How to Become a Landscaper

A landscaper is a skilled outdoor artist with a knack for turning ordinary yards into captivating and functional spaces. They’re like magicians of the outdoors, weaving together the beauty of plants and the art of design while also preserving the functionality of a particular space.

From envisioning layouts to crafting stunning outdoor environments, landscapers create spaces that are not just aesthetically pleasing, but also serve practical purposes.

Types of landscaping services

Landscaping is a bit of a mixed bag. This keeps the work exciting, and it also leaves a bit of room to specialize in a particular area. However, there are a few main landscaping categories:

• Mowing: Regular grass cutting and maintenance.
• Hardscaping: Building pathways, retaining walls, and decks.
• Lawn care: Providing ongoing lawn maintenance, including fertilizing and weeding.
• Property cleanup: Removing debris and tidying up to make a space look neat.
• Snow and ice removal: Clearing snow and ice from pathways during winter.
• Tree and hedge maintenance: Trimming and pruning foliage for healthy growth.
• Sod installation and lawn planting: Establishing or renewing lawns.
• Flower, tree, and bush planting: Planting foliage to add color and vibrancy.
• Garden design: Creating custom garden layouts.
• Walkway construction: Designing and building pathways.
• Hardscape installation: Constructing outdoor structures.
• Irrigation system design: Planning and installing watering systems.
• Commercial and corporate landscaping: Enhancing business properties.

Each type of landscaping requires a unique skill set. Some landscaping services are easy to get into with minimal experience, such as a weeding or lawn care side hustle. Others require advanced knowledge, specialized training, or even a license or certification.

Because landscaping is a broad discipline that can involve a variety of basic and highly complex practices, what qualifications you need to start your landscaping career depends on the type of landscaper you want to be.

Licensing requirements

You may need to get a license or certification to be a professional landscaper, depending on the type of landscaping work you plan to do and where you live.

For example, pesticide application is carefully regulated by state governments, and you may need to be a Certified Pesticide Applicator (CPA) before you can use pesticides in your landscaping work. This involves taking a government-approved course.

Some state and local governments also require you to get a general landscaping license, which qualifies you to provide a variety of services. Others have no licensing requirements at all or require you to get a license for specific activities, such as tree surgery and removal, planting, or excavation. To find out what licenses you need and how to get them, visit your state government’s website for more information.

Education requirements

You don’t need a college degree to become a landscaper. However, you may need a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate, depending on where you want to work.

For example, if you plan to work as an employee for a landscaping company, you may be required to have a high school education or even a trade school diploma. However, if you plan to be a freelance landscaper or run your own landscaping business, then you won’t need any particular education-related qualifications.

Required skills

These core skills and traits will help you rock a landscaping side gig:

• Horticulture: Understanding different types of plants, their growth patterns, and the specific conditions they need to thrive is essential. This knowledge allows you to choose the right plants for each project and ensure their long-term health.
• Design: Design is a fundamental aspect of landscaping. Being able to visualize and plan the layout of outdoor spaces, whether through hand-drawn sketches or computer software, helps you create appealing and functional designs that meet clients’ needs and preferences.
• Project management: Landscaping projects involve various tasks, materials, and timelines. Strong project management and organizational skills ensure that projects run smoothly, you meet all your deadlines, and you efficiently use resources.
• Physical fitness: Landscaping work often requires manual labor like lifting, digging, and planting. Being in good physical shape enables you to handle these tasks safely and effectively and reduces the risk of injury.
• Use of landscaping equipment: Landscapers commonly use tools and machinery like lawnmowers, trimmers, and other equipment. Knowing how to operate these machines is essential for successfully completing tasks and maintaining a safe working environment.

In addition to the skills above, you’ll also need to enjoy working outdoors and have a genuine interest in the natural environment. Passion will shine through in your work, make your job more satisfying and enjoyable, and help you sustain a landscaping side hustle or career in the long term.

Think you’ve got what it takes to become a landscaper? Once you understand the job requirements and skills you’ll need, it’s time to learn techniques and put them into practice so you can land your first landscaping job.

Learn the basics

Begin by acquainting yourself with the fundamental principles of landscaping. This involves understanding key concepts like design aesthetics, proper plant care, and how to create visually appealing outdoor spaces. You can tap into online resources, read gardening books, or even attend gardening workshops in your community to gain foundational knowledge.

If you’re curious about exploring a more structured path to boost your skills and open doors to higher earnings, you can also invest in a professional certification program for the landscaping industry.

Educational resources and certifications

Self-education can be tough, but you don’t have to go it alone. There are a few industry organizations and associations that offer courses, certifications, and resources for current and aspiring landscaping professionals:

• Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB)
• National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)
• Irrigation Association (IA)
• International Society of Arborists (ISA)
• Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS)

These organizations are a good place to start if you decide to pursue a landscaping certification. Although not strictly necessary (except when mandated by local governments), a professional certification can help you build targeted knowledge, make you more attractive to potential employers and clients, and even increase your earning potential.

Get hands-on experience

Next, you’ll need to apply what you’ve learned by getting your hands dirty. You can work on your own garden (if you have one), but you should also get practical experience through one of the options below to further develop your skills:

• Volunteer or intern: Seek out opportunities to volunteer at community gardens, local parks, or landscaping organizations in your area. Volunteering exposes you to the practical aspects of landscaping and allows you to learn from experienced professionals. This experience can help expand your knowledge and get a feel for real-world landscaping work.
• Shadow experienced landscapers: Reach out to established local landscapers and express your interest in shadowing them on their projects. Observing professionals at work can provide you with valuable insight and allow you to pick up techniques and tips that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to learn from books or workshops.
• Offer pro bono work: When you’re trying to get your career off the ground, offering landscaping services for free or at a reduced rate to friends, family, or community organizations can be a good way to refine your techniques and build up a portfolio showcasing your abilities.

In addition to getting hands-on experience, you should make an effort to network with other professionals. Doing so will open the door to job opportunities or partnerships in the landscaping industry. Engage with fellow landscapers and enthusiasts by attending gardening events, workshops, and local meetups.

It’s also a good idea to ask clients and peers for feedback after you’ve completed a landscaping project. Constructive criticism will help you refine your skills and tailor your approach to better meet clients’ needs.

Build a portfolio

Document your landscaping projects by taking before and after photos. These visuals will serve as a portfolio that showcases your progress and capabilities. Create a website to host your portfolio or share it on social media platforms. You can even turn your portfolio images into a physical presentation to demonstrate your landscaping skills to potential clients.

Find jobs or clients

The last step is to decide whether you want to work as an employee landscaper or start your own landscaping business. Each path has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should carefully consider.

Applying for entry-level landscaping jobs

Employed positions tend to have stricter entry requirements but more benefits than freelance work. Since landscaping is location-based work, it’s a good idea to look at local job postings when applying for landscaping jobs. You can start by doing a general online job search using keywords like “landscaping jobs near me.”

While these positions might involve tasks like weeding or planting initially, they offer a fantastic opportunity to learn on the job. You’ll gain practical skills, industry insights, and the chance to make meaningful connections within the field.

Becoming a freelance landscaper

Being a self-employed landscaper and starting freelancing comes with more flexibility and higher earning potential than working as an employee, but be prepared to work hard to get your business up and running.

If you decide to start your own landscaping side business, you’ll need to take the appropriate steps to choose a company name, legally register your business, and get yourself set up for finding clients and handling customer communications.

Embarking on a career in landscaping is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming for newcomers. It involves more physical labor than many other creative occupations, but it’s also a rare job that gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine. Since it’s not a job for everyone, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons before starting a landscaping side gig.

Depending on where you live (especially if your area snows heavily in the winter), landscaping may be more suited as a summer side hustle. However, the good news is that there are many winter side hustles available you can explore to compensate for your earnings during the colder months.

If you want to expand your career or side hustle options, you can look into other manual labor jobs that don’t confine you to an office. For instance, you could become a mover or start a pressure washing side hustle.

How much do landscapers make?

Landscapers’ earnings vary based on location, role, and experience. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a landscaper is $17 per hour, with a typical pay range of $10–$23 per hour. 1

This isn’t particularly high pay, but earnings tend to rise with experience. The work setting, whether it’s a garden center or a large estate, can also impact salary. The good news is that as of 2023, landscaping businesses in the United States have a market value of around $176 billion, and this value is projected to grow steadily from 2023 to 2030. 2 3

Start modestly, honing your craft in your own space and letting each project be a lesson. Arm yourself with tools and connect with fellow enthusiasts for growth, and you’ll set yourself up for a rewarding journey into the field of landscaping.