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Replies
Hi Jonny
You might have seen these past threads from the site, but just in case:
https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/rhs-courses
https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/rhs-level-2-horticul...
https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/higher-national-cert...
And hopefully others will pop in and add their own thoughts.
Hi Jonny,
I would say yes ,but with a qualification ,in that it would say to me as a potential employer that this person wants to learn their trade, and the RHS provides good foundations . See it as a chapter or beginning but not an end to your learning. This is the only trade I know where you cannot know it all... ever!!
best of luck!
Paul
Hi Jonny,
I've just completed a level 2 via the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh at nearly 52, so already had quite a bit of home gardening experience.
However, I took the Certificate in principles of garden planning, establishment and maintenance and certificate in principles of horticulture and not the course you're looking at.
I've started my own small garden maintenance business and I wanted something to put me ahead of the 'budget lads with mowers'.
It's been a useful selling point that I have invested in knowledge, and can comfortably advise on lots of aspects of gardens, use latin names with a bit of confidence and talk confidently about pruning, weeds and other stuff.
I've worked in different industries, and to be honest, I'd always give an applicant who has trained under their own steam an opportunity as it shows they're interested in what they're doing, and not just turning up for the wage.
Good luck with whatever you do! :)
Absolutely worth doing. You will wow yourself with regurgitated knowledge everytime, when some asks you a question.
Sadly you will constantly find yourself having to explain the correct way to water! 🤣
I have Level 2 which I managed to whilst on a placement within a garden centre, I was attached to. I already had certificates in Horticulture from a part time college course decade's ago.
You can't beat hands on experience but it gives you a good grounding on techniques, language & botanical knowledge.
If I have a client or potential, who thinks they know it all, I just spout out terms like Epicormic growth or clarotic or Latin names. It tends to tell them if you know your stuff.
You could always ask any employer if they would be up for paying for the course for you.
Good luck whatever.
Absolutely worth doing as I think it gives customers extra confidence in your service if you say you're rhs qualified, particularly if you are a newcomer to the gardening industry.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the RHS level 2. Did it 20 years ago, enjoyed every minute and learned a great deal. You will find so much knowledge there and the confidence to start doing and studying more at home and at work. Potential clients will feel more confident if you've got 'RHS qualified' to go with your name and hopefully more confident still when you demonstrate that you really do know how to plant, prune and propagate correctly.
If you are inexperienced the course may hard work to start with, but it's absolutely worth the effort. If you go ahead and it comes to exam time, I'll offer my teacher's good advice: 'They don't want prose, they want knowledge!'. She also advised us to use our own gardens as a knowledge bank and to grow as much as we could, so that when faced with questions we'd have the knowledge in mind from growing whatever plant was being asked about.
Good luck and enjoy the adventure!
It is most definitely worth getting a qualification of this type. This is exactly what I did at an evening class when I had a career change and wanted to be able to mention it on ads and improve how people 'saw' me when they were thinking about employing me. It also improves your plant and weed knowledge and you understand why we do a lot of the processes we do, such as pruning at the right time of year, not just in autumn. Not only that but if you decide you want to get further qualifications you may well find this level 2 plus any working gardening experience will enable you to study for them whilst working for an employer - eg. to study the RHS Wisley diploma you need a minimum of both of these things so you can apply and then you could find yourself working there obtaining a diploma that will open doors for you in all sorts of areas of horticulture. Anyway, I think you get the idea that getting qualifications is always worth it. Also look at the website BEST in Horticulture as they run RHS and other courses, and be aware of the charity Perennial who support people who work in horticulture when they come up against life's difficulties.
I've worked with one or two chaps that have had no knowledge at all and one of them often just prunes blindly, not really knowing what anything is or when it should be pruned and as a consequence the client wonders why some of his shrubs never flower! You'll get so much more job satisfaction knowing a lot more about what it is you're doing as well, and if you want to own your own business (if you don't already) this can only help you achieve that goal
Johnny
Definitely worth getting a qualification. I did a complete career change two years ago and set up my gardening business. I studied a similar course online and it gave me much more confidence talking to customers. The fact I was studying an RHS course seemed to fit well with potential new customers. I have never looked back and really enjoyed the course. I now employ my partner full time as well as the business has took off. Do the course and keep engaging on the LJN as the advice on here is brilliant for newcomers.
As other have said, not only does it give you knowledge, but it also shows that you are not just a leaf blower. I did it about 10 years ago and straight after started my own garden maintenance business. One thing that I feel I didn't learn enough on the course was plant knowledg, knowing what to plant in terms of a enjoyable client garden. I taught myself over the years with lots of books, garden visits etc. I appreciate the RHS course is not a garden design course, but had hoped to come away with a bit more plant knowledge than I did. Also really helpful if you can volunteer somewhere for the practical experience. The course is very theoretical, with very limited practial stuff, unless it has changed a lot. Worth talking to a few students locally whereever you want to do the course, to get a feel for that particular tutor etc.
Good luck!