Pay Rises in Horticulture 2025
What the Latest Data Means for Our Industry
The latest HortWeek survey, in partnership with the Professional Gardeners’ Guild, has sparked important conversations across the horticulture and arboriculture sectors. The Guild has recommended a 4% increase in salaries for 2025, aligning with inflationary trends and continued pressures on recruitment and retention in green industries.
While the rise is slightly lower than 2024’s uplift, it still reflects a market that remains resilient, and one where skilled, reliable people are in growing demand.
📈 Understanding the Numbers
The 4% recommendation comes from a mix of key economic indicators:
Retail Prices Index (RPI): +3.6%
Consumer Prices Index (CPI): +3%
CPI including housing costs (CPIH): +3.9%
Private sector pay growth: ~5%
National Living Wage increase: +6.7%
(Sources: Office for National Statistics, National Institute of Economic & Social Research)
While inflation has cooled compared to the highs of recent years, the cost of living remains elevated, meaning employers across horticulture, landscaping, and arboriculture are still working hard to balance rising wages with sustainable business operations.
💬 A Resilient Labour Market
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD), the overall labour market remains strong, even with further National Insurance and National Living Wage increases planned for April.
That resilience is being felt across the sector:
Garden centres have enjoyed a buoyant year, with consumer demand for outdoor living and sustainability staying strong.
Growers continue to face tight margins and logistical challenges, trying to manage peaks in demand while keeping operations efficient.
Arboriculture and landscaping companies, meanwhile, are navigating the same economic pressures while also dealing with an industry-wide skills shortage and the increasing importance of environmental credentials.
🌿 What This Means for Employers and Teams
For employers, this 4% guidance serves as both a benchmark and an opportunity:
To ensure pay remains competitive in attracting and retaining skilled people.
To recognise the professionalism and qualifications now expected across our industry.
And to balance fair reward with commercial sustainability, ensuring teams are supported without compromising long-term business stability.
For employees, it’s a reminder that skills in horticulture and arboriculture are valued, and that continuous development, training, and certification remain key drivers for higher earning potential.
🌳 Beechwood’s Perspective
At Beechwood Trees and Landscapes Ltd, we see pay progression as part of a much bigger picture: investing in people for the future.
Over the past year, we’ve continued to strengthen training and career pathways across all levels, from apprentices and team leaders to contract managers and technical specialists. That investment not only supports fair pay but also drives performance, safety, and long-term retention.
Our focus for 2025 remains clear:
✅ Competitive, transparent pay structures
✅ Ongoing personal and professional development
✅ Recognition of excellence and contribution
✅ A culture that rewards consistency, reliability, and growth
Because as our industry evolves, one thing remains constant, the people on the ground make the biggest difference.
🧾 Have Your Say
HortWeek is currently gathering insights from across the sector to get a fuller picture of how pay rises are being applied in practice. The survey is 100% confidential and open to everyone working in horticulture, landscaping, or arboriculture.
Final Thought
As the green industry continues to grow in both scale and importance, fair pay and professional standards will remain at the heart of progress.
A 4% rise is more than a number, it’s a signal that horticulture and arboriculture are being recognised as the skilled, sustainable professions they truly are.
