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Landscape Gardener Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work outdoors icon that represents where Landscape Gardener work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Landscape Gardener. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Landscape Gardener click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Interior and Exterior Construction

Landscape Gardener

work outdoors

Landscape gardeners consult with clients and work with other trades to carry out landscaping operations and design in various environments, including residential, commercial, and public grounds, playgrounds, golf courses, garden centres, tree nurseries, greenhouses, and interior landscapes.

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  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; Science; English; Shop; Physical Education; Social Studies; Home Economics

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Landscape gardeners may be employed by landscape architects, contractors, nurseries, tree farms, greenhouses, cemeteries, governments, garden centres, or landscape supply outlets. Beginning landscape gardeners often enter the occupation during the busy summer months as laborers or apprentices.

  • DutiesDetails

    Equipment Landscape Gardeners use includes:

    • Pruning shears.
    • Sprayers.
    • Hand tools.
    • Heavy duty trucks.
    • Tractors.
    • Loaders and graders.
    • Pesticides.
    • Fertilizers.

    Duties may include:

    • Routine maintenance of equipment.
    • Understand rules about toxic or hazardous effects of chemicals they use.
    • Talk to clients about landscaping needs.
    • Create landscape designs.
    • Provide advice to customers on plant selection and care.
    • Prepare the ground for planting.
    • Figure out soil condition and how to prepare soil.
    • Identify, plant and transplant greenhouse and nursery plants.
    • Identify, plant, transplant and maintain flowers and ground covers.
    • Install.
      • Rock gardens.
      • Ponds.
      • Decks.
      • Drainage systems.
      • Retaining walls.
      • Fences.
      • Planters.
      • Playground equipment.
    • Seed and sod lawns.
    • Care for lawns.
    • Trim and prune hedges, trees and shrubs.
    • Identify plant diseases and insect problems.
    • Apply fertilizers and pesticides.
    • Install, operate and maintain watering systems.
    • Work in greenhouses.
    • Other activities may include:
      • Design.
      • Consulting.
      • Day-to-day business operations.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • During the spring, may work inside greenhouses.
      • May work indoors selling greenhouse plants, landscaping materials, etc.
    • Outdoors
      • Homes.
      • Businesses.
      • Public buildings.

    Hours:

    • Flexible hours.
    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm).
    • May need to work overtime to meet deadlines.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • May require heavy lifting and very hard work.
    • May require a lot of bending, carrying and lifting.
    • 20 kilograms and heavier.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Able to lift and carry heavy landscape materials.
    • Able to work in all kinds of weather.
    • Work well with people.
    • Enjoy working with plants and being creative.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.
    • Your employer believes your skills and knowledge are the same as a journeyperson.
    • You are self-employed in this trade.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 10-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 10-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

    • Work on your first year in grade 10-12 through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
    • 4 years.
    • 1200 work hours.
    • 8 weeks classroom training.
    • May take exam in final year to earn Red Seal and work throughout most of Canada.
  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

    Landscape gardeners who work with pesticides must have a Landscape Alberta Pesticide Applicator Certificate from the Pesticides Program - Land Branch of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Time of year.

    Future Trends:

    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

    Industries/Businesses employing people in this trade include:

    • Agriculture.
    • Public Administration (working for local municipalities).
    • Culture and Recreation.
    • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary but generally range from $16 to $27 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate). Apprentice landscape gardeners earn at least 60 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 per cent in the second, 80 per cent in the third and 90 per cent in the fourth.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Landscape and Horticulture Technicians and Specialists occupational group earned on average from $18.76 to $28.21 an hour. The mean wage in this group was $22.48 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails