Careers in Landscaping

Q: My teenage boy began their own yardwork business last summer time and extremely put lots of effort in it. I believe he may consider landscape designs like a career, but exactly how should he do it? And when he is doing be a gardener, what can he do throughout the wintertime?

—Jolynn Trudeau, Lowell, Mass.

A: Roger Prepare replies: Many people go into the landscape designs business by apprenticing to some landscape contractor or by visiting college. In case your boy decides to apprentice, he should decide on a company that does lot of different projects so he is able to develop a number of abilities. If he selects college, he is able to consider the 2- or four-year schools which have landscape-contracting programs. They sometimes start adding some hands-on experience and business courses.

Meanwhile, he should attend every seminar he is able to about this subject. These occasions are frequently backed by local arboretums or by professional landscape associations. He'll become familiar with a lot, and he'll meet individuals who could even have the ability to behave as mentors for his career.

For the wintertime, there's lots of work with someone having a truck and a few ambition. Snowplowing jobs, for example, which sometimes become landscape designs accounts. Hardscaping—installing walls, patios, and also the like—tree pruning and felling, even selling fire wood may also keep him busy and earning money within the off-season. In individuals early years, additionally, it pays to get results for a plumber or mason during the cold months just because a good gardener frequently needs both individuals abilities.

Finally, please stress for your boy he must also learn business management and accounting abilities. They'll help him grow his business and steer clear of the financial issues that landscapers—and a number of other tradesmen—stumble into.