Landscaper
The Work
Landscapers construct and maintain gardens, parks, sports grounds and other outdoor areas. They also work on interior landscaping projects, often in shopping centres or large office blocks.
The work involves preparing the ground (including earthworks and drainage), turfing and seeding lawns, planting trees and shrubs, putting in bedding plants, and pruning trees and shrubs when required. Some landscapers specialise in a particular skill such as laying paving, constructing rock or water gardens, or seeding lawns; others carry out a wide range of tasks.
Large-scale work may involve interpreting plans and drawings, and using mini-diggers and excavators, tractor-mounted equipment, and possibly dump trucks. On small-scale projects landscapers use hand-operated equipment such as garden mowers and rotavators, as well as spades, forks and other garden tools. Cement mixers and stone-cutting saws are used for paving; chainsaws and climbing equipment for treework.
The type of work undertaken is dictated by the time of year and the state of the ground, which can be very dry, frozen or muddy. All jobs require landscapers to liaise with clients on site, and there is usually some contact with suppliers.
Hours and Conditions
The basic working week is 39 hours, but is likely to include overtime at weekends. Early starts are common.
Landscapers work outdoors in all weathers conditions. It is physically demanding and includes digging, pushing loaded wheelbarrows and laying paving slabs. There will be exposure to noise, dirt, sawdust, engine exhaust emissions and pesticides.
Travelling to a job may take up a lot of time, and some jobs involve temporary lodging away from home.
Skills and Interests
To be a landscaper you should:
Training
People working in landscaping, including those on training schemes,
can work towards NVQs / SVQs at Levels 1 to 4 in Amenity Horticulture
with options in landscaping.
Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (MAPPs) may be available for people aged 16-24. For details see:
MAPPs
(England)
Skillseekers
(Scotland)
National
Traineeships MAPPs (Wales) and
MAPPs
(Northern Ireland)
Opportunities
Most landscapers are employed by landscape contractors and by local authority parks' departments. A few openings exist with the National Trust, English Heritage and botanical gardens. Contractors usually employ a mix of permanent staff and sub-contractors, whom they hire as the volume of work requires. To some extent the work is seasonal, with more opportunities in the summer.
In larger firms, progression to chargehand, foreman / woman or contracts manager may be possible. With experience, landscapers may become self-employed.
Salary
The figures below are intended as a guideline only.
New entrant landscapers earn from around £10,000 to £16,000 a year.
Experienced landscapers could earn from £19,000 to over £25,000+ a year.
Income for landscapers varies depending on location and experience.
Overtime payments may supplement income.
Further Information
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Lantra
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk
Institute of Horticulture
Tel: 020 7245 6943
www.horticulture.org.uk
