Garden Designer

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About

A career as a Garden Designer

Garden Designers work with customers and clients to design gardens to suit their requirements and tastes, bringing together form, function, and beauty. They often design gardens for clients' homes, so need to consider people's lifestyles and personal preferences. They may also design gardens in places open to the public or temporary gardens for special events and celebrations.

Designs will incorporate and include hard landscaping, such as paths and walls, and soft landscaping, such as shrubs and flower beds, that together create a space that meets the clients’ brief. The designer has to consider how the plants, shrubs and trees will look at different times of year and how colour schemes look in different areas and lights.

Skills/Knowledge

You’ll need:

  • good horticultural knowledge of different types of plant, including where they grow best and how to care for them

  • good commercial and business skills

  • to be a good team player, working with contractor gardening teams to deliver the garden

  • practical landscaping knowledge

  • good organisational skills

  • good administrative and management skills

  • good project planning skills, working to budgets and deadlines

  • good customer service skills working with clients

  • computer and IT skills – some Designers use computer packages to produce designs, while others prepare sketches by hand

A driving licence is necessary - as well as visits to clients, Garden Designers visit garden centres, nurseries and exhibitions to make purchases, check products and see new ideas.

Salary

NB These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and the skills and experience of the employee.

Many Garden Designers are self-employed - they can charge fees based on hourly rates or give a price for each specific project and could exceed the upper limit.

£22,000
Typical salaries
range from
£34,000
Typical Hours

Around 40 per week. Garden Designers usually work quite flexible hours, depending on their clients' needs and timescales. Their hours often include evenings and weekends.

Day to Day

  • Hold meetings with clients to understand their vision for the garden and the types of plants and features they prefer

  • Visit clients’ gardens to see its size and shape

  • Prepare summaries and associated costs of the plan

  • Take accurate measurements and soil tests ahead of commencing work

  • Produce plans showing the main features of the new garden

  • Undertake gardening and landscaping activities or oversee others undertaking this work

  • Manage contractors for practical work

  • Supply clients with designs and maintenance plans

Working Environment

Working time is divided between office-based design work and outdoor work, visiting clients, potential clients and gardens. The working hours may be long some days, particularly during the summer when you can make the most of suitable weather conditions for outdoor work.

Training Available

Training is an essential part of any job, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely and correctly. It also helps to strengthen your current skill set and prepares you for the next stage in your career.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships help you build the experience and skills that employers want to see. No matter what stage you’re at, they’ll help set you up for a bright future. There are lots of ways to get involved.

Not sure what you want to do?

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