How to Become a Landscaper

How to Become a Landscaper

Working as a landscaper can seem like an attractive career path to many; you get to work outside in the sun, find your own clients, and have a reasonable amount of job security. But how do you get there? Unlike becoming a builder, plumber or electrician, there are no formal qualifications needed to be a landscaper. The physically demanding work requires a reasonable amount of physical fitness, along with a High school diploma if you want to do simple jobs like mowing lawns or tending to hedges.

What do Landscapers do? 

Landscapers and gardeners create and maintain a horticulture landscape by taking care of the grass, lawn and plants. As Pros, they work on an hourly basis or fixed price agreed to by the client or company, and can choose their own hours and which jobs they undertake if they are sole traders.

Plant maintenance and garden services are physically demanding, and require a reasonable level of fitness, as you will be working outside and on your feet for much of the day.

Landscapers are hired by residential and commercial clients to create and maintain outdoor spaces. As such, the tasks performed by landscapers often include:

Looking after lawns, hedges and plants.

Removing and preventing weeds.

Constructing residential and commercial garden landscapes.-Advising development planning groups.

There are different career options for landscapers, beyond being a laborer who mows lawns and trims hedges. These all have increased pay rates and off more complex jobs with potential for growth.

Landscape Contractor or Horticulturist Landscape designer

Once you are qualified as a landscaper, you will be able to operate as a sole business trader, offering increased flexibility and earning potential. Working on more complex projects than inexperienced or unqualified landscapers. Contractors create and construct projects ranging from residential gardens to outdoor landscapes surrounding a hotel. This requires a certification in Landscape Construction.

How to become a Landscaper?

As mentioned above, you do not need to have any formal qualifications to do gardening work as a landscaper. A high school education is recommended, as you will need to be reasonably educated to manage your business expenses and taxes. However, the complexity of the work you undertake will vary depending on your qualifications, in turn affecting your pay rate.

To become a landscaper, it is recommended that you:

1. Undertake a  qualification, such as: a Certificate  in Landscaping , Landscape Design or Landscape Construction.
2. Become an apprentice under a landscaping company.
3. Gain on the job training and actively seek out employment from a landscaping company.  

There are specific jobs that you can work at a higher pay level which require more qualifications. These include: 

• Landscape contractor, which needs a certificate in Landscape Construction

• Horticulturist, which needs a Certificate in Parks and Gardens

• Landscape Designer, which needs a Diploma of Landscape Design

How do I get Landscaping Qualifications?

There is no mandatory qualifications but there are various courses that you can get to further your career as a landscaper.

1

Landscape Laborer

This position is entry level and requires no formal qualifications to work. However, getting a certification can get to enhance your work. A Certificate II in Landscaping will teach you the entry level requirements as you become a landscaper.

This can increasing your employability. You will learn:

• Safe work practices

• Landscaping techniques

• How to operate machinery- About different plants and shrubs

• Select skills regarding chemicals, park equipment and pest management.

Landscape Contractor

Being a landscape contractor is a step above a laborer, and allows you to work and manage more sophisticated landscape sites as a sole business trader rather than an employee. Getting a Certificate in Landscape Construction will provide you with training in a flexible manner that allows you to be an apprentice.

This course will teach you:

• Landscaping with construction features.

• How to use concrete, stone, bricks and blocks.

• An understanding of different types of plants and soil.

• Drainage system installation.

• Project planning and costs.

• Establishing turf.

• Applying chemicals.

• How to work as a sole trader.

3

Horticulturist

If you are passionate about plants and gardens, then becoming a horticulturist may be a great option for you. The Certificate in Parks and Gardens provides you with training in a flexible manner that allows you to also complete apprenticeships. It is also a precursor to further Horticultural studies, allowing greater career growth than other landscaping fields.

This course will teach you:

• How to implement a plant nutrition program.- How to improve soil quality.

• Controlling weeds and other plant pests, diseases and disorder.

• Workplace health and safety.

• How to use hand tools and machinery.

• Specialist pruning techniques.

Getting a Diploma of Horticulture offers further education and career opportunities. These include job opportunities such as a horticulturist/horticultural manager, landscape contractor supervisor, parks and gardens manager, nursery manager, or a horticultural advisory consultant.

You will learn how to:

• Assess sites for horticulture development.

• Develop horticultural production plans.

• Manage plant cultural practices.

• Collect and classify plants.

• Prepare reports, estimates, quotes, tenders and budgets.

• Manage work routines and staff performance.

• Diagnose plant health problems.

• Identify and select trees.

• Develop a soil health and plant nutrition program.

4

Landscape designer

This job requires a Diploma in Landscape Design you can learn how to:

• Design sustainable landscapes.- Prepare landscape designs.

• Assess landscape sites.

• Design for the construction of landscape features.

• Produce computer-aided drawings.

• Prepare estimates, quotes, and tenders.

• Design specialized landscapes.

• Implement design solutions.

This job also requires skills in:

• Vector works.

• Landscape Architecture.

• AutoCAD.

• Design Software.

• Horticulture.

• Community Consultation.

• Cost Controlling.

• Construction Materials.

• Contract Documentation.

• Adobe Indesign.

How do you become a successful landscaper?

Once you’ve learnt how to become a landscaper, AllFeito is your next step!

AllFeito is the ultimate platform to connect you with clients. We help you find more clients, enhance your online presence and expand your business.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and create your profile!