Gardener

You'll look after gardens or other green spaces such as public parks, school and sports grounds, so people can enjoy them all year round.

As a gardener, you'll grow and care for all types of plants, such as flowers, trees, shrubs and lawns.

Your tasks might include:

• growing plants from seeds or cuttings

• digging, planting, weeding and watering flower beds and borders

• pruning shrubs, hedges and trees

• checking the health of plants by identifying and controlling pests or diseases

• using and maintaining machinery such as lawnmowers and rotavators

• planting and caring for public parks and gardens

Gardeners also design whole planting schemes for gardens or public spaces. You’ll use your knowledge and creativity to select plants and position them so there’s something to see in the garden all year round.

You may carry out basic building tasks, such as putting up sheds and building walls, fences and patios.

You could work in many different types of gardens, such as:

• private gardens

• green spaces around buildings

• public parks and community gardens

• botanical gardens, such as the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

• historical gardens, such as Inverewe Gardens in the North-West Highlands

• heritage sites, such as Culzean Castle in Ayrshire

If you work in a garden that's open to the public, you might also answer questions from visitors or lead garden walks.

Green job 

In this job, you'll do work that helps the environment. Find out more about green jobs.

• Royal Horticultural Society – access careers info from a UK charity that was established to share the best in gardening

• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Education – check out learning opportunities

• Lantra Scotland – find careers information for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector