- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work on your own
- to be flexible and open to change
- persistence and determination
- physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
- the ability to work well with your hands
- physical fitness and endurance
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- sowing seeds, planting bulbs and ornamental plants
- growing plants from cuttings and by grafting
- taking care of plants - watering, weeding, pruning, feeding and spraying
- mowing grass, cutting dead growth and branches, and general tidying
- laying paths and looking after ornamental features
- researching new strains of seed and plants in the lab for crop production
- picking, sorting and packaging produce to be sent to retailers
- selling plants and other products
- advising customers in a garden centre
You could work on a country estate, in a park, in a garden or at a garden centre.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
With experience you could progress to a supervisor or manager role, or set up your own nursery or garden maintenance business.
You could move into a research job for a university, or with a food and agricultural development company.
You can find out more about careers in horticulture through Grow Careers and The Royal Horticultural Society.
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