subject: Working in a Garden Centre [print this page] Whether you're an expert on all things horticulture or simply a plants enthusiast who has a thirst for knowledge, there's something very rewarding about working in a garden centre. Getting to spend every day surrounded by sweet smelling plants and caring for them is an appealing idea for many, as is chatting with like-minded customers who you can both advise and learn from during the completion of your day to day tasks.
What exactly are you expected to do as a garden centre worker? Is it essential that you know your stuff before you apply or are they happy to have you learn on the job? Well, for the second question it actually depends on the place you apply to. Many companies are more than happy to take on enthusiastic individuals who may not be plant experts but who are willing to learn, whereas some others will accept only those who have an in-depth horticultural knowledge. Don't be dismayed, however - even just a week or so of research will inform you greatly about a majority of the plant world you can expect to see in the garden centre and you'll find yourself identifying species in no time if you simply put in the effort.
As for the job itself, a garden centre worker can expect to be involved in tasks like growing plants, including planting seeds and bulbs then nurturing them as they sprout and grow. You'll also be expected to weed and prune plants to keep them healthy and presentable to prospective customers, as well as deal with pests and diseases that could harm the plants. Many garden centres want their staff to be able to advise customers on the products that best suit their requirements, and good customer service and rapport is always a plus. You may also be expected to work as a cashier, serve food in the cafeteria and make sure that the temperature, light and humidity of the greenhouses are all working correctly.
There are several other roles that you may find yourself taking at a garden centre, but the above provides a general idea of what staff usually do. Working in a garden centre is an enjoyable, rewarding job that lets you spend time with nature and like-minded garden types who love to talk about plants. So if you're a bit of a plant enthusiast yourself, you could find that a gardening career is the ideal one for you - so why not check in at your local garden centre and see what positions are available today?
