Jobs

We are a small, LGBTQ+ run company based in South East London, offering garden design and creative maintenance services predominantly for residential and commercial clients across Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hackney and Islington. Director Patrick Featherstone is an award-winning plantsman trusted by clients across London and Europe to create original, planet-conscious, show stopping gardens. Read more about us here.

Below are roles we are currently hiring for (last updated Tuesday 22nd April 2025)

Garden Manager

Posted Tuesday 22nd April 2025:

We are currently seeking an experienced freelance gardener to join our team for as a manager for regular maintenance shifts and planting projects.

  • This role would suit someone who is confident to work independently, and also has the expertise to manage 1-2 junior gardeners during larger seasonal sessions, such as pruning and replanting jobs.

  • The applicant must have prior experience working in a client-facing role in a mature, ornamental garden, such as in residential, public or commercial gardens.

  • You will possess the ability to envision the garden as a whole: knowing what tasks to prioritise across the seasons, suggesting areas for improvement, using your in-depth plant to knowledge to suggest and top up seasonal bedding — and being willing to get stuck into some of the less glamorous tasks at times too!

  • Applicants ideally will have completed a formal horticulture qualification at least to RHS Level 2 or 3 (or equivalent).

  • It is essential that applicants have a valid UK driving licence for transporting plants and waste to and from clients’ gardens. Ideally you will own your own vehicle. Petrol and parking expenses are reimbursed.

  • This position will specifically cover our clients in South London (Wandsworth, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham), so please consider this in relation to where you are based.

  • There will be an initial period of 1-2 months where you will work alongside at least one other gardener as you become familiarised with our regular clients. After this, you will have the opportunity to work independently and manage teams yourself, with scope to also work on planting plans and develop your role as a junior designer.

Schedule: 2-3 days per week. Working hours 8.30am-4.30pm in summer / 8am-4pm in winter. Most maintenance sessions last 2-8 hours, with between one and three clients per day. We are looking for a candidate who is ready for an immediate start (May 2025).

Salary: Pay negotiable on experience (minimum £20 per hour when working independently, higher when managing gardeners/teams), paid on invoice, self-employed basis with possibility of PAYE contract to follow.

Key responsibilities:

  • Highlighting priority tasks in the garden and either working independently or instructing 1-2 gardeners at a time on work to undertake during the session.

  • Planning seasonal bedding, sourcing and collecting plants from the nursery for upcoming visits.

  • Taking note of areas for improvement or replanting in gardens.

  • Pruning shrubs, climbers and small trees.

  • Maintenance of ornamental borders and containers including weeding, planting, mulching, soil conditioning, feeding, dividing, staking, deadheading and cutting back.

  • Treating pests and diseases using organic methods where possible.

  • Hedge trimming.

  • Sweeping, leaf blowing and tidying.

  • Lawn care including: seeding, mowing, edging, feeding, weeding and turfing.

  • Communicating with clients in a friendly and professional manner, taking note of priority tasks.

  • Safely removing and transporting garden waste.

  • Installing irrigation systems (training can be provided for this within the role).

  • Writing out timesheets detailing work undertaken and notes for forthcoming visits.

  • Collating information and feeding it back to the studio team to allow us to coordinate orders and visits.

Essential skills:

  • A good knowledge of plants, pruning, lawn care, pest and disease identification.

  • Experience maintaining mature gardens, with the confidence to edit the existing mature planting when appropriate, and lead on pruning and seasonal tasks.

  • Ability to cooperate and instruct teams, identifying priority tasks for gardeners to undertake.

  • Strong client communication skills.

  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a similar role.

  • Full UK driving licence.

Desirable skills:

  • Formal horticulture qualification at least to RHS Level 2 or equivalent - or ideally level 3.

  • Experience in garden design and/or landscape architecture.

  • Own vehicle.

  • Experience driving a van.

Person specification:

  • Reliable, honest and punctual.

  • Physically fit and willing to work in all types of weather.

The successful candidate will benefit from competitive wages, flexible hours, regular appraisals, and training opportunities.

To apply, please send a CV and a statement of interest via email to studio@patrickfeatherstone.com