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Garden and Landscape Designer
Role & responsibilities
Develops site plans and planting schemes, selects materials, coordinates installation with contractors, and considers ecology, drainage, and maintenance.
Key strengths
- Creativity26% (Job)
- User orientation18% (Job)
- Technical skills16% (Job)
- Attention to detail16% (Job)
- Project management12% (Job)
- Communication12% (Job)
What this means for you
- Project management – Tracks vendors, timelines, and site constraints.
- Creativity – Combines aesthetics and ecology for engaging outdoor spaces.
- Technical skills – Understands soils, drainage, and plant suitability by climate.
Typical tasks
- Prepare drawings, cost estimates, and materials lists
- Oversee installation, contractors, and site quality checks
- Design outdoor spaces and planting plans tailored to client needs
Daily work
- Visits sites to oversee installation and adjust designs
- Meets clients to define project scope and budget
- Creates planting plans and hardscape layouts
Education & entry routes
Helpful but not mandatory
- Horticulture certificates
- Sustainable design workshops
Alternative pathways
- Horticulture Advisor
- Landscape Project Manager
- Urban Greenspace Coordinator
Work environment
- Team size
- Works with small landscape design and installation teams
- Typical employers
- Landscape firms, architecture practices, municipal projects
- People contact
- Regular interaction with clients, contractors, and suppliers
- Stress level
- Moderate with seasonal workload swings
- Working hours
- Mix of office planning and onsite supervision
Entry & progression
Common entry roles
- Junior Designer
- Landscape Assistant
Next career steps
- Project Lead Designer
- Landscape Architect