A Landscape Technician is… a person whose job it is to look after a designated area’s plants, trees and flowers.

The daily tasks of a Landscape Technician include all aspects of general gardening, such as watering, trimming, pruning, weeding and fertilising.

Depending on the area under the Landscape Technician’s charge, a good degree
of time management may be involved.

For instance, the gentleman we spoke to, Mr Ng, is working around the Sky Tower on Sentosa. As Sentosa is a popular tourist spot, Mr Ng has to schedule certain tasks to coincide with minimal crowds. He does his extensive watering and trimming of trees in the early morning when busloads of visitors are unlikely.

Starting with WSQ certification, a Landscape Technician’s job is a constant learning process. Getting to know all the differing needs and preferences of various plant species would take more than a lifetime to accomplish!

Something really cool about being a Landscape Technician is… the sense of pride and happiness that comes from seeing tourists from all over the world pose for photographs near the trees and flowers you’ve personally maintained. As a Landscape Technician, you help bring Singapore’s natural beauty to the world!

Meet Ng Ku Tia, a real-life Landscape Technician…

“I love plants and trees, and enjoy being outside and free from stress. I also enjoy putting my gardening knowledge into practice on a daily basis. For example, each day I must judge the weather and figure out if I need to water or not, and to what extent.

It’s a great job for me because I meet people from all over the world. I am glad when overseas visitors comment on the attractive landscape.

One more plus of being a Landscape Technician is the fact that it’s good exercise and keeps me fit and healthy.”

A Landscape Supervisor is… someone who paves the way for manual workers to do their jobs efficiently and safely. A Landscape Supervisor is in charge of the teams who keep public green areas neat and safe.

A Landscape Supervisor moves around the island constantly, overseeing teams of workers who are engaged in pruning, clearing, planting and so on. Often employed by a company with a contract from National Parks, a Landscape Supervisor attends to such tasks as ensuring there is crane access when branches of trees are obstructing traffic, and thus high branches need to be trimmed. Good communication and organisational skills are a must.

No two days are the same for a Landscape Supervisor. He or she is constantly being briefed on different tasks and is outdoors for most of the working day.

Something really cool about being a Landscape Supervisor is… the knowledge that you, personally, are helping uphold Singapore’s ‘garden city’ image and its worldwide reputation for being one of the greenest and most well-kept cities in the world. It makes you proud to be a Singaporean!

Meet Boo Ghim Yew,
a real-life Landscape Supervisor…

Being a Landscape Supervisor is very satisfying. I get a great sense of fulfilment seeing a job completed, on time and without any mishaps. There are also very good job opportunities, as the standards for public green areas are growing ever higher. This is largely thanks to National Parks.

Another plus-point of my job is that I get to work in the great outdoors. A perfect day for me is good weather, no accidents and no major delays.

A Landscape Manager is… a person engaged in all aspects of the creation of gardens.

Firstly, a Landscape Manager will be briefed by a client and endeavour to ascertain the client’s specific needs and wants. In general, a Landscape Manager considers each project from the perspective of theme, function and budget.

The Landscape Manager will then proceed to develop a proposal in accordance with the brief, and prepare a rationale for every single one of his decisions. Finally, the Landscape Manager will source the specific plants, then instruct and supervise a team of general workers who will literally bring his vision to life.

Something really cool about being a Landscape Manager is… the satisfaction that comes from the knowledge that you are truly doing your bit towards the greening of the world. Creating good gardens raises awareness of the importance of the landscape and of Nature itself, which can only have a positive long-term impact on the lives of our children and our children’s children.

Meet Mr R. Naga, a real-life Landscape Manager…

It’s a known fact that everyone loves Nature. Other than primary forest, which grows naturally, the rest of it just doesn’t fall from the sky. That’s where my work comes in.

For people who like the thought of this line of work, you need to remember that it’s like learning to swim – you have to get wet! In this case, don’t be afraid of the sun and be prepared to get tanned!

When I see my work completed and done well, I enjoy a double source of satisfaction – from myself, personally, and from happy and delighted clients. To date, I’ve completed around 700 projects from scratch and have never had to advertise, as all my work comes from word-of-mouth referrals. I like to think that it’s a reflection of my care and commitment.

A Landscape Designer is… a person who designs gardens for a vast spectrum of clients, including hotels, condominiums, tourist attractions and so on.

A Landscape Designer deals in both the hardscape (water features, benches, rocks) and of course the softscape (the plants). The scales of the possible projects of a Landscape Designer vary enormously.

The Landscape Designer will initially provide a rough sketch after being briefed. As the project develops, the Landscape Designer will create computer-generated visuals using various software like Photoshop and AutoCAD.

Various aspects of each project must be carefully considered, such as whether the plants are suited to the location in terms of their sun and water requirements, and whether the style of the plants is thematically appropriate.

For instance, Japanese-style gardens require a controlled look, so plants such as the Ficus are ideal while plants that evoke a jungle-like ambience would be totally mismatched.

After a job is completed, with every plant and structure in place, it’s far from over for the Landscape Designer. Most projects have a minimum 12-month ‘Defects Liability Period’, which means constant monitoring and attention to every detail.

Something really cool about being a Landscape Designer is… it puts men in touch with their feminine sides, and allows women to express their nurturing sides. That said, this job is certainly not for sissies!

Meet Sawinikasni Awi (Wini), a real-life Landscape Designer…

“Initially I wanted to be an architect, but when I was introduced to Landscape Design, I was attracted to the greater flexibility and creativity.

Architecture involves fixed concrete structures, whereas Landscape Design involves constant growth and development. Landscape Design, to me, is more of a creative challenge.

We humans have an urge to create. Like all design work, regardless of the field, you can enjoy a great sense of achievement and fulfilment.

When my Mum walks past my work, she’s so impressed… even more so when I proceed to rattle off the names of dozens of plant species!”

A Landscape Architect is... a highly qualified professional who plans, conceptualises, designs and oversees the implementation of large-scale landscape design projects.

A Landscape Architect plays an influential role in residential and commercial property developments, evaluating a site and commencing his or her work even before the Architect comes into the picture. Ideally, the Architect would defer to the Landscape Architect’s recommendations by orientating the architecture to optimise the natural beauty and hydrology of the site with as little cutting and filling as possible.

Landscape Architects work within both the private and pubic sectors. In the private sector, jobs can include condominiums, commercial complexes, hotels and hospitals. In the public sector, projects tend to be larger and can span entire housing estates and townships.

The scope of a Landscape Architect’s work often involves the administration of complex contracts that employ hundreds of workers from related fields. Excellent organisation and communication skills are essential, as are a firm grasp of IT and building technology.

Typically, a Landscape Architect will consider the various ecological, social and aesthetic implications of any given project. Preserving the natural landscape is a top priority.

A really cool thing about being a Landscape Architect is... the sense of teamwork and mutual respect that comes from working closely with professionals from other disciplines towards a unified vision.

Meet Tay Bee Choo (Miss), a real-life Landscape Architect...

I started out in the private sector as a hands-on Landscape Architect some 20 years ago, and am now involved in policy-making in the public sector. Right now, I am closely involved with a project that aims to convert concrete drains into aesthetically pleasing landscape features. Instead of straight concrete canals, we are looking at creating meandering waterways which lead to ‘rain gardens’ filled with plants that absorb the nutrients responsible for algae bloom in rivers. This will not only clean up our water, but reduce the incidence of flash floods and beautify our landscape at the same time. It’s like much of my work in terms of the largeness of its scale and the long-term scope of its vision.

An Irrigation Specialist is… a professional whose work encompasses every aspect of the application of water to a planting medium.

A common misconception is that an Irrigation Specialist is primarily concerned with drainage, yet in fact an Irrigation Specialist must understand and consider soil, plants, hydraulics, electricals and computerized control systems.

An Irrigation Specialist who is doing his job effectively will pass on many benefits to his clients, including water conservation, reduced labour costs, and of course the beautification of the environment.

It is noteworthy that David Chua, the Irrigation Specialist we spoke to, had both a
Degree in Physics and an MBA before he became a Certified Irrigation Designer. Such a credible educational background helped him inspire confidence among potential clients and his training in both fields assisted him in his work, both at grass roots level and in terms of running his own successful business today.

Something really cool about being an Irrigation Specialist is… that you are doing something to conserve a precious resource – water – and at the same time contributing to sustainable development.

Meet David Chua, a real-life Irrigation Specialist…

“It was my father who inculcated in me my interest in the outdoors, as we had a garden with fruit trees and orchids. As a boy, I’d help him till the soil, I’d catch grasshoppers and look for earthworms. I always loved being outside and being active, and I believe that passion for the outdoors is a must-have for anybody thinking of entering the industry.

When I went to NUS, I wanted to understand the natural world, so I took a Degree in Physics. Much of what I learned about Physics I apply to my work nowadays. After that, I completed an MBA, and then completed my Certification in Irrigation Design.

My career path has been circuitous and very rewarding, and it has come full circle to the point that I am now majority shareholder and General Manager of the company I was once employed by.

The irrigation line is a very promising one in Singapore right now. The booming economy, the extensive property development, the IR projects, the ABC Water Waste programme and the growing environmental awareness all mean that the industry is flourishing.”

An Interiorscaper is... a person responsible for the conceptualisation, design, implementation and maintenance of green interior landscapes and displays.

Compared to their outdoor counterparts, Landscape Designers and Architects, Interiorscapers tend to be more hands-on throughout the entire process from conceptualisation to maintenance. This is partly due to the generally smaller scale of their projects.

An Interiorscaper works closely with building owners and contractors to fine-tune designs before they are implemented.

A really cool thing about being an Interiorscaper is... that you see landscapes come to life. An added bonus is when people notice and compliment your work.

Meet Tamilselvi, a real-life Interiorscaper

I work for CAAS, at Changi Airport, which represents one of the largest workplaces in my field in Singapore. My work is always varied, as we refresh or change the interior displays every three to six months, as well as come up with new ones for the four main festive periods.

I think of the Airport as the gateway to Singapore. Therefore I aim to give visitors a glimpse of things to come – when they touch down they get a preview of
Singapore, The Garden City. My personal preference is for interior displays that are lush and natural – that basically bring the outdoors, indoors.

I love the fact that my work allows me to be creative and experimental. Since indoor plants are more challenging to cultivate than outdoor ones, given the unnatural conditions, many species are not yet tried and tested as indoor plants. Through trial and error, I’m always learning and discovering!

A Turf Specialist is… a professional whose principal function is to plan and manage the maintenance and safekeeping of golf courses, course equipment and golf buggies. This job scope involves supervision of an extensive Course Maintenance team.

A Turf Specialist approaches his or her work with a long-range plan so that the course conditions are optimised, not only on a day-to-day basis, but also with a view to forthcoming tournaments and club events.

It’s the duty of a Turf Specialist to formulate action plans regarding the facilities’ overall environmental impact, and to educate members, guests and staff about how a golf course can harmoniously co-exist with the natural environment.

A really cool thing about being a Turf Specialist is... witnessing first-hand how much enjoyment people get from golfing on well-maintained courses. It’s great to see like-minded nature lovers enjoying the fruits of your labours.

Meet James Sua, a real-life TURF SPECIALIST Turf Specialist…

“To be a Turf Specialist, or a Golf Course Maintenance Manager as I’m officially known, requires a passion for the outdoors. Frankly, I hate sitting in an office!

In terms of job satisfaction, I experience it every time I see members and guests enjoying their game, as obviously the quality of the course is a key factor. Whenever members bring guests, I really appreciate the countless positive remarks about the superb conditions of the courses.

I feel that anyone considering a career as a Turf Specialist needs to be fairly outgoing. I mix with a lot of people, including the Club’s bosses and my team of 37 workers. In addition, I am always talking with members and guests and often find myself having to explain certain scenarios. For example, at times we need to do something which may not be so pleasurable for the golfers short-term, such as top-dressing the turf with sand. Once I explain that, in 3 or 4 days, the top dressing’s effect will be a far smoother course, invariably everyone understands and is appreciative.

Of course, you have to really love nature to consider entering this line. Golf courses attract plenty of wildlife including endangered bird species.

Also, being a good communicator is essential. I need to communicate with all levels of people, from my bosses to members. As I have many workers on team, I need to be able to clearly instruct and delegate.”

A Horticulturist is... a professional engaged in the management, cultivation and maintenance of plants as part of a landscape.

Day-to-day responsibilities include supervising a crew involved in daily operations such as planting, spraying and fertilising.

Longer term, a Horticulturist devises operational programmes for the development and maintenance of plants. This requires extensive planning and scheduling together with a deep knowledge of numerous plant species and their differing characteristics.

Horticulturists work closely with designers, and advise on the environmental impact of new projects such as, in the case of Melissa Tan Lin Yean, ‘Gardens by the Bay’.

In fact, horticulture is a very diverse field. A Horticulturist’s work may focus on the maintenance of existing landscapes, the conceptualisation and development of brand new projects, or a combination of both.

Something really cool about being a Horticulturist is… that every day is different, and there’s so much flexibility!

Though you require patience, as trees don’t grow overnight, you actually get to see the tangible results of your work. It makes you humble in the presence of Nature, and proud to have played a part in encouraging its presence!

Meet Melissa Tan Lin Yean, a real-life Horticulturist…

There’s something deeper about this job than just looking after trees. I feel I connect to the Earth itself. What inspired me to join this profession is a desire to give something back.

My current project is in the development phase, and I feel I’m contributing to creating a world-class garden, playing a part in the enjoyment of future generations.

Society is ever-changing yet Nature constantly grounds us to what’s important.

An Arborist is… also known as a ‘tree surgeon’. Basically, an Arborist is a professional who is concerned with every aspect of tree health and the preservation of trees’ lives. As a doctor is to human beings, so an Arborist is to trees.

Arborists check on tree health and, when there are problems such as decay, fungus or unsafe branches, they prescribe remedies. These may involve measures such as injections and medications.

These days, an Arborist is often called upon to consult on tree conservation for new developments. In the past, when a new development began, existing trees were simply cut down without a second thought. The development would be completed, and new trees would be planted afresh. Nowadays, however, Arborists often advise developers on how to retain the existing trees and incorporate them into the new development. They are the lifesavers of the tree world!

Likewise, Arborists frequently liaise with architects in an effort to optimise the existing natural profile of a building site.

Something really cool about being an Arborist is… that you get to climb trees! It’s like reliving your childhood. Another fringe benefit is that you keep fit without having to pay gym membership fees!

Meet Vicky Artlett, a real-life Arborist…

“To be an Arborist you have to have a passion for trees. I believe trees have a power, a strength that they give to you, which cannot be found elsewhere. You need to truly love trees, as I do.

I get so much from being with trees. It definitely makes me a more relaxed person and it’s actually therapeutic. After all, it’s clinically proven that trees aid the healing process, both emotionally and physically, and hence a global trend is for hospitals to have trees where patients can spend time during their recuperation.

Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world, so there are a lot of trees to take care of. There’s definitely a growing awareness of the importance of trees – after all, without them we wouldn’t be alive – and indeed being an arborist means enjoying very bright career prospects.”

A Florist is… a person who deals with cut flowers, for ornamental purposes.Florists are also known as ‘Floral Designers’ and ’Floral Instructors’.

In addition to arranging flowers, a Florist is likely to conduct floral instruction classes for enthusiasts and professionals wishing to upgrade their skills. Large nurseries and florists may conduct in-house training and even provide classes to the public.

On a daily basis, a Florist uses knowledge of floral design fundamentals, as well as botany, or the physiology of plants and flowers. To remain competitive and in demand, Florists must also stay abreast of local and international trends in floral design.

As accreditation is only via first-hand evaluation of one’s work, Florist candidates need to visit the United States for assessment.

Something really cool about being a Florist is… that when you touch and work with flowers, you in turn will be touched by their beauty and fragrance. It’s a lovely working environment!

Meet Christina Pang, a real-life Florist…

I have an engineering background, but decided to make the career change to floriculture.

I actually teach floriculture to amateurs and professionals, which allows me to share my love of flowers.

I was drawn to teaching by a heartfelt desire to inspire and motivate others to enjoy flowers, just as I have been personally inspired by several incredible teachers during my ten-year journey.

A Nursery Technician is… a person who takes care of the plants in a nursery, handling such tasks as watering, trimming, pruning, fertilising and so forth.

A Nursery Technician also supervises a team of general workers, much like the foreman of a crew. Related duties include planning the general workers’ timetables, rosters and the like.

Advising customers on their choice of plants and plant care may also be part of a Nursery Technician’s work scope. A natural affinity with both people and plants is a definite advantage!

Something really cool about being a Nursery Technician is… that you enjoy a great sense of accomplishment when you see the plants are thriving and everything in the nursery is in order.

Meet Lim Kock Tiong, a real-life Nursery Technician…

“If you want to work in this line, you must first of all love plants and sunshine. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like being confined but enjoys a sense of freedom, this work will suit you.

I get to meet all different kinds of people from all around the world, and it’s great to see them enjoying the plants and flowers. I am very glad to share my knowledge of plants with others.”

A Nursery Supervisor is… a professional involved with the management of a nursery.

A Nursery Supervisor’s work involves many aspects of the day-to-day running of a nursery. It is largely connected to management of manpower, as a nursery necessitates a relatively high number of workers who have various daily tasks such as watering, price-tagging, arrangement of stock and so on.

Nursery Supervisors may provide guidance to Management about new areas of merchandise, new services to customers, operational innovations, retail strategies and the like.

Good communication skills are an advantage, as a Nursery Supervisor must interact with Management, customers and workers on a daily basis.

Something really cool about being a Nursery Supervisor is… that you get to watch living things flourish into things of great beauty. Furthermore, if you succeed, you get to see a business flourish. It’s a twofold source of satisfaction!

Meet Edwin Tan, a real-life NURSERY SUPERVISOR Nursery Supervisor

I used to be in IT and finance before entering this line. In fact, I was actually selling software to my company when the owner approached me to do their Accounts part-time. I thought ‘why not’ and accepted. The more involved I became, the more I fell in love with the business. The fact that I am so close to Nature, doing something down-to-earth, is something I love. It’s so much more personally rewarding to me than a desk-bound job. As a remisier, I was frustrated by people who were just too greedy. There’s none of that negativity in my present line.