Gardener specialising in perennials
Gardener specialising in perennials
Gardener in the Botanical Garden
The academic appointment of a gardener is full of life and variety. Not only does the work provide deep insights into the world of plants and thus enables close contact with nature. It is also very multifaceted. During your training at the Botanical Garden of the University of Oldenburg, you will gain experience in the areas of alpine garden, medicinal garden, woody plants, plant systematics and plant sociology as well as the tropical house and the Mediterranean - in contrast to commercial horticulture.
An academic appointment full of life with seven specialisations
- Tree nursery
- Cemetery nursery
- Gardening and landscaping
- market gardening
- fruit growing
- Ornamental plant cultivation and
- perennial nursery
What does a gardener actually do?
During your training you will learn
- Types and specific care measures for a large number of plants - from perennials and woody plants to annual summer flowers and tropical plants
- the propagation of perennials by seeds and cuttings
- different ways of dividing plants
- Cultivation from the sprout to the saleable plant
- the assessment and use of soils, additives and substrates
- Responsible use of chemical pesticides and biological measures
- the selection, preparation, labelling, packaging, presentation and sale of perennials in the cooperating companies Stauden Schachtschneider and Staudengärtnerei Wichmann
- handling and maintenance of machinery, equipment and operating facilities
What are the requirements?
In addition to a good secondary school leaving certificate, you should have a keen interest in nature and the environment. We also expect you to have manual dexterity as well as technical and commercial understanding. You should also be reliable and enjoy working in a team and independently.
Higher school qualifications make it easier to gain further academic appointments.
How does the training work?
Training begins on 1 August each year and usually lasts three years. However, good performance in the vocational school can be recognised under certain circumstances. If you have a high school diploma, an entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or have successfully completed training in another academic appointment, it is possible to shorten the training programme to two years.
You will be trained in recognised training companies in your chosen field and attend vocational school alongside your training. You will attend inter-company training courses and complete a work placement totalling 10 weeks in a commercial horticultural business over the course of your training. The second year of training concludes with an intermediate examination.
What training opportunities are currently available?
- Master gardener examination
- One-year technical college; qualification "State-certified economist"
- Examination to become a state-certified technician for horticulture
- Two-year technical college; "State-certified business economist" qualification
- University of Applied Sciences or university degree programme in horticulture, landscape conservation or landscaping and open space planning (Bachelor's and Master's degree)
Specialised further training opportunities?
- Specialised agronomist for golf course maintenance (greenkeeper)
- Certified agricultural specialist in tree care and tree restoration
- Certified customer advisor in horticulture
- Certified nature and landscape conservationist
Further sources of information on the Internet
- www.gaertnerwerden.de/ (TAG companies, contact, news, etc.)
- www.lwk-niedersachsen.de/ (horticultural vocational training)
- www.ammerlaenderjunggaertner.de/
- www.botgarten.uni-oldenburg.de/
Remuneration and working hours
The monthly training allowance for apprentices is currently:
| in the first year of training | 1,236.82 euros |
| in the second year of training | 1,290.96 euros |
| in the third year of training | 1,340.61 euros |
| in the fourth year of training | 1,409.51 euros |
Apprentices who are in a training relationship on 1 December are entitled to a special annual payment.
The weekly working time is 39.8 hours and the holiday entitlement is 30 days per year.
Perspectives
The aim is to take on apprentices for a period of at least 12 months; if there are vacancies that can be filled, they may be offered permanent employment.
Further services
- Payment according to collective agreement incl. special annual payment
- 30 days holiday
- Payment of a final bonus for successfully passing the final examination
- Possibility of temporary employment for apprentices for a period of one year
- In the case of vacancies that can be filled, the possibility of permanent employment
- Provision of an iPad
- Induction days for all new apprentices at the university
- Annual training day with interesting events for apprentices of all years
- Extensive internal training programmes
- Opportunity to spend four weeks abroad within Europe
- Participation in the health promotion programmes offered by university sports (swimming pool, fitness and health centre)
- Use of the VBN JobTicket
- Use of the canteen at the Haarentor and Wechloy campuses
- A modern training centre in a convenient location with free parking spaces
- Interesting contacts on a lively campus