-how-where-and-what-are-the-benefits

    Rural Jobs for Couples: How, Where, and What are the benefits?

    ​We’ve spent more than twenty five years matching our clients with live-in couples who can manage their homes, estates, and affairs (whether or not they’re at home or away). There are many benefits...

  • recruitment-event-in-palma

    Greycoat Lumleys Special Recruitment Event in Palma

    The Greycoat Lumleys’ team is dropping anchor in Palma! This March, we’re sending two of our consultants to the beautiful city of Palma to promote our new yacht desk. Between Monday 6th March and T...

  • Emergency-childcare-service

    Emergency Childcare: Everything you need to know.

    At Greycoat Lumleys, we know that finding childcare (especially in a rush) can be an extremely stressful, time consuming, and daunting process. We do our best to make sure that in an instance where...