City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture (Landscaping)

This course allows the learner to learn, develop and practise the skills required for employment and/or career progression in the horticulture sector. This qualification is designed primarily for learners who wish to enhance their high occupational skills and good knowledge in a wide range of horticultural skills to confirm occupational competence in specific job roles including:

● Horticultural Technician
● Horticultural lecturer
● Hard landscape gardener- team leader
● Soft landscaper gardener- team leader
● Paving and path construction specialist

You can progress through the different levels and onto relevant apprenticeships

It is ideal for learners who carry out routine workplace tasks and who may use this qualification as a stepping stone to higher qualifications of this type.

The qualification covers skills from a wide range of areas including the mandatory units Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of the workplace, Estimate and programme resource requirements, Manage your own resources, Specify the maintenance of landscapes, Monitor landscape maintenance and inspect landscape features and facilities.
Optional units may include selection from some of the following units: Maintain drainage systems, Plant nomenclature, terminology and identification, Installing drainage systems, Evaluate ground and environmental conditions to establish grassed and planted areas, Prepare sites for soft landscape establishment, Establish planted areas, Establish grass swards, Maintain irrigation systems, Plan and maintain planted areas, Plan and renovate planted areas, Prepare sites for landscape works, Design and install drainage systems, Laying hard surfaces for external landscaping, Construct free standing walls, Install hard landscape features and structures, Plan and construct water features, Construct rock gardens, Repair and restore walls, Restore soft landscape areas, plan and collect propagation material, Prepare and establish propagation material, Plan and implement seed propagation, Organise the delivery of reliable customer service, Improve the customer relationship, time management for business, lead the work teams and individuals to achieve their objectives, improve customer service, implement a marketing plan, manage budgets.


Learners will choose combined units to meet their learning and development needs. This qualification is a Diploma requiring achievement of a minimum of 5 credits from the mandatory units and a minimum of 30 credits from the optional units.