Horticulture Apprentice Gardener

Summary

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic apprentice to join our garden landscape maintenance team. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to develop their skills in horticulture.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Mon - Fri - 7am - 3pm 1hr paid lunch.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 4 August 2025

Duration

2 years 3 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As an apprentice, you will work alongside experienced professionals, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to various gardening and landscaping projects. You will work in a small team, being mentored by our team leads.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in routine landscape maintenance tasks, including mowing, trimming, pruning, planting, watering, and fertilising.
Support the installation and upkeep of irrigation systems and hardscape features.
Operate and maintain landscaping equipment under supervision.
Ensure cleanliness and safety of work areas, removing debris and adhering to safety protocols.
Collaborate with team members to execute landscaping projects efficiently.

What will you learn during your time with us?

Border maintenance, including weeding, mulching, plant division, pruning, and staking. How to maintain beautiful, well-kept, and weed-free garden borders, ensuring they remain at peak quality throughout the seasons.
Specialist pruning tasks, including wisteria, roses, and orchards.
Proper planting techniques and implementation of garden designs.
Topiary pruning, vegetable cultivation, greenhouses, cut flower gardens.
How to identify and manage pest and disease issues across planting and trees.
How to prune and stake herbaceous borders to maintain healthy growth.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Demonstrates a keen eye for detail and a commitment to high-quality workmanship.
Eagerness to learn, adapt, and apply new skills in a dynamic environment.
Possesses a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills.
Physically fit and capable of performing manual labour in various weather conditions.
A basic understanding of horticulture or landscaping is advantageous but not essential.

Where you'll work

WEST END FARM
GREEN LANE
HAMBLEDON
WATERLOOVILLE
PO7 4TB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Your training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
(Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
(Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
(Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
(Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
(Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
(Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
(Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
(Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
(Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
(Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
(Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
(Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
(Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
(Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.

Your training plan

Day release at Sparsholt College during term time.

More training information

Training to be provided:

Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2.
Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered), minimum 1-day course.
City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Abrasive Wheel Machines OR Lantra Abrasive Wheel Machines Course.
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 before taking the end-point assessment.
Apprentices will need to achieve the EPA's to achieve their apprenticeship.
Online knowledge assessment - a 60-minute online test containing 40 multiple choice questions.

Practical assessment EPA - a range of 4 practical activities taking no more than six hours undertaken in controlled conditions with responses to verbal questioning from the Independent End Point Assessor.

The apprentice will undertake three tasks core tasks and one task from the optional route - Horticulture or Landscaping.

Professional Discussion EPA - An hour-long professional discussion under controlled conditions between the EPA and the apprentice to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C (4) or above)
Maths (grade C(4) or above)

Other in:

License (grade Full)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Customer care skills
Number skills
Team working
Creative
Patience
Physical fitness
An interest in outdoor working
An interest in horticulture

Other requirements

A physically demanding role where you will be required to work outside in all weathers. Due to the nature of the role and for insurance purposes, you will be required to have a full driving license and your own transport.

About this company

Founded in 2007 by Alan Sargent, the former Head Gardener of the Broadlands Estate, we are a family-run, growing and dynamic company specializing in garden creation, maintenance, and landscaping. Our close-knit team thrives on collaboration and enjoys working together on both day-to-day garden maintenance and exciting one-off projects. We believe that everyone brings unique strengths to the table, and we love learning from each other and drawing on the diverse experiences within our team. Our relationships with skilled garden designers also enhance the work we do, allowing us to deliver exceptional results for our clients.

https://www.asgardens.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

A permanent position may be offered upon successful completion of this apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship provides a structured pathway to develop a career in landscape maintenance, offering hands-on experience and mentorship from seasoned professionals. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to grow within the organisation and contribute to the enhancement of our clients' outdoor spaces.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Karen Jackson

karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk

01962 797452

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000327275.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Friday 18 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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