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How to become a gardener?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by tinker_bell01 (U1135849) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  How could someone become a gardener?Mainly doing things like planting and general maintainance..any suggestions?

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• Message 2

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  Posted by lance-scaper (U2904712) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  
  Hi
  do you mean doing it for a living?

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• Message 3

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  Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  How could someone become a gardener?Mainly doing things like planting and general maintainance..any suggestions? 
  
  
  If you live within five miles of Chalfont St Giles, Tinker, you could do worse than look in the Bucks Advertiser this Thursday and read the "Sits Vacant" - no experience necessary - good sense of humour essential!

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• Message 4

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  Posted by tinker_bell01 (U1135849) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  I do mean for a job/living yes. Sadly I don't live in that area, but it does sound like a good opportunity, thanks!

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• Message 5

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  Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  I do mean for a job/living yes. Sadly I don't live in that area, but it does sound like a good opportunity, thanks! 
  
  
  O.K. Let's explore how have you decided you'd like to be a gardener? Do you want to work with you hands forever or do you fancy moving on up?
  
  Some employed general gardening is - sadly - still grossly underpaid but you might be able to tolerate it while young and single. If you have any proper nurseries near you they nearly always want people because people keep leaving. I had a very good grounding in a small family owned production nursery where I ended up doing nearly all the work! However, I was very keen to build up practical experience needed for study courses at RHS Wisley and Kew. But that was then.
  
  The best one could do in gardening back in the dark ages was Head Gardener at a big house or Superintendant of Parks for a council ( Percy Thrower's top job before he found Gardening Club )now, you would be far better advised to join a landscaping firm or a design company that does their own layouts, build up some skills for business on your own account. Nothing wrong in knowing your limitations though so if you reckon you wouldn't want everything that comes with your own business there are still plenty of big houses that need staff - get youself a National Trust handbook and get writing.
  
  

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• Message 6

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  Posted by lance-scaper (U2904712) on Tuesday, 10th January 2006

  
  Hi again
  Ok you want to do it for a living.How long have you been interested it in. How much knowlege do you have? Can you identify plants in latin as well as common name. Do you know what will grow best in shade and what will grow in dry conditions. Do you know how and when to prune. There are some people out there who think because they do some work in there own garden, can do work in anybodies when in fact they have not got a clue. If they dont know a blubelle from a bike bell they will soon come a cropper.
  Start off by looking after friends,family and neighbors gardens to get some confidence.Think about a night class or even a college. You must have whatever you do, a basic knowlege. It might seem a lot to get in to,but it will bring you a huge reward.
  Go for it. The more of us the better.
  Good luck
  regards
  lance

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• Message 7

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  Posted by tinker_bell01 (U1135849) on Saturday, 14th January 2006

  Well it was suggested to me that I do something along those lines, as I seemed to work wonders with their plants. I admit I do not have that much knowledge, but I have always been an enthusiast when it comes to nature. It sounds abit daunting all the knowledge that you need. I think I'd like to work with my hands yes (well while I'm still young and able anyway!)Does anyone have any good books to recommend to read for research?
  
  Thanks all of advice!

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• Message 8

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  Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Saturday, 14th January 2006

  <quote user='tinker_bell01' userid='1135849'Does anyone have any good books to recommend to read for research?
  
  </quote>
  
  
  There's Mr Digwells Gardening Book for starters - I was a big fan of his simplistic view of everything in a dig-for-victory sort of all-muck-and-magic way - it used to a comic strip in the Daily Mirror back when Noah was a boy. Another great work of the same era is the A.B.C. series that Woolies used to sell - common sense stuff.
  
  If you want more hifaluting - anything by the R.H.S.
  

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• Message 9

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  Posted by oak (U2961147) on Saturday, 14th January 2006

  Try the Royal Horticultural Society's Certificate in Horticulture, which you can do at selected colleges, adult education centres. I found it was useful to have some background knowledge, a few latin names under your belt and an idea of how plant classification works. A useful book I would recommend, because our tutor used it quite a lot is 'Royal Horticultural Society's Step-by-Step Gardening Techniques' by Christopher Brickell. Lots of diagrams of proper digging, pruning different plants, taking cuttings, planting trees. Easy to read and understand not to technical. Possibly a better course if you have little knowledge, but lots of enthusiam is City and Guilds courses where you build up in modules as you pass each practical exam. Good luck.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by tinker_bell01 (U1135849) on Wednesday, 18th January 2006

  Thank you, have noted down the books and shall have a look for them soon.
  
  I was just wondering whether any of you had any tips on how to approach nurseries etc, for work experience, or perhaps even a job?
  
  Thanks

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• Message 11

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  Posted by lance-scaper (U2904712) on Wednesday, 18th January 2006

  
  Hi Tinker
  Most nurseries will soon be taking on staff in some shape or form,because of all the pricking out potting up etc. Simply go and ask.Do tell them you have some experience with plants. They will show you what to do anyway.They will only pay you a rubbish wage and it might only be part time. Look on it as getting a footin,you will learn from it and go on to better things.
  Very best of luck to you, go for it.
  regards
  lance

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by 1stClassAlan (U2459016) on Wednesday, 18th January 2006

  Thank you, have noted down the books and shall have a look for them soon.
  
  I was just wondering whether any of you had any tips on how to approach nurseries etc, for work experience, or perhaps even a job?
  
  °Õ³ó²¹²Ô°ì²õÌý
  
  I've just put a small Ad in the local paper and had sixty four replies! You may be interested to read that I discounted all the folk who called me "mate" in their first chat with me! Then came all of life's tragic cases - I've been out of work 'cos me two estranged wive's bin fighting for child access!- I've had a bit of a drink problem - etc., etc.,
  
  The successful lad was well spoken, very keen to learn and obviously pleased to be first of sixty four.

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• Message 13

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  Posted by tinker_bell01 (U1135849) on Monday, 30th January 2006

  Most of my local nurseries don't actually open for a few months yet, do nurseries still require people to care for the plants when closed to the public?

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• Message 14

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  Posted by ken-71 (U2340356) on Monday, 30th January 2006

  Hi Tinker....I did jobbing gardening for 20 years, with admin experience before that plus maintaining my own garden and various allotments for 30 years.
  It was only in the last three years of that 20years that I took up grasscutting ONLY. Also did the edges, got rid of the cuttings down the allotment.N ot exactly rocket science, and a terrific demand. Business people and the well orf tended to want the whole garden doing, but really the money for just cutting grass was too good to turn away, so I dropped the general maintenance. A small lawn would be £5 (20minutes)and front and back lawns would be about £8 to £10.(40 minutes)
  You would need to buy a van or trailer and a strimmer plus 2 rotary petrol mowers , one to cut less than dry grass and a rotary roller for the finer lawns after the sun has dried the turf off.
  Put an advert in the paper, be religous about answering all the replies.Build up a reputation, Churches are good, the very smallest lawns are not. A few down each street, but not too many.
  Cyclinder mowers are no good for commercial work.You won't be able to weedkill the lawns at the same time as cutting them.
  It's do-able for a youngster. Give it a go.
  

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