Job Summary
Are you looking for an exciting new horticulture challenge? We work in stunning private gardens all across Hampshire and are looking for new team members. You\'ll have a good grounding in horticulture, a great work ethic but more importantly have the right personality. Our gardeners work in teams of two on just one garden or estate each day (location is dependant on where you live). You\'ll get to work on the overall garden creation, complete regular maintenance and directly affect the garden\'s progress throughout each season. You\'ll offer valuable suggestions and insights to the owners on how to improve their gardens, as well as working closely with garden designers on the overall plan.
we are open to part time working (between 2 and 4 days a week - full days)
Starting as a gardener there will be opportunities for you to show us your skills, and progress to a site leader, with a van, should you wish.
Company Overview
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.
We are passionate about horticulture, offer excellent pay, a company pension, 33 days of holiday (including bank holidays - pro rata), team events, ongoing training, and fantastic opportunities for career progression.
Job Responsibilities:
Seasonal Garden Maintenance
- Perform seasonal border maintenance, including weeding, mulching, plant division, and pruning.
- Specialist pruning tasks, including wisteria, roses, and orchards.
- Ensure proper planting and implementation of garden designs.
Horticultural Expertise
- Topiary pruning, vegetable cultivation, and working in Alitex greenhouses and walled gardens.
- Create and maintain cut flower gardens.
- Manage fruit crops, ensuring proper care and yield.
- Manage pest and disease issues across plantings and turf.
- Prune and stake herbaceous borders to maintain healthy growth.
High Standards of Work
- Consistently work to a high standard in all horticultural tasks, reflecting the qualifications and experience in the field.
- Ensure gardens are presented beautifully, following best horticultural practices.
Plant Identification & Border Management
- Display expert plant identification skills, managing a variety of plants in line with the garden\'s design and maintenance needs.
- Ensure appropriate care methods are employed to maintain plant health and aesthetics.
- Maintain beautiful, well-kept, and weed-free garden borders, ensuring they remain at peak quality throughout the seasons.
Team Supervision & Mentorship
- Supervise a small team, motivating and sharing horticultural knowledge with less-experienced staff.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to develop the team\'s skills.
Record Keeping & Budget Management
- Keep accurate records of all work carried out and manage a small budget when required.
- Ensure financial considerations are met while maintaining garden standards.
Identify Areas for Improvement
- Identify potential improvements or enhancements within the gardens and communicate suggestions to the company owner.
- Act on client feedback and commercial opportunities to make garden improvements.
Project Planning & Collaboration
- Plan the workload for yourself and the team, ensuring efficient time and resource management.
- Work closely with the Operations Manager and Business Owner on future garden projects
Person Specification
- Great communication skills are essential.
- You will have a creative and artistic eye and brilliant inter-personal skills to lead our team of gardeners.
- You must be commercially aware and be able to pick up on cues from clients with regards to investing in their gardens and poses the ability to make suggestions for improvements to the gardens we manage.
- You will possess an approachable, smart, enthusiastic and warm demeanour.
- You will be professional, have a calm disposition and can also be discreet.
- You will have strong organisational, communication and administration skills which will ensure you have the ability to lead, motivate and promote smooth working relationships and encourage cooperation amongst the team.
- A willingness to learn.
- Ensure the highest horticultural standards are maintained
- Be reliable and trustworthy to represent our company ethos
- Have a keen eye of detail and pride in your work
- Displays personality traits of enthusiasm, honesty, discretion, initiative and flexibility
Education and training
- RHS level 3 Horticulture/ Higher National Diploma in Horticulture
- Pa1 & Pa6 spraying certificates
- Driving license and car as locations are rural
- IT skills - able to use email and scheduling / reporting apps
- Proven experience of managing a large private garden.
- Proven leadership skills - managing / training other staff members you are working alongside (1 year experience)
- An understanding of herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers (further training provided)
- Practical knowledge of Health and Safety at Work Act (further online training provided)
- Competent in the safe handling and operation of various types of machinery and gardening equipment including hedge cutters, leaf blowers, brush cutters, strimmers and lawn mowers.
Benefits
- Annual salary progression and reviews - pro rated for part time working
- Ability to move up and be promoted within the company
- Good holiday allocation (pro rated for part time workers)
- Birthday as an additional day off
- Company pension with 5% contribution from AS Gardens
- Training days with designers and career development are encouraged.
- Uniform, wet weather gear and PPE are supplied.
- Company social events
- Employee mentoring programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Pay: Up to £32,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee mentoring programme
- Flexitime
- Free or subsidised travel
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Referral programme
- Shuttle service provided
Experience:
- Professional Horticulture: 4 years (required)
- Leadership: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence and car (required)
Work Location: On the road
