Some have tired of office life and crave a physically challenging job. Others are factory rats who long for work in the great outdoors. Meanwhile, more landscaping companies, including Swindon Turf Direct, use maintenance as an affiliate service to supplement their income.

This article will outline the credentials, experience and expectations you’ll need to temper as you establish whether garden maintenance in Swindon and beyond is the right path for you.

A Career In Gardens Is A Seasonal Affair

Working in gardens is typically a seasonal affair. Our experience has taught us demand soars in the spring and falls away before the winter. A gardener must organize his roster accordingly. If you’re new to this industry, you’ll need to be flexible until your portfolio of clients matures.

Moreover, today a good gardener must specialize in a series of tasks. Relying on lawn care or rudimentary tree services alone isn’t enough. As a teenager Carl, for example, offered lawn care services. Today he provides he tree, planting, deck and driveway cleaning.

General tasks may include:

Cleaning and clearance.

Lawn care

Spot checking for turf diseases

Laying turf

Basic building, inc. fence panels and sheds

Tree pruning and hedge trimming

Credentials & Background

Unlike other industries, there are no mandatory qualifications to become a gardener. A fitness instructor, for example, needs a Level 1 Certificate before stepping foot in a gym. Similarly, driving a 7.5 tonne HGV demands a C1 driving license. While qualifications in gardening aren’t always necessary, for many employers experience is essential.

This experience can be garnered in the form of apprenticeships and voluntary work. The National Trust and Wildlife Trusts are two voluntary outlets that will consolidate your CV. Read this article for more insights.

Jobs & Friendly Advice

At Carl’s Garden Maintenance we occasionally have posts available. While experience and qualifications are clearly beneficial, punctuality and attitude are a must. Success in this industry means building trust and long term relationships with clients is vital.

If you’re interested in working with our team, or you’re just in need of a bit advice, forward your CV and contact details to info@CarlsGardenMaintenance.co.uk.

Prospect 10k Mud Run

When Carl isn’t offering Garden Services in Swindon he invests himself in athletic pursuits and fundraisers. On February 21st Carl competed alongside 170 runners in the Prospect Hospice 10k Mud Run. 

His result? 3rd. The Prospect Hospice is a registered charity that serves the greater Swindon region. Annual costs surpass 7.2M and the hospice demands ongoing donations and fundraisers to sustain its role in the community. 

Carl’s participation in the charity race follows other fundraising pursuits including cycling from Swindon to Penzance and Swindon to Scotland for respective causes. You can learn more about the Prospect 10K here.