Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

Working Life

Managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of their establishment's activities. They decide which crops and plants to use and their rotation. They buy stock and equipment and order seed, plants and fertiliser. They use computers to monitor costs and are responsible for maintaining profits. This may involve analysing sales records to decide which products are most likely to sell well. This information is used to plan product lines.  
 
Managers are responsible for staff recruitment, supervision and the planning of work schedules, often through other supervisory staff if it is a big establishment. They need to be in close touch with the work outside and they sometimes carry out practical tasks, such as spraying, mulching, watering, pruning, weeding and potting, in training their staff or to help out during busy periods.  
 
In commercial horticulture, managers are mainly concerned with the cultivation, harvesting, storage and sale of produce. This includes field vegetables, fruit, protected crops grown under glass or polythene, and hardy nursery stock, such as trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants.  
 
In garden centres, the emphasis is on ensuring that the store is well stocked with appropriate plants. The horticultural manager will need to work within a budget and be responsible for ensuring appropriate pricing and high sale of plants. They may also do a lot of horticultural training with the garden centre assistants and sales staff.  
 
In amenity horticulture, managers traditionally deal with the large scale maintenance of sports greens, parks, public gardens, private estates, urban green areas and the landscaping of hard and soft verges. Some specialise in turf culture and tree management. Increasingly, amenity horticulture is expanding to include the provision and maintenance of countryside recreational facilities.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
• Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilise soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
• Set up and operate irrigation equipment.
• Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements, and mechanical equipment.
• Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand.
• Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.
• Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.
• Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass.
• Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress.
• Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting.

Further Information

• Horticultural consultant- from: GradIreland
• Horticultural Manager- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Horticultural Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Landscape gardener- from: GradIreland
• Landscape Manager- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Entry at management level normally requires a diploma or degree in a relevant subject and a period of work experience. Thereafter, further training is with employers in the workplace.  
 
Managers progress from supervising small units to gaining wider responsibilities within an organisation.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: management, green keeping

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: business management, horticulture, sustainable organic horticulture.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Applied Horticulture. Sports Turf management, Arboriculture Apprenticeships.

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: management, landscape architecture, horticulture.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: management, horticulture advice.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €32k - €50k

Salaries vary by location, duties, role, experience, and employer (private / state).

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Payscale/ Horticulture jobs/ Talent/ Excel

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Managers and proprietors in agriculture; Horticulture Managers; Proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services; Managers and proprietors in horse-racing and related industries.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Numbers employed in this occupation are too small to allow for any analysis. Employment permits issued in 2022 related to farm managers (including pig and dairy). 

• Teagasc - Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

  • Head Office, Oak Park, Carlow
  • (059) 917 0200
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland

  • Cabinteely House, The Park, Cabinteely, Dublin 18
  • (01) 493 7154
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here