A private gardener looks after the grounds of a family home full-time. The work covers lawns, borders, trees, irrigation, and often a kitchen garden or glasshouse too.
Laurine Mallet, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet, says, “People who last in this role are polite and understand the boundaries of the household.”
Use this page as a job description template if you’re looking to hire a private gardener. For more information on the role, see our private gardener hiring page. It covers the daily duties of the role, pay by country, the difference between a private gardener and a landscaping company, and how the hiring process works.
Example of a private gardener job description
Here is a sample for a full-time private gardener on a Saint-Tropez estate. Adjust the details to match your own grounds. Local employment rules vary by country.
We are seeking a private estate gardener to care for and improve the grounds of a private home in Saint-Tropez. You bring strong horticultural knowledge and a sharp eye for detail to keep large gardens healthy and ready for guests.
Key responsibilities
- Mow, edge, and maintain lawns.
- Plant and care for beds, shrubs, and trees.
- Plan seasonal planting in line with the estate style.
- Test soil and add compost, mulch, and fertilizers as needed.
- Manage pest control and monitor plant health.
- Maintain irrigation and set clear watering schedules.
- Prune for health, shape, and safety.
- Keep paths, patios, and outdoor furniture clean and presentable.
- Work with the estate team on projects and events.
- Use and maintain tools and machinery.
- Record tasks and report progress to the estate manager.
Qualifications
- Proven experience in private gardens, estate work preferred.
- Horticulture or related training is preferred.
- Strong plant knowledge and solid lawn care skills.
- Confident with garden tools and safe use.
- Organized, detail focused, and comfortable working outdoors year round.
- Clear communicator who can work without close supervision.
- Valid driver’s license.
Conditions
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Full-time role with seasonal flexibility, including weekends when needed.
- Ongoing training and development.
- A well-equipped and attractive working environment.
How the gardener fits into the wider household team
Something to keep in mind when you write the job description. The gardener isn’t just keeping the lawns tidy. They’re keeping the grounds ready for guests, for events, and for the principal arriving at short notice. The brief should reflect that.
On most estates the gardener doesn’t work alone. They work with the housekeeping team, the chef, sometimes a nanny, and report up to a house manager or estate manager.
Laurine Mallet talks about how household teams come together for summer, particularly in places like the Hamptons or the South of France: “You’re going to have your own family, you invite guests, you organise dinners and parties. You need housekeepers, a cook chef, drivers, gardeners to maintain the garden during summer, plus on-demand handymen and a house manager who can manage all this.”
Using this job description
This template works as a bare draft that you shape it around your own property and team. The details that change the role most are the size of the grounds, whether the gardener works alone or under a head gardener, and whether accommodation is on offer.
Morgan & Mallet places private gardeners across New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, and Dubai. If you’d like help shaping this job description or running the search, you can contact our offices or call +1 (646) 965-2308.
Looking for a private gardener position? Browse current vacancies on the Morgan & Mallet job board.