A head gardener is an individual who manages all horticultural aspects of a property or garden, including staff and volunteers. The properties they manage include historic gardens and private estates, as well as amenity horticulture teams, with a county council.
The responsibilities and required experience of a head gardener varies between roles and properties, but head gardeners are normally expected to be educated to an exceptionally high level within their field and have many years of experience to support their education. In the UK, establishments such as Kew Gardens, Capel Manor College and The Royal Horticultural Society offer training courses for professional gardeners. Some courses also offer a degree, such as Master of Horticulture.
