What Does a Teen Gardener Do?

As a gardener, you could do a variety of things. Customers may ask you to plant a whole garden for them, take care of their existing garden or even add small touches to it. As a gardener, you could be planting your customers food source, like tomato plants, or even adding some beautiful plants to spruce up their yard. As a gardener, you could work on local yards in your neighborhood or even work for the government and tend to public parks or roads. Gardening does not always just mean tending to small plants. You could even be trimming hedges, taking care of trees, or even cutting the grass. Your day-to-day tasks could include: cleaning and maintaining equipment, tending public parks, keeping bugs away from plants, making sure soil is healthy, watering or feeding plants, using lawnmowers or hedge cutters, planting seeds, checking the health of plants, weeding and putting up borders for the garden. Gardening is a great start for someone who enjoys being outdoors or working with nature.

How Much Does a Teen Gardener Get Paid?

According to statistics, a gardener gets paid between $9.50 an hour – $20.00 an hour on average. Pay does depend on gardening experience or what company you are working for. If you are working for the government working on highways or public parks, your pay will likely be somewhere around $18.00 – $20.00 an hour. If you plan on starting your own gardening business or working for a small company, your pay will likely be in the $9.50 – $11.00 range. If you are experienced or have many skills in the area, your pay could possibly be more. If you are looking to start your own gardening business, you will likely make more money since there is no one else you are working for or having to pay.

How Can I Get Started as a Teen Gardener?

1. First, you must ask your parents for permission. It’s vital to ensure your parents are okay with your future plans, especially when you are using sharp tools and working outside.
2. The next step is to assess not only your experience with gardening, but your knowledge as well. This is a crucial step. Some plants can only handle a certain amount of sunlight and water, others need to be clipped and fed often. It all depends on what kind of plants or trees you are working with. If you have no experience gardening, we would recommend going to a site like this to learn how to tend to some basic, popular plants. This will help you get an idea of the kind of work involved as a gardener and what you should be prepared for.
3. After assessing your knowledge and experience, you will need the proper tools to begin your gardening business. In this step, we will list links to all products you need on Amazon. If you plan on cutting grass, you will need a lawnmower, if you don’t already own one. You (or your parents) can get a great lawnmower for a low price. Next you will need a rake. A rake can be used to level ground or clear out small plants. You will also need pruners. Pruners are used to cut plants. Crossover blades are the best to use. A hoe is also extremely useful. Hoes are used to clear large weeds and clear land at a faster pace. Most homeowners should have a garden hose, but if they don’t, you will need one. A hose will be used to water the plants and grass. Edgers will produce a nice, clean line to define the difference between the lawn and the garden. These are just simple tools to start with. You can get more advanced and buy more tools to expand your horizons, but the ones listed will get you by just fine.
4. It is important to set your hours you will be working. Generally, it is best to start early in the morning since it is much cooler in the morning than it is towards the afternoon. The best part about working for yourself is the fact that you can make your own hours.
5. Now all you have to do is spread the word of your newly-developed gardening business. Post flyers around your neighborhood and surrounding areas with your contact information, a little about your business and your hours. Your parents and family members could also spread the word at work or to your neighbors to draw more business in. If you are allowed, you could even post some business cards or flyers at your local hardware stores or home renovation stores. Congrats, you have your own business!

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Helpful Resources

• Amazon.com:  This is where you can buy all of the supplies to become a gardener.  We recommend the following:- Lawnmower– Rake- Pruner- Hoe- Hose– Edger
• FineGardening.com:  This website will help you understand everything there is to know about gardening.