Do I need a horticulture qualification to write a good gardener letter?

No. Real examples of your work and how customers responded matter more, although a qualification is worth naming if you have one.

Can I use photos in my application?

You can offer to share before and after photos or bring them to interview. Keep the letter itself to text.

Should I mention working in the rain?

A short line that you are happy working outdoors in all weathers is enough. Employers will care more about your attendance and standards.

Gardener cover letter example

A strong gardener cover letter shows the work you do through the year and the results customers can see, with one example of a garden you improved. It should also mention any qualifications, machine tickets and a driving licence.

Fiona McAllister

fiona@example.com · 07700 900156 · Birmingham

3 March 2026

Fernhill Grounds & Gardens

Dear Mr Ashworth,

I am writing to apply for the Gardener position at Fernhill Grounds & Gardens. I currently maintain around twenty private gardens for a local grounds company, looking after lawns, hedges, borders and seasonal planting on a weekly and fortnightly rota.

I enjoy work where you can see the result at the end of the day. I mow and edge carefully, prune shrubs and roses at the right time of year and clear green waste so the garden is left tidy. One customer had a bed that had been overrun with weeds for years. I cleared it, added compost and planted perennials that suit the shade, and she has asked me to look after it every month since.

I use mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers safely, and I hold a Level 2 certificate in horticulture and a PA1 and PA6 spraying certificate. I have a full, clean driving licence and I am happy to work outdoors in all weathers.

The gardens Fernhill looks after around the village are well known locally, and I would be proud to help care for them. I would be glad to show you my work or arrange a short trial. Thank you for considering my application.

Yours sincerely,

Fiona McAllister

Example · fictional candidate · Heritage design

Tips for a gardener cover letter

Describe the range of work you do, such as lawns, hedges, borders and planting, and how many gardens you look after
Give one example of a garden or bed you improved, since results are what gardening employers want to see
Name any qualifications or tickets, such as a horticulture certificate, spraying or chainsaw certificates, where you hold them
Mention your driving licence and whether you can travel between sites with tools
Offer a trial day or references so the employer can see your work for themselves

Pair it with a CV: see our gardener CV example.

Gardener cover letter example

Fiona McAllister

Tips for a gardener cover letter

Questions about gardener cover letters