To become a landscaper, you can start with no formal qualifications and learn on the job: in the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says grounds maintenance workers typically need a month or less of training, and in the UK you can apply directly or take a horticulture apprenticeship that lasts 2 to 3 years. The one licence to watch is for chemicals: most US states require a licence to apply pesticides.
Landscaping covers everything from mowing and planting to building paths, walls and water features, and it's one of the few trades you can start this week with no certificate. Here's what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the National Careers Service said when I read them on 26 October 2026.
US and UK routes at a glance
| United States | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | No formal education required; some employers prefer a high school diploma | No set requirements; employers expect gardening or horticulture knowledge |
| Training | A month or less on the job; pesticide work up to 1 year | College course, apprenticeship of 2 to 3 years, or on the job |
| Licence | Pesticide licence in most states; fertilizer rules vary | None required |
| Pay as of October 2026 | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers median $18.82 an hour (May 2025) | £26,000 starter to £38,000 experienced |
How to become a landscaper, step by step
- Learn the basics. BLS says useful subjects include horticulture, arboriculture and design. In the UK, college options include practical horticulture and a T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production.
- Get hired as an assistant. The National Careers Service says you could start as an assistant landscaper and work your way up through training and promotion.
- Or take an apprenticeship. UK options include a Level 2 horticulture operative apprenticeship and a Level 3 horticulture supervisor apprenticeship, taking 2 to 3 years.
- Learn the machines. BLS lists mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers and small tractors.
- Get a pesticide licence if you'll spray. BLS says most states require one, usually after a test on the correct use and disposal of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.
- Consider certification. It isn't required, but BLS says it shows competence and reliability to clients and employers.
- Move up or go solo. Experienced workers may become crew leaders or supervisors, and some start their own landscaping company.
Training beyond the basics
BLS says pesticide sprayers, handlers and applicators may need extra training lasting up to a year, and that big employers such as golf courses, university campuses and municipalities often add instruction in horticulture, arboriculture, urban forestry, insect and disease diagnosis, tree climbing or small-engine repair. If you can get a job with one of those employers, you'll get training you'd otherwise pay for. In the UK, the National Careers Service also points to courses with the Royal Horticultural Society, which won't hurt if you want to stand out to clients.
Specialize for better pay
Not all outdoor work pays the same. Here's the BLS median hourly wage by specialty, May 2025, as of October 2026:
| Specialty (US) | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Tree trimmers and pruners | $24.50 |
| Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators | $22.28 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | $18.82 |
The insight most people miss: the specialties that need extra training, tree work and licensed chemical application, pay noticeably more than general landscaping. BLS also says educational institutions pay the highest median by industry, at $21.39 an hour, ahead of building services at $20.90.
In the UK, the National Careers Service gives £26,000 as a starter salary and £38,000 for experienced landscapers, with 38 to 42 hours a week and flexible weekend work.
What a landscaper does
The National Careers Service lists preparing sites with tools and machinery, working from a plan made by a garden designer, planting flowers, shrubs and trees, sowing lawns, and building paths, walls, water features and rock gardens. BLS adds mowing, edging and fertilizing lawns, weeding and mulching, trimming hedges, and watering and monitoring plant health. Most of the work is outdoors in all kinds of weather, and it's physical: lifting, bending and carrying.
Skills clients and employers look for
- attention to detail, so beds, edges and paving look finished
- physical fitness and endurance for lifting, bending and carrying
- the ability to work well with others on a crew
- customer service, because private clients judge you on communication as much as plants
- basic computer skills for quotes, plans and bookings
The National Careers Service lists each of these, along with ambition and patience. If you plan to run your own business one day, the customer service and computer skills will matter as much as anything you do with a spade.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of grounds maintenance workers to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 162,500 openings a year. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers make up the vast majority of the 1.3 million jobs, and building and dwelling services employ 48% of all grounds workers. That's a lot of demand for a job you can start without a qualification, and it won't disappear, because lawns don't stop growing.
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If you love outdoor work but want a conservation angle, read how to become a park ranger. And if you're running your own crew, these ChatGPT prompts for landscapers and gardeners will help with quotes and customer emails.
My verdict
Landscaping is one of the easiest outdoor careers to start: no degree, short training, and steady demand. The way to earn more is to specialize. Get a pesticide licence or move into tree work in the US, or take the Level 3 supervisor apprenticeship in the UK, and you'll stand apart from crews who only mow. If you want your own business, learn quoting and customer service as seriously as you learn plants.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need qualifications to be a landscaper?
No. BLS says entry-level grounds jobs typically have no formal education requirements, and the National Careers Service says there are no set requirements in the UK.
Do landscapers need a license?
Not for general work, but BLS says most US states require a licence for workers who apply pesticides, and fertilizer licensing varies by state.
How much do landscapers make?
As of October 2026, BLS gives a median of $18.82 an hour for US landscaping and groundskeeping workers (May 2025 data), and the National Careers Service gives £26,000 to £38,000 in the UK.
How long does it take to become a landscaper?
In the US, BLS says a month or less of on-the-job training is typical. UK horticulture apprenticeships take 2 to 3 years.
