Gardener/Horticulturalist Wallingford Full Time £28,000- £32,000
Our client designs, creates and cares for beautiful bespoke gardens that reflect their customers’ lifestyles, homes and values. They specialise in delivering a highly personalised garden maintenance service to meet the diverse needs of their clients; from busy executives to retired garden-lovers whose gardens are a haven to connect with nature, re-charge and share special memories with the family.
To meet the increasing demand for their high-quality garden maintenance and development services, they are seeking an experienced Gardener/Horticulturalist to join their current team of ten full and part-time staff, working in domestic gardens and estates across Oxfordshire , Bucks and Berkshire.
The Role
As a Gardener/Horticulturalist, you will work as part of a team of between two and four Landscape Gardeners caring for and developing gardens to an agreed standard. You will use your horticultural knowledge and practical skills to maintain a variety of gardens of varying sizes and maturity throughout the seasons.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide all aspects of garden maintenance, including:
- Weeding, pruning, splitting, re-potting, tying in and planting of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs
- Digging over beds, soil conditioning and mulching
- Hedge trimming, lawn mowing, strimming, edging and low-level tree pruning and lopping
- Use and maintain hand tools and garden machinery, including secateurs, loppers, petrol lawn mower, leaf blower, weed burner, hedge trimmer and strimmer
- Identify common pests and diseases and understand how to prevent, control and treat them using natural and non-chemical treatments
- Liaise with clients on site, updating them on completed work and carrying out specific tasks as requested
- Work effectively as part of a team, providing updates on completed work, outstanding tasks, materials required and suggestions for future garden care
- Assist the Design and Landscaping department with plant care, planting and other soft landscaping tasks when required
Requirements
Essential
- At least 3 years’ experience maintaining private gardens/estates in the UK, including managing herbaceous borders throughout the seasons
- Experience with pruning, cutting back, splitting and identifying and treating pests and diseases
- Full, clean and valid driving licence
- High level of plant identification skills and horticultural knowledge
- Ability to work outside in all weather conditions
- Good time management skills and ability to work to deadlines
- A high attention to detail and ability to keep working areas and tools clean and tidy
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain positive relationships with clients, colleagues and contractors
- Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Ability to follow instructions, learn from previous mistakes and ask for help when required
- Patience, persistence, consistency, reliability and flexibility
Desirable
- Level 2 RHS or equivalent qualification in Horticulture or working towards this
- Trailer towing qualification B+E or experience and competence in towing
- Understanding of relevant Health and Safety policies and procedures
- Understanding of GDPR and confidentiality when handling personal data
What’s In It For You
- Regularly reviewed competitive salary
- 40-hour working week 7.45am – 4.45pm, Monday-Friday (no weekend working or late hours)
- Based out of fully-equipped, custom-built Operati