Who is a gardener and what do they do? The task of a gardener is to grow, and look after, all kinds of vegetables, mushrooms, flowers, decorative plants and shrubs.
What are the activities of the gardener? Manual preparation of the soil by digging, hoeing, weeding, etc. – fertilising – sowing seed and planting seedlings – planting and taking care of fruit and decorative trees – harvesting fruit – protecting the plants against diseases and pests – laying turf on sports grounds and maintaining them – grafting special kinds of decorative trees and shrubs – handling and dispatch activities.
Where is it done and under what conditions? A wide range of activities are involved in this job in greenhouses, fields, gardens and parks and sometimes even in sports facilities. It may involve significant time out of doors, though greenhouses and indoor areas will be involved as well.
What tools/equipment do they use? The tools most commonly used are standard gardening tools, such as spades, shovels, hoes, weeders and motorised hoes, cultivators and other mechanised devices, e.g. small tractors, power saws, sprinklers and sprayers, and above all their own hands.
What do you need to succeed? You need to complete an apprenticeship, have a positive attitude to the soil and the plants you grow in it, patience, physical fitness, ability to organise your own work activities and to deal with people.