What Does a Landscaper Do?

Louise Petty

August 26, 2026

5 min read

Landscaping can be a rewarding career if you enjoy working outdoors, being physically active and being creative. Landscapers work across a range of environments, including private gardens, parks, public spaces and commercial sites, carrying out everything from planting and turfing to constructing paths, patios and other features. In this article, we’ll outline the roles and responsibilities of a landscaper and explain some of the routes you can take to become one.

What is a Landscaper?

A landscaper is someone who creates, improves and maintains outdoor spaces. They may work on private gardens, public parks, business premises, housing developments, estates or other green spaces.

Landscaping can involve both soft landscaping and hard landscaping. Soft landscaping focuses on living elements, such as plants, trees, shrubs, lawns and flower beds. Hard landscaping involves constructing or installing features such as paths, patios, walls and decking.

The exact duties of a landscaper can vary depending on their role and the type of projects they work on. Some may specialise in areas like landscape construction, horticulture or grounds maintenance, while others may carry out a broader range of tasks. The role can involve early starts, travelling between sites and working outdoors in different weather conditions, so it’s important to consider whether this type of working environment suits you.

Landscaping is also considered a potential green career, as landscapers may use peat-free compost, choose electric rather than petrol-powered tools and find ways to recycle rainwater for watering plants.

Landscaper vs Gardener

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, landscaping and gardening are not exactly the same:

A gardener will generally focus on caring for and maintaining plants and green spaces. This can include mowing lawns, pruning, weeding, planting and caring for flower beds.
A landscaper is more likely to work on the creation or transformation of an outdoor space. As well as planting and other soft landscaping work, they may carry out construction work such as installing patios, paths, walls, decking and other features.

Landscaper Job Responsibilities and Skills

Landscaping is a practical role that combines horticultural knowledge with construction, maintenance and customer service skills. The responsibilities you have will depend on the type of landscaping work you undertake, but a typical role could involve the following:

Preparing outdoor sites for landscaping work, including clearing, digging, levelling and setting out areas.
Reading and working from plans or designs produced by a garden designer or landscape architect.
Planting trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants.
Laying turf and maintaining lawns.
Building and installing features such as paths, patios, walls, decking, rock gardens and water features.
Carrying out general grounds maintenance, such as mowing, hedge cutting, pruning and weeding.
Using hand tools, power tools and machinery safely and correctly.
Ordering or helping to organise materials and supplies.
Maintaining tools, machinery and equipment and reporting defects or problems.
Keeping work areas clean, organised and safe.
Working with colleagues, clients, other trades and members of the public.
Advising clients about how to care for and maintain their outdoor spaces.
Following relevant health and safety procedures and environmental requirements.

As well as practical knowledge, landscapers need a combination of physical, organisational and interpersonal skills. These soft skills help you work safely, meet project requirements and provide a good service to clients. Useful skills and qualities for a landscaper include:

Physical fitness, strength and stamina.
Good manual dexterity.
Knowledge of plants, soil and horticulture.
Practical construction skills, such as paving and basic bricklaying.
The ability to use tools and machinery safely.
Good attention to detail.
Creativity and an understanding of how different features work together in an outdoor space.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to use initiative.
Good organisation and time management.
The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Patience and reliability.
Good communication and customer service skills.
The ability to follow instructions, plans and health and safety procedures. Health and safety is particularly important as a landscaper because it can involve machinery, tools, manual handling and hazardous construction activities.

How to Become a Landscaper

There’s no single route to becoming a landscaper and you could enter the industry through college, an apprenticeship, work experience, specialist training or an entry-level role. The National Careers Service states that there are no set requirements, although knowledge or experience of gardening or horticulture will be helpful.

Landscaper college courses – college courses can help you develop practical skills and knowledge in areas such as horticulture and landscape construction. In England, the T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production is a possible route. Course options and requirements vary, so check what is available in your area.

Landscaper apprenticeships – an apprenticeship allows you to gain practical experience while working towards a recognised qualification. The Level 2 Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative apprenticeship covers areas such as planting, turf care, site preparation and landscape construction. It can be a good option if you prefer hands-on learning.

Landscaper entry-level roles – you could apply for roles such as landscape labourer, assistant landscaper or grounds maintenance operative. These positions allow you to learn from experienced colleagues and develop your practical skills.

Landscaper work experience – practical experience can help you demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. Look for work experience, volunteering or entry-level opportunities and keep a record of projects you have completed. Photographs of your work can also be useful when applying for jobs or seeking private clients in the future.

Tips for Securing a Landscaping Job

If you’re looking for your first landscaping role, focus on demonstrating your practical skills, reliability and willingness to learn. The following steps may help:

Look for entry-level vacancies and apprenticeships.
Highlight relevant gardening, horticulture, construction or outdoor experience on your CV. Include any practical skills such as planting, turfing, paving or tool use.
Build a portfolio of relevant projects using photographs.
Research potential employers before applying or attending an interview.
Show that you understand the importance of working safely.
Check whether the role requires a driving licence or specific training.

Landscaping Qualifications

You don’t necessarily need a specific qualification to become a landscaper as there are no set entry requirements for the role, although having prior knowledge and experience of gardening or horticulture will help when applying for jobs.

Gaining a relevant landscaping qualification or completing a training course can improve your knowledge, practical skills and employment prospects. The most suitable qualification will depend on the type of landscaping you want to do and the stage you are at in your career. Some options include:

Level 1 courses that provide an introduction to horticulture and working in the industry.
Level 2 qualifications in practical horticulture, horticulture or landscape construction.
Level 3 qualifications in horticulture or related subjects for those who want to develop their knowledge further.
T Levels, such as the T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production in England.
Apprenticeships, including the Level 2 Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative apprenticeship.
Specialist training courses covering particular skills or areas of landscaping.
Further qualifications and training for people who want to progress into supervisory, management or specialist roles.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) offers courses and qualifications that can help you develop your horticultural knowledge. Professional development and industry opportunities are also available through organisations such as the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).

With experience and further training, there are also opportunities to progress in your career. Landscapers can move into roles such as landscape supervisor or landscape manager, specialise in areas such as landscape design, or eventually set up their own landscaping business.

Landscaping can be a rewarding career for anyone who enjoys practical work, being outdoors and creating attractive and useful spaces. There’s no single route into the industry, so whether you choose college, an apprenticeship or an entry-level role, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and pursue a successful career in landscaping.

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