Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship

Course overview

Horticulture  and  Landscape  Operatives  can  be  employed  to  work  in  public  parks  and gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens and estates or in production nurseries and retail outlets. Many businesses will be specialised in their activities, such as grounds maintenance (soft-landscape) or landscape construction (hard-landscape). Soft- landscaping includes the establishment and maintenance of plants and cultivated areas. Hard-landscaping includes the establishment of hard surfaces and structures in addition to the establishment of plants in cultivated areas.

The distinct nature of these two specialisms means very few businesses can offer the full breadth of skills and therefore two options are available for this occupation: horticulture and landscape construction. The employment area will dictate the option pursued. The horticulture option focuses on plant propagation and plant growth. The landscape construction option focuses on the installation of features and structures, the application of landscape materials as well as supporting site management.

Work is generally based outside and undertaken throughout the year, so apprentices will frequently work in all weathers. Often people new to the industry will start in a ‘hands-on’ role covering a range of practical tasks, with specialist skills being learnt through progression. A wide range of machinery and tools are used and additional training may be required depending on the nature of the work undertaken.

Working and learning in the horticulture and landscape industries is rewarding, offering a diverse range of employment opportunities and includes a range of skills that are transferable into many other industries.

Click here for further information regarding the Standard Apprenticeship.

Course content

You will cover all the necessary knowledge, practical skills and personal behaviours required to be a Horticulture and Landscape Operative.

You will cover:

• Industry understanding: The importance and benefits of green-space and the types of horticultural skills appropriate to different businesses and cultural sites.
• Business: Business policies, vision and values, workers’ contribution to earning profit and awareness of commercial pressure, understanding of how project management informs a team to achieve objectives.
• Communication: The importance of clear communication, knowledge of different forms of communication aids and their use, the value of effective and timely communication in customer care.
• Health and safety: Health and safety regulation, legislation, policy and procedure and the responsibility of workers, knowledge of hazards and working to strict health, safety, quality and environmental (HSQE) processes particularly appropriate to horticultural sites.
• Environmental factors: Waste and waste reduction/recycling and environmental best practice, prevention and control of local pollution incidents.
• Plant growth and development: Plant nutrition and plant requirements, the principles of germination, photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration (the science of plant growth), how to care for plants correctly in different environments, the relationship between environmental conditions and plant growth.
• Tools, equipment and machinery: The correct tools, equipment and machinery required for the job and the importance of maintenance/regular checks of these items to ensure they remain in good working order, legal requirement of training by a competent person and familiarity with operator training and certification requirements.
• Vegetation control: How to control vegetation and methods of site clearance and removal of vegetation.
• Biosecurity: Biosecurity and phytosanitary measures for pests and diseases and how these apply to work sites, awareness of invasive alien species that may impact work methods.
• Plant identification: Scientific names including genus, species and cultivar, know why and how plants are identified.
• Soil science: Why, when and how to cultivate soils for differing purposes. Different growing media and mulches, how to modify soils for plant growth and understand the reasons for cultivation and drainage.
• Plant health: Basic pest and disease identification/symptoms and control methods.

Core skills:

• Communication: Communicating with others, including clients, the public and colleagues. This may require basic IT systems use.
• Teamwork: Working alone and as part of a team effectively, recognising how all staff are dependent on each other to meet business objectives.
• Health and safety: Applying relevant health and safety processes and procedures, implementing specific industry information on hazards relevant to horticultural environments, following safe systems of work and safety information provided by the employer, implementing environmental protection policies and procedures.
• Environment: Prevention and control of local pollution incidents e.g. use of spill kits.
• Planting, plant growth and development: Caring for plants correctly in different environments, including basic irrigation methods, planting methods and identifying plant deficiencies, installing various soft-landscape materials e.g. shrubs, trees, herbaceous, bedding, grass areas and seed, this will include site preparation, planting, sowing, turfing, preparation of seed beds and mulching.
• Soil cultivation: Cultivating and improving soils by mechanical methods and by hand, making and amelioration of growing media and soils.
• Tools, equipment and machinery: Safely using tools e.g. spades, rakes, shovels; equipment e.g. tape measure and spirit level and machinery e.g. pedestrian controlled mowers, hand held strimmer, hedge cutter.
• Vegetation control: Following processes and methods of site clearance, using tools and machinery for pruning and vegetation control, including basic turf management, following weed control methods.
• Maintenance of hard structures: Maintaining structures relevant to the business activities.
• Site presentation: Working to a specified finish.

For the landscape construction role, additional knowledge and skills are required:

• Methods used to measure and set out a site e.g. use of tape measures and measuring wheels, defining features by using string lines or aerosol markers, the principles in defining site levels using manual or electrical equipment.
• Marking out hazards such as services, interpretation of construction drawings and specifications e.g. quantities, measurements and positioning, the safe use of abrasive wheels for cutting hard landscape materials during construction.
• Water feature construction methods e.g. linings, pumps and water courses.
• Installing various hard-landscape construction features and structures e.g. paths, patios, fences and walls, this will include basic bricklaying, paving, timber decking, setting levels and services identification.
• Free hand cutting and bench cutting of hard landscape materials during construction using abrasive wheels.
• Assessment and repair of hard structures: Evaluating hazards and damage and if appropriate carrying out repair or reporting. Examples include broken drainage, rotten timber, cracked paving stone and frost damage brickwork.

For the horticulture role, additional knowledge and skills are required:

• The range and application of different growing media for plant production and propagation, the principles and methods of watering techniques including irrigation systems and hand watering.
• Ornamental turf management through basic maintenance including mowing, aeration, scarification, and top dressing, how to monitor for issues including damage, water issues, pests and diseases.
• Ornamental aquatic environments including organic matter controlling both inside and around the feature and monitoring for any maintenance or safety issues.
• Undertaking correct pruning techniques for a range of plants.
• Cultivating and maintaining soft-landscape elements e.g. shrubs, trees, herbaceous, bedding, grass areas and seed, assisting the establishment of an area of turf through laying, irrigation, maintenance, and allowing appropriate establishment time before use.
• Undertaking basic propagation skills including division, cuttings, seed sowing and seed collection.
• Working without causing damage to features present such as irrigation, turf and aquatic environments.
• Health and safety: Having a safety-led mind-set for self, colleagues and the public.
• Customer care: Showing dignity, respect and empathy when dealing with others, including clients, the public and colleagues.
• Learning behaviours, skills and knowledge effectively from craftspeople and managers.
• Having a positive and motivated attitude towards work, including having pride in one’s work.
• Decision making: Adopting a pragmatic timely approach by identifying appropriate solutions to practical problems.