Working in Landscaping or Garden Design
Good landscapers are in demand: learn to plan and build gardens, build plant knowledge and with a little flair, this could be a wonderful career or business opportunity.
There are two main types of landscaping services offered. One is to design a garden; the other to build or construct a garden. Some landscapers do both, others might even specialise in just one aspect or style of design or of construction.
Some of the options for specialisation are:
Some Designers or contractors distinguish their service by concentrating on a particular type of feature, or a particular type of plant. Options might be:
If you can develop a particularly unique skill or feature to offer clients, you may be able to create a very strong niche market. Statuary and Trompe L'Oeil (ie. Trick of the eye murals), are just two such features. I have known landscapers to be in high demand, because when they do a job, the client can get a "work of art" such as this, as part of the package.
A Garden Design Service can be offered in the following ways....
Consultation Only
Visit, give verbal advice, & no more
Concept Plan
A plan drawn to scale, but lacking detail -only providing a broad concept
Detailed Garden Design
A plan drawn to detail, showing planting details, specifying other features & components but not specifying the construction detail of hard landscaping (eg. The plan may indicate the location of a wall and say it is to be built with stone, but it won't specify foundations, drainage etc to be incorporated into the wall)
Full Landscape Plans and Specifications
These contain full and fine detail, including construction details of structures (eg. A plan of how to build a wall showing the drainage, foundations etc)
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARD & SOFT LANDSCAPING
Hard Landscaping refers to things such as walls, paths, pergolas, rock work, concrete pond construction, etc. Soft Landscaping involves the lawns and plants.
STARTING A GARDEN DESIGN SERVICE
Designing a garden takes artistic flair combined with good knowledge of available materials and a practical, systematic approach. These skills are something that need to be learnt properly if you are to succeed in applying them in a business.
Often people develop a wonderful home garden for themselves, and are subsequently encouraged by friends to "go into landscaping". If this describes you, then you probably have potential to become a successful landscaper; but you will still need at least some basic training. Running a garden design business, making money out of it, and keeping customers satisfied, is different to developing a couple of home gardens that satisfy yourself and your friends.
HINTS WHEN YOU START
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Only take on small jobs at first (eg. courtyards or parts of larger gardens).
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Take photos of jobs you do, to show clients in the future.
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Collect books and magazines with photos of gardens which you can discuss with clients. (Only show them things that you are confident about designing &/or building)
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As you do designs, make copies for yourself, and put together a folio of plans that you can show potential clients.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE A LANDSCAPER?
The answer to this question is different for every situation. Formal qualifications rarely make a huge difference, but it does make a big difference if you can identify lots of different plants, have a good understanding of landscape materials and soils, and know how to design a garden and draw a plan.
Some people learn these things partially (or fully) on the job; while others do a formal course.
Do you want to Design Gardens? if so .....we recommend you study a Certificate in Garden Design
Do you want to start a Landscape Contracting Company if so ... we recommend you study a Diploma in Landscaping
Do you want to seek employment with an existing Landscaper and learn on the job if so ....we recommend you study Horticulture I
VISIT OUR ACS ONLINE E BOOKSTORE
- Quality ebooks written by our staff
- Wide range of Horticulture titles by John Mason, author of over 40 gardening books, garden magazine editor, nurseryman, landscaper and principal of ACS.
- Ebooks can be purchased online and downloaded straight away.
- Read on an ipad, computer, iphone, reader or similar device.
- New titles published every month –bookmark and revisit this site regularly
- Download sample pages for free, to see what each book is like.
Titles include:
Commercial Hydroponics 3rd edition
One of the worlds best selling hydroponic books, first published in 1991 by Kangaroo Press. Dozens of colour photos, unique and rarely published advice on how to grow over 100 different types of plants (vegetables, herbs, flowers, indoor plants) in hydroponics. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2232-commercial-hydroponics-third-edition.aspx
The Environment of Play 2nd edition
A unique and inspirational view of designing play spaces for children. Full of photos, an inspiration for parents, child care workers, teachers, play leaders, landscape designers and park management professionals. First edition was published in the 1980’s by Leisure Press in New York. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2247-the-environment-of-play.aspx
Growing Trees and Shrubs for Small Gardens 2nd edition
First edition published by Kangaroo Press/Simon & Schuster. http://www.acsebook.com/products/1684-growing-trees-and-shrubs-for-small-gardens.aspx
Tropical Plants 2nd edition
http://www.acsebook.com/products/2245-tropical-plants.aspx
Trees and Shrubs for Warm Places First edition A valuable reference for growing plants not only in the tropics and sub tropics, but also greenhouses, inside the home or even hot courtyards in a temperate garden. Never before been published. The book contains colour photos of close to 300 plants and descriptions of many times that number (and largely different to the plants covered in our Tropical Plants book). http://acsebook.com/products/2238-trees-and-shrubs-for-warm-placescoming-soon.aspx
Garden Design Part 1 1st edition
A huge book with around 300 inspiring colour photos; that explains how to design a garden in a way that is able to be understood by a beginner, but full of tips and ideas that can help even seasoned professionals. http://www.acsebook.com/products/2242-garden-design-part-1.aspx
Garden Design Part 2 1st edition
Following on from Garden Design Part 1, this presents approximately 300 more photos, and a huge amount of inspirational reading to help you (in particular), understand the different styles of garden and the options open to you as a garden designer, or a home owner. http://acsebook.com/products/2244-garden-design-part-2.aspx
Starting a Garden or Landscape Business 2nd ed.
Previously published by Simon and Schuster; this is a must read for anyone wanting to set out on a career in horticulture. http://acsebook.com/products/2239-starting-a-garden-or-landscape-business.aspx
Discounts offered for students of ACS Distance Education
