How To Become a Landscaping Professional
Have you ever passed by a gorgeous lawn and wanted to stop to compliment the person who created it? Is landscape design one of your biggest passions? Do you just enjoy being outside? Regardless of your reason for becoming a professional landscaper, these tips will help you along your path.
Decide Which Types of Landscaping You Want To Do
There are many different types of landscapers, so deciding which part of the industry you'd like to enter is the first step. For example, do you want people to search "pool builders near me" and find your website for installing and beautifying pools? Perhaps you'd like to be a landscape architect and have all the technical and creative skills to design property and build that design from the ground up. Maybe you only want to do the creative parts, or perhaps you're not keen on designing but love getting your hands dirty. Determining which parts of the job appeal to you is a crucial first step.
Get the Right Education and Training
Even if you have a natural talent for lawn care, you'll need the proper education and training if you want to become a professional. At a minimum, it's a good idea to have a high school diploma or GED. If you want to be at the top of the field, it's a good idea to go to college and major in something such as landscape architecture. When you've created your skillset and are ready to start working, apply for an apprenticeship. Local landscaping companies often provide these to allow you to get on-the-job training. You may start out simply mowing lawns but will learn skills such as drawing plans, determining a property's environment, and even the business skills you'll need to go out on your own over time.
Start Marketing Yourself
If you plan to work on your own, you'll need to begin marketing your services. First, set up a company website that includes a little about your business, your services, and a contact page. It's also a good idea to include a blog, which will help your website make it to the top of the search engine results pages. Social media is also important. Create profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to begin marketing your business and interacting with potential customers. Other options include attending local trade shows, letting friends and family know about your services to begin spreading by word of mouth, and using email or snail mail marketing. As you begin bringing in work, be sure to take high-quality pictures of your completed projects to create a portfolio on your website. You should also consider offering an incentive if your clients review your work online, which will also help to boost marketing.
Take Good Care of Your Health
Working as a professional landscaper requires you to be in good physical and mental health. This means working out, eating right, getting enough sleep, and taking care of your mental wellness. Lawn care is a workout in itself, but consider workouts at home, at the gym, or even via playing sports with friends. When it comes to eating right, stick to lean meat, other sources of protein such as protein nut butter, leafy green vegetables, and plenty of water. Do the best you can to get at least eight hours of sleep per night as well. Finally, be sure to take time for yourself. Taking time to rest, spend time with friends and family, and simply enjoy your other hobbies is essential for keeping yourself from burning out as a professional landscaper.
Professional landscapers often start out making about $33,000 per year and can even earn six-figure incomes when they have their own companies and work in wealthier neighborhoods. This means that it is a lucrative career path, which is just an added bonus if you consider landscaping to be one of your major passions. By getting the right training, marketing yourself properly, and taking good care of your health, you'll be well on your way to happiness in the workplace.
