Become a Professional Gardener: Education
Text 1
Become a Professional Gardener: Education
and Career Roadmap
Memorize the words:
1) strenuous – напряженный; требующий усилий
2) protective gear – защитное устройство
3) pest – вредитель
4) delve – изучать, тщательно исследовать
5) aspiring gardeners – начинающий садовник
6) spearhead efforts – направлять усилия
Research the requirements to become a professional gardener. Learn about the job description and duties and read the step-by-step process to start a career as a professional gardener.
Part I
Should I Become a Professional Gardener?
I’m a student of Russian state agrarian university. I study at the faculty of decorative gardening and floristics. My future profession is a decorative gardener and florist. To my mind it is one of the beneficial occupations. To master my professional skills, I work hard and study lots of subjects.
Professional gardeners work in private and public landscapes to create, design, maintain and manage gardens. They are often employed by botanical gardens, parks, landscaping firms, garden centers, estates and private residences, and some will go into private business as a gardener or a florist for several clients.
Professional gardeners are responsible for all aspects of plant care for annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs. Working outdoors in all types of weather conditions is often required, as well as physically strenuous labor. Safety protocol and protective gear must be used when working with certain types of tools or with pesticides.
Career requirements
| Degree Level | High school diploma, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or certificate program may be required for some jobs |
| Degree Field | Horticulture, landscape design, or related field |
| Experience | Preferred but not required |
| Licensure and Certification | Pesticide applicators license is often required, certification is available but not required |
| Key Skills | Critical thinking, communication, self-motivation, design, word processing, plant identification, plant care, weed control, familiarity with gardening tools, irrigation systems, physical stamina |
| Salary | $24,290 per year (median salary for all landscaping and grounds keeping workers) |
Part II
Step 1: Consider Earning a Degree
A degree program in horticulture or decorative gardening provides the scientific and methodological foundation required in the professional gardening field. Schools across Russia offer horticulture and landscaping programs at all levels of study. An associate’s degree includes courses in plant culture, use of plants, pests and weeds, and plant nutrition. Bachelor’s and masters degree programs delve further into the study of gardening, horticulture and landscaping and usually include courses on plant physiology, plant diseases, and plant maintenance.
Step 2: Explore Certifications or Master Gardener Status
Professional gardeners may benefit from the classes and certification programs offered through local gardening organizations, botanical gardens and state university extension offices. Master Gardener programs, which give aspiring gardeners training and experience in the field, are also offered by state universities and extension offices throughout the country. Students complete a series of classes that cover soils, landscape design, vegetables, greenhouse management and composting. These programs offer hands-on experiences in demonstration gardens or other community green spaces.
To earn and maintain the Master Gardener certification, one is required to complete a set number of volunteer hours in the community. Master gardeners often speak to community groups or spearhead efforts to create or improve green spaces in a community; they also take advantage of continuing education opportunities to expand their own understanding of gardening.
Step 3: Gain Experience
In order to gain work experience, it is helpful to work with an established professional gardener. The Association of Professional Gardeners recommends both professional and volunteer involvement. Community gardening clubs offer opportunities for networking through work parties, special events, community service projects and community education.
Step 4: Advance Your Career
Professional gardeners with work experience and certifications can advance their career by moving up in their company from an assistant position to a managerial position. They may become the head of the department for local parks, or the director of a botanical garden. Those who pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in horticulture can open their own business as a gardener or detail gardener providing consultation and design services to residential clients, and overseeing garden laborers.