Care for outdoor spaces — and build a rewarding hands-on career
Landscape Maintenance Technician
As a Landscape Maintenance Technician, you’re a steward of green spaces — helping landscapes thrive through care, detail, and hands-on skill. From shaping lawns to managing irrigation, you’ll take pride in creating places people enjoy and doing work you can be proud of.
Salary Range
$18 – $40/hour (Rates vary depending on experience, role type, location and any specialist skills)
Recommended Training
Certificate III in Parks and Gardens
Job Listing (Coming Soon)
Browse current job openings and take the next step in your landscaping career.
Job Overview
Landscape Maintenance Technicians are the go-to people for keeping gardens, lawns, and public spaces clean, healthy, and looking their best. You’ll work outdoors using tools and equipment to mow, prune, plant, and maintain everything from small courtyards to large parks. Depending on the site, you might work solo or in a team. Some techs become all-rounders, while others focus on specialised areas like sports turf management, green roofs, vertical gardens, irrigation systems, or plant health techniques. This is practical, hands-on work with clear outcomes — perfect for people who like staying active and seeing their impact every day.
Tasks & Duties
Mowing, edging, and maintaining lawns, sports fields, and turf areas
Pruning trees, shrubs, and hedges — including detailed amenity pruning techniques
Planting, mulching, and maintaining garden beds with a focus on plant health and soil improvement
Using a wide range of tools and equipment, including compactors, trenchers, power saws, drills, laser levels, and skid steers
Identifying plant species and diagnosing issues like pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies
Managing weeds and applying pest control using safe, approved methods (may require a licence)
Operating powered tools and machinery, including ride-on mowers, blowers, trimmers, and hedgers
Maintaining and adjusting irrigation systems to support healthy growth
Conducting site inspections and reporting maintenance needs
Keeping paths, fences, and garden structures clean, safe, and in good repair
Recording completed work or site updates using apps or job tracking tool
How to Become a Landscape Maintenance Technician
You can get into this role with a traineeship, labouring experience, or by completing a horticulture qualification. Many people learn on the job, but formal training builds skills and boosts your chances of long-term success.
- Certificate III in Parks and Gardens (AHC31021) The core trade qualification for this role — delivered through an apprenticeship and focused on horticulture, plant care, turf management, and environmental maintenance.
Career Progression & Pathways
Many professionals start in parks and gardens and build long-term careers in plant care, greenkeeping, turf management, and team leadership, or branch out into their own garden maintenance businesses.
Starter
Apprentice, Maintenance Assistant, Landscape Labourer
Skilled
Landscape Maintenance Technician, Horticulturist, Turf Technician
Advanced
Site Supervisor, Irrigation Specialist, Team Leader, Trainer & Assessor, Horticultural Consultant, Green Infrastructure Coordinator, Business Owner – Landscape Maintenance
Already Working in Landscaping or Horticulture?
If you’ve been working in garden or grounds maintenance, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This process allows experienced workers to have their skills formally assessed and credited toward the qualification, helping you fast-track your pathway to becoming qualified.
Speak with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to explore your RPL options.
Other Key Considerations
- White Card (Construction Induction) Required to work on school, council, or public infrastructure sites.
- Driver’s Licence Helpful for travelling between job sites or operating equipment like trailers and ride-on mowers.
- First Aid Certificate Often preferred for roles involving public spaces, schools, or recreational facilities.
- ACDC Licence (QLD) This may be supported if weed control is part of your role.
- Professional Industry Membership Joining an industry association like Landscape Queensland can connect you to professional networks, mentorship opportunities, and support services throughout your career.
“Working in parks and gardens gives you a sense of pride. You’re part of creating spaces where families, communities and wildlife can thrive.”
Skills, Attributes & Experience
This career suits people who are:
- Interested in plants, turf, and outdoor care
- Physically fit and happy working outdoors
- Practical and hands-on, with good attention to detail
- Organised, reliable, and self-motivated
- Confident using equipment and tools
- Focused on safety and environmental awareness
- Comfortable using digital tools to track or report work
- Proud of maintaining neat, healthy, and welcoming spaces
You’ll take ownership of the spaces you maintain, keeping them thriving, safe, and ready for people to enjoy. It’s work with real results, and the satisfaction of knowing you make a visible difference every day.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Take our interactive career quiz to discover which landscaping pathway best matches your skills and interests.
Take the Career Quiz