Landscaping can be challenging, but the rewards are plentiful. It isn’t just a job—it’s also a skill set. Whether you’d like to add “landscaper” to your resume, or you have already been working at it for years, you can take steps to improve your knowledge and make yourself attractive to prospective clients and employers. While there are many different landscaping jobs, from grounds maintenance to landscape design, you can take some general steps to get experience in any field.
There are many options to look at when trying to get landscaping experience. You can start by using online resources about the field, taking classes at a community or technical college, volunteering to help with a garden or landscaping project, seeking a job shadowing opportunity, and focusing on a specific type of landscaping.
Use online resources to learn about the field
- Online classes and tutorials: Let’s say you want to learn about landscaping but don’t have much time for classes. Or maybe your schedule doesn’t allow for it. In this case, online courses are the perfect solution. You can take a class from home at any time on your schedule.
- Online forums: Forums are a great way to connect with people working in the same field as you—and they’re also a great place to ask questions and get answers! There are many different types of forums out there: some focus on one specific topic; others cover an entire industry or profession as a whole, while still others cover every area imaginable (including hobbies).
- Online communities: Communities are another way for professionals in all fields—including landscaping—to connect. Many professional communities offer discussion boards where members can share ideas or ask questions about their work experiences and projects; these boards can be beneficial if you’re starting on your career path in the field.
- Blogs & Videos: If reading isn’t your thing, then blogs may be right up your alley! There are plenty out there by experts who know all about landscaping careers—search online until one seems interesting enough.
- Books & Courses: Books have been around since ancient times! And although technology has significantly changed our lives over recent decades, books still have useful information.
Another good resource is the Landscape Horticulture course, hosted by The Ohio State University Extension. It’s a series of interactive modules that teach you about landscaping, including design, management, construction, pest control, and more. Each module offers tips on safety procedures, environmental stewardship, and lessons on what you need to know to succeed in each landscaping job. You will also have the opportunity to work with clients.
Take classes at a community or technical college
If you want some landscaping experience, taking classes at a community college or technical college is a good idea. There are lots of different types of classes available. You can look for those that teach specific skills such as pruning trees, planting shrubs and bulbs, or laying sod. These courses will give you a better understanding of the techniques used in landscaping work.
Some schools offer certificate programs or bachelor’s degrees in landscape design and architecture, so you may want to check those out. You can also look for general education courses related to business management and administration. These will help you develop leadership skills that might be useful if you start your own landscaping business someday.
If you want to do your landscaping work someday, you must have some hands-on experience with manual labor! You’ll learn valuable lessons about patience and dealing with physical discomfort while learning the technical side of landscaping.
How To Best Manage Your Landscaping Business
Volunteer to help with a garden or landscaping project
Volunteering to help with an organization’s garden or landscaping project is a great way to get experience in the industry. You can start by volunteering just a couple of hours a week, then work up to a full-time job as you gain skills and make connections in the field.
Some organizations also offer training programs that prepare people for careers in horticulture or landscaping, such as apprenticeships or continuing education courses. These programs provide instruction on how to do everything from designing gardens and laying out drainage systems (for example) to maintaining the plants themselves.
Volunteering at a nursery can teach you how to plant, maintain, and prune trees and shrubs. You can also volunteer at an arboretum, which will guide you about different types of plants and leave you with the option of taking a class on them. If you’re interested in turf maintenance, look into volunteering for parks service or a sporting event—you’ll be left with valuable knowledge.
If you’re more interested in backyard work like mulching and weeding, then your local park would be a great place to learn!
Seek a job shadowing opportunity
A job shadowing opportunity is a great way to get your foot in the door and see if you like being in the landscaping industry. It gives you an inside look at what it’s like day-to-day for a landscaper and gives them some insight into your work ethic, drive, and determination.
Generally, a landscaping company will provide you with a list of tasks you’re expected to perform during your shift. You’ll work with one or more employees who will instruct you on what needs to be done and how best to do it. At the end of your shift, you’ll be able to ask questions or offer suggestions about anything that may not have been covered during your training.
You can find job shadowing opportunities by searching online or asking around through friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and others who may have connections within the industry. If someone is willing to let you tag along with them during their workday, they will probably ask that you bring your supplies.
You can find a company with an opening you’re interested in learning more about. There are several ways you can do this, including searching online for companies near your area with open positions (or even looking further away if you have time).
Focus on a specific type of landscaping
Landscaping is a broad field, so it’s helpful to focus on a specific type of landscaping. For example, if you want to work with plants and trees (as opposed to soil or water), that might narrow things down to arborist or horticulture. Or maybe your interest is more about caring for lawns and gardens, which could lead you toward turf or groundskeeper-level positions.
How will you know what type of landscaping is right for you? Let’s take a look at the different types available:
- Residential Landscaping is when a homeowner hires someone to work on their lawns, gardens, and other outdoor spaces.
- Commercial Landscaping refers to professional services that involve maintaining plants or grass around businesses. This can also involve litter pickup, mowing grass, weeding, planting flowers or shrubs, or just keeping an eye out for any problems.
- Industrial landscaping is similar to commercial landscaping but involves larger properties and focuses on providing employees with a clean workplace or safely getting materials in and out of a warehouse.
Whatever your landscaping niche is, focus on making yourself valuable to that particular company or person. Let them know your experience and why it’s relevant to what they do. And don’t forget to mention how your availability and skills fit a company’s needs.
If you’re looking for some experience in landscaping, we hope this article has given you some good ideas for where to start. Whether you go with an extensive formal program, take courses on the side at your local community college, or start hanging out at a nursery, there are plenty of options for getting started in this rewarding industry. We also know that it can be hard to decide which path is right for you or whether landscaping is what you want to do. Usually, the best way to find out if something is right for you is by doing it! That’s why we recommend talking things over with friends and family members who are already in the business or just visiting a nursery or garden center and seeing if they have any open positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is working in landscaping worth it?
Landscaping is worth it if you want more flexibility, ya ear-round income, or a career you’re passionate about. There will always be a need for this industry, so you will never lack work to do.
Where can I find a job as a landscape architect?
You can find a job as a landscape architect by looking on online job boards like Indeed or ZZipRecruiter optimizing your LinkedIn profile, or asking your network if they know anyone for a landscape architect.
How do I become a landscaper in a small town?
It would help if you tried to understand the market you’re trying to reach. Figure out what residents in your town need, then provide your services to solve their issues. Once you’ve figured this out, you can focus on your business model and purchase the best equipment.
To learn more on how you can start your own landscaping business, check out my startup documents here.
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Landscape Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a landscape business owner at a job site, driving down the road or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Landscaping Business Boss: I want to help landscape business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.