Gardener and landscaper
Gardeners grow plants, create gardens, parks and green spaces and look after them all year round. If you like being outdoors and want to see what your work achieves, you will feel at home here.
Typical tasks
- sowing, repotting and caring for plants
- laying out gardens and green spaces according to a plan
- mowing lawns and cutting hedges and trees
- building paths, walls or ponds in gardens
- advising customers on choosing plants
Where people work
Gardeners work in nurseries, tree nurseries, landscaping companies, municipal gardens and parks, or garden centres.
A good fit if
- you like being outdoors, even in cold or heat
- you are interested in plants and nature
- you are good with your hands
- you have stamina, because many things grow slowly
Education pathways in Austria
In Austria the usual path is a Lehre (apprenticeship), for example in garden and green space design or in horticulture. With the Matura (school-leaving exam), the path leads through an HBLA (higher college of agriculture and forestry) specialising in horticulture. In Germany the equivalent is the Duale Ausbildung or the Fachoberschule Agrarwirtschaft, in Switzerland the Berufslehre (EFZ) or the Berufslehre Landwirtschaft (EFZ).
- Lehre
- Training in a company and at vocational school. With 'Lehre mit Matura' it can also lead to university entrance. 2 to 4 years
- HBLA
- Matura focused on agriculture, environment or food. 5 years
Matching schools in Austria
A selection from our school list. Not every school of this type offers every specialisation, so ask the school directly.
- HBLA PitzelstättenHBLA, 9061 Klagenfurt, KärntenCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
- HBLFA Francisco JosephinumHBLA, 3250 Wieselburg, NiederösterreichCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
- HBLA UrsprungHBLA, 5161 Elixhausen, SalzburgCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
- HBLFA Raumberg-GumpensteinHBLA, 8952 Irdning, SteiermarkCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
Frequently asked questions
What do I do in winter?
There is less planting in winter. Instead there is pruning, planning, machine maintenance and work in the greenhouse.
Do I need good grades?
For an apprenticeship, interest, reliability and practical skill often count for more than grades.
Can I become self-employed later?
Yes. With experience and the required exams you can set up your own business.
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