LANDSCAPING CAREERS

For those who love plants and like to work in the great outdoors, Landscape Contracting is a career worth serious consideration

LANDSCAPER:
'BY CHOICE OR
BY CHANCE'

While some individuals end up being landscapers by chance (starting to mow lawns when they lose another job) others made a conscious decision to enter the 'green industry' by completing a two-year or four-year college curriculum.

CAREERS IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY

• Arborist - Tree care
• Associations - Green Industry
• Forester - Timber production
• Greenhouse Management - Growing and retailing annuals and perennials
• Green Industry Sales - Marketing and sales
• Horticulturalist - Grower or plant care technician
• Landscape Architect - Design professional level projects
• Landscape Contractor - Landscape design, installation and maintenance
• Landscape Designer - Design planting beds and landscapes
• Lawn Technician - Lawn care industry
• Nursery Management - Growing and selling trees & shrubs
• Parks & Recreation - Park management & recreational activities
• Turfgrass Management - Golf courses, athletic fields, recreational facilities, sod and grass seed industry

FORE!
Turfgrass management is a rewarding career

SEASONAL ASPECT OF LANDSCAPE CONTRACTING

One of the more difficult aspects of the landscape contracting field is dealing with the seasonal nature of the business. Landscape contractors in the northeastern United States typically have steady work for nine months out of the year, leaving three months in the winter to find other sources of income. Many contractors offer snow removal service, sell cordwood or pursue a secondary career that isn't dependant on good weather.

BENEFITS OF WORKING IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY

In many professions, the finished job never changes, and what's done is done. One of the greatest benefits of working with plants is seeing them grow and develop into more than what you started with. Whether it's seeing a tree sapling grow into a magnificent lawn tree, or watching a seeded lawn develop into a lush green stand of turf, there's nothing quite like it.

Visual rewards of greenhouse management

I would encourage anyone with an interest in trees, turf or any aspect of the green industry to follow his or her interest. Begin by reading a book or taking an evening class in plant care. Then try an evening course at a local community college. From there, you can choose a curriculum in your field of interest at a state university. It's fun to study something you find interesting and really love!