Landscape gardeners, sometimes known as groundskeepers, grow and maintain flowers, trees, and bushes to beautify yards, lawns, and outdoor areas. Continue reading to learn more about how to become a landscape gardener, including educational and apprenticeship training alternatives, and all you need to know.
What Is a Landscape Gardener?
A landscape gardener is a person who works in the outdoors on private yards and gardens, school campuses, parks, and public spaces. Planting, trimming, weeding, and preserving landscape designs are their responsibilities. You may work under the direction of a manager, landscape designer, or architect, or you may be involved in the design process yourself, depending on your degree of expertise and skill. More information about this career may be found in the table below.
| Degree Required | Entry-level work requires only high school and on-the-job-training; optional certificate and degree programmes are available |
| Education Field of Study | Landscape architecture or landscape gardening |
| Key Duties | Working with grounds crews, performing lawn and soil care, mowing, pruning, watering, and possibly assisting with landscape design |
| Job Growth (2020–2030) | 8%* (for all grounds maintenance workers) |
| Average Salary (2020) | $33,800* (for all landscaping and groundskeeping workers) |
What Education Will I Need For a Career as a Landscape Gardener apprenticeship?
Landscape gardener apprenticeship who are just starting out usually simply need a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. If you want to advance, you can enrol in a community college landscape gardener apprenticeship training programme and get a certificate or an associate’s degree.
Another alternative is to enrol in a local organization’s apprenticeship programme. This type of programme could span anywhere from one to four years. A bachelor’s degree in horticulture or landscape design is also an option. If you want to work as a landscape gardener apprenticeship or landscape architect, this path may be handy.
Basic landscaping skills, pest management, and laboratory work connected to gardening will most likely be included in certificate training programmes. Landscape design, vegetable and fruit production, and greenhouse operations are among the areas covered in an associate’s degree programme, as are general education courses in humanities, geometry, and social science. Landscape architecture ecology, plant design, and landscape engineering are all topics covered in a bachelor’s degree programme in landscape architecture.
What Job Duties Will I Have?
Watering, mowing, and maintaining lawns, cutting walkway edges, planting plants and flowers, and fertilising grounds are some of your job responsibilities. You’ll discuss work projects with consumers or landscape architects. Working in a nursery setting, where you will develop and sell plants, could be part of your employment.
Trimming trees, weeding lawns, installing lighting systems and sprinklers, and instructing customers on proper plant care are all possible extra responsibilities. It’ll be critical that you learn how to utilise your trade equipment and tools safely and appropriately. Riding lawn mowers, power rakes, chainsaws, loaders, and tractors will be among them.
How to become a Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship
Landscape gardeners plan, develop, and maintain gardens and open areas, either on their own or with the help of a landscape architect or a customer. Landscape gardeners may work on timber buildings, walls, water features, paving, different levels, turf, and planting as part of their training.
Excellent customer service abilities, as well as the ability to work well with others and with their hands, are required of the candidate. They’ll need to be able to work successfully from garden plans, whether they’re preparing the land or working on the inside. Planting plants and pruning trees will be necessary.
What Kinds of Environments Could I Work In?
Parks and recreation spaces, botanical gardens, apartment complexes, private houses, and office parks are among the places where landscape gardeners can work. Other possibilities include lawn care businesses, retail garden centres, and tree farms. You might work on golf courses or athletic fields in some circumstances.
What Salary Could I Expect to Earn?
Landscape and groundskeeping workers in the recreational business earned an average annual salary of $33,800 in 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics (www.bls.gov). According to the BLS, landscape gardeners who worked for local governments received an average annual salary of $35,820 that year, while gardeners who offered landscaping services for buildings and residences earned an average annual salary of $33,900.
What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?
If you prefer working with your hands in a natural atmosphere, an agricultural worker may be a good fit for you. Working on a farm or ranch, this employment entails assisting with crop planting, harvesting, and general care. You could also work as a forest and conservation worker, which involves preserving and maintaining forests.
Landscape Gardener apprenticeship Ideas to Create an Enchanting Outdoor Space
Whether you have a small courtyard in the city or a huge estate in the country, thoughtful landscape design is the key to creating an outdoor retreat. We picked together fascinating landscaping ideas and examples that actually make the most of their natural surroundings to help you improve your own patios, yards, gardens, and more. Allow these outdoor beauties to lead the way for better landscape design without further ado.
#1. Native Plantings
Terremoto Landscape Architecture built a “gradient of wildness” on the steep hillside of this Bel Air home’s garden by using native plants wherever possible. Native grasses, sages, lilacs, and redbud trees make up the luxuriant canopy of low-water, low-maintenance flora.
#2. Olive and Cypress Trees
As a homage to the homeowner’s Italian background, landscape designer Marcello Villano included olive and cypress trees in this Palm Springs courtyard.
#3. Spilling Bougainvillea
A lawn isn’t the only way to brighten up your front yard’s landscaping. With agave plants flanking the entrance and blooming bougainvillaea spilling over the wall, Madeline Stuart gives this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers a sense of place.
#4. Barrel Cacti
Similarly, in this Palm Springs home by Sheldon Harte, barrel cactus and enormous agave plants give textural contrast to the plaster facade.
#5. Flower Walls
Create a natural illusion of solitude with a wall of florals (or plants that don’t mind moisture) if you have an outdoor shower. Flowering shrubs, such as the hydrangeas in this backyard by landscape designer Ed Hollander, can work as a living shower wall (and are typically less expensive), as well as add to an already romantic atmosphere. Make sure to clip branches to allow warm sunlight to shine through.
#6. Framed Bocce Court
“We employed a mix of traditional and drought-resistant plants,” says Denler Hobart, who used brick, bluestone, boxwood, and hydrangeas to frame this bocce court outside of a California home.
#7. Canopy of Fig Ivy
With its engulfing canopy of fig ivy, this green breezeway, which doubles as a flower-arranging chamber and was designed by Rebecca Vizard, creates a strong first impression. The garden flowers also contrast nicely with the gravel and tile path that leads to the front entrance.
#8. Separating Hedges
A verdant lawn, a swimming pool and adjacent lounge space, and an outdoor dining room under a pergola are all found in this backyard designed by Amir Khandwala. Low hedges are an excellent visual delineator, allowing you to separate each activity zone.
#9. Overgrown Terrace
For a lush, overgrown tropical vacation vibe, allow plants to grow between stone tiles on a terrace. Akin Atelier added even more charm to this indoor/outdoor paradise by hanging string lights overhead and adding enormous potted plants.
#10. Mid-Garden Dining Area
Lisa Bynon of Southampton, New York, transformed her vegetable garden into a lovely outdoor dining area replete with a 10-foot-long table and a cedar deer fence.
#11. Dramatic Trees
This small backyard in designer Fitz Pullin’s Jacksonville, Florida, home was destined for majestic greatness despite its modest size, thanks to the dramatic tree and climbing vines.
#12. Rooftop Dining
Take a cue from this Venice Beach loft if you live in a busy neighbourhood with limited outside space but have access to a rooftop. A beautiful dappled light effect will be created by a wooden cover, and braided pendants will give the place a vacation feel.
#13. Rose Garden
In the long term, limiting oneself to one type of bloom reduces yard maintenance. Edmund Hollander planted 250 English grandiflora roses for a client who adores roses. It doesn’t get any better than this in terms of romance.
#14. Multiple Levels
We feel like we’ve meditated for an entire day just looking at this Richard Beard home. This multi-purpose sanctuary features a raised patio and a lower level garden, not to mention the numerous levels that add visual appeal.
#15. Garden Shed
The path to Rebecca Vizard’s vegetable garden is framed by a living archway. The tiny shed was inspired by a post office in Seaside, Florida.
#16. Modern Fountain
Nothing beats a modern fountain for setting the tone in a courtyard. It creates a relaxing ambience in Jean Liu’s sitting area while also helping to fill the other side of the pathway.
#17. Lavender Border
Landscape architect Edmund Hollander claims that a garden with a design is both beautiful and elegant. Property lines are reinforced by a straight line of bluestone pavers, and lavender borders draw the eye in.
#18. Heated Furniture
“We did little more than put up spaces for dining and entertaining,” Chloe Warner said of her landscaping for a California property. Party guests are enticed to “spill out onto the terrace on cool evenings” by a Galanter & Jones heated love seat near the door.
#19. Hydrangea Wall
According to Hollander, privacy gives a sense of location. Rows of hydrangeas and white-flowered salvias help to muffle noise and draw attention to an exquisite fountain.
#20. Fire Pit
It’s difficult to pick between the fire pit and the floating pier at Thom Filicia’s exquisite lake property.
#21. Outdoor Shower
Lay a tile pathway that leads the way to make a stunning outdoor shower look even more majestic. Then, on the external wall, install wall hooks to exhibit your beautiful towels, such as these Missoni stunners. They’re an excellent way to incorporate a range of hues without having to grow a full garden.
#22. Flower-Covered Pergola
At a French-inspired cottage, wisteria shades a poolside grouping of bistro chairs. Très chic!
#23. Climbing Vines
While the pool and surrounding canopy of trees draw us into this backyard by Nickey Kehoe, it’s the climbing vines that really make it pop.
#24. Garden Fountain
Outside of Jill Sharp Weeks’s Charleston rental, a weeping willow looms over the water feature. To build her private sanctuary, she replanted the beds and brought in furnishings.
#25. City Meets Country
Jean Liu’s Texas home hits the perfect blend of natural beauty and utility, making it ideal for its urban setting. With a few trees and planting beds, the key is pavers that suit the home’s outside material.
#26. Conversation Pit
This is how an outdoor fire pit should be decorated. The blazing fire in the centre of the circular tile island in the lawn will be the centre of attention. The surrounding butterfly chairs give off a relaxed California vibe, which is amplified by the tall palm trees and lovely pampas grass.
#27. Modern Courtyard
This is how an outdoor fire pit should be decorated. The blazing fire in the centre of the circular tile island in the lawn will be the centre of attention. The surrounding butterfly chairs give off a relaxed California vibe, which is amplified by the tall palm trees and lovely pampas grass.
#28. Pops of Color
Though the grandiose fountain in this courtyard is the true focal point, we’re digging the minty green pots and lilac shutters for their flashes of colour. It makes for a lively entrance and a pleasant welcome.
#29. Modern Lines
This Hawaiian property is a modern sanctuary with a sleek swimming pool, a well-kept lawn, and native palm trees. Catherine Kwong kept the landscaping simple to complement the furnishings and highlight the breathtaking views.
#30. Shaded Patio
Hollander planted six plane trees to create an outside “dining room.” During the day, they provide shade, and at night, they are illuminated.
FAQs
How much does a landscape gardener make?
The national average salary for a Landscape Gardener is $33,545 in United States. Filter by location to see Landscape Gardener salaries in your area.
How much should I pay my gardener?
Gardener Hourly Rates
On average, a professional gardener typically charges between $50 and $100 an hour. You could pay as little as $20 or as much as $150. You may get a discount for ongoing care, or pay a flat fee per project. Generally speaking, you’ll pay less for a self-employed gardener.
Can you be a landscape designer without a degree?
Landscape designers usually need to earn a bachelor’s degree and gain years of work experience to qualify for regular positions. Keep in mind that landscape designers are not landscape architects, who require professional education and licensing.
