Landscaping and Garden Design (QQI Level 6)

This course covers both soft and hard landscaping skills, from soil science and plant identification to paving, drainage, and structural garden features. You will study planting design principles, learning how to select plants for Irish climate conditions and create visually coherent garden schemes. Practical sessions are central to the programme — you spend a significant portion of each week outdoors, handling tools and machinery, constructing garden elements, and maintaining planting schemes. Modules in garden design introduce you to technical drawing and CAD software used in professional practice. Some programmes include site visits to showcases such as Bord Bia's Bloom Festival in the Phoenix Park, giving you exposure to high-profile professional work. Placements with landscaping contractors or garden designers are typically built into the course.

Entry usually requires a Leaving Certificate with a minimum of five passes (O6/H7) including English, or equivalent QQI Level 5 awards in Horticulture, Amenity Horticulture, or a related area. A QQI Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture or Landscape Operations is the most common progression route onto this Level 6 programme. Leaving Certificate subjects such as Biology, Agricultural Science, and Art are useful but not always mandatory. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may apply without standard Leaving Certificate results and are assessed on relevant work experience. HEAR and DARE access schemes apply at colleges that participate in the CAO system, though many FET providers accept applications directly. Some Teagasc colleges consider previous practical experience in grounds maintenance or gardening as part of their selection process.

Demand for skilled landscaping professionals in Ireland has grown steadily, driven by residential development, urban greening initiatives, and increased public interest in garden design. Experienced garden designers and landscape contractors with a strong portfolio can build successful self-employed businesses or work with established firms on high-value projects. Salaries for qualified landscape technicians typically range from around €28,000 to €40,000 per year, with experienced designers and project managers earning more. The sector is relatively resilient to economic downturns at the maintenance end, as parks, sports facilities, and public spaces require ongoing care year-round.