Is landscaping a good career?

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Landscaping is a trade involved in the modification of outdoor landscapes, parks and gardens. In a recent extensive, survey of all industries landscaping topped the list for healthiest and happiest profession.

It was theorised that a combination physical activity and exposure to green spaces were major factors. A career in landscaping is a sure way to leading a much more active and healthier lifestyle. 

Some typical examples of daily projects include; planting, laying new lawns, building patios, decks, raised beds and pathways to name a few.

The average duration for a landscaping project is five weeks meaning you are never in one location for an extended period of time. This makes landscaping an extremely varied and exciting trade perfect for outdoor lovers.
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The two most typical types of landscaping are hard landscaping and soft landscaping. 

Soft landscaping

Soft landscapers are more focused on working with plants including landscape maintenance and ground preparation. It is typical for soft landscapers to have an in-depth interest and knowledge of gardening.

Some traditional projects for soft landscapers include; land clearances, excavator works, planting schemes and laying new lawns. There are multiple job opportunities for soft landscapers in both the private and public sector.

Soft landscapers can benefit directly from consistent maintenance contracts and singular projects. Entry level jobs for soft landscaping are traditionally frequent as skills are learnt on site. There are many horticultural courses which soft landscapers can take to forward their career. 
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Hard landscapers

​Hard landscaper’s day to day duties are focused around the physical construction of landscapes.

​Hard landscaping is especially highly skilled including most of the major trades. Some of these include carpentry, masonry, brickwork, electrical, paving, rendering, external tiling, cladding, and Machine operating.

In the private sector hard landscaping projects include whole garden builds, including garden design installation. These can be very exciting projects to be involved in actually building a physical product.

Hard landscaping vacancies are extremely varied and span both the public and private sector. From playground installation to decking and patios hard landscaping is extremely diverse. The wide range of trade skills required makes hard landscapers very sought after tradesmen. 

How to become a landscaper?

The first step in becoming a hard or soft landscaper with no experience is enthusiasm and knowledge.

Landscaping companies are much more likely to hire if they see you have foundation knowledge of the industry. If you have an active interest in gardening and building things you are a perfect candidate.

Carry out as many projects you can and take pictures of your best work. If you do not have a garden, offer your services to local community projects.

Offer free services on social media locally for small projects you know you can undertake well. Below I have described how to become both a soft and hard landscaper further. 

Soft landscaper

Entry level jobs for soft landscaping are traditionally frequent as many skills can be learnt on site. There are many courses which have a focus around soft landscaping including estate management, horticulture and green keeping.

One of the most common entry points to soft landscaping is maintenance operative. Such a role can provide you a good all round knowledge of the trade.

Like all entries to any endeavour, passion and enthusiasm are very important. The most successful soft landscapers continue to research horticulture and gardening throughout their career. A great book to get you started is the 'Principles of Horticulture' by Charles Adams'
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An existing knowledge of gardening and good plant identification will make you a contender for any role.  Normally a keen interest and a genuine intention to work hard and learn will secure entry level employment. 

Hard landscaper

Entry level jobs as hard landscapers do exist but typically as landscaping labourers first. To guarantee a fast progression to a skilled landscaper an apprenticeship opening is optimum.

However another route would be to learn a dominant hard landscaping skill such as brickwork. Being competent in laying bricks and paving is an almost guaranteed way to enter the profession. 

There are courses in hard landscape construction which offer a good introduction to the trade. If you are serious about becoming a hard landscaper a good book on the subject is a great start, I recommend 'Landscape Construction' by David Sauter.

However most hard landscapers will tell you they learnt by physically doing the job. The best way to build confidence is buy in some materials and practice. Buy in some bricks and paving and practice laying them with a mixture of sand and clay.
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Today there are plenty of videos and resources online to teach you the basics. Why not start building your own garden or offer to help build a community project in your spare time?

How much do landscapers earn?

The average salary of landscapers in the UK is £22,500  However this regional, average figure is not in the slightest way representational to what landscapers can earn. If you are a self employed landscaper with your own business you could be earning £100,000 a year.

In general soft landscapers working for a company will earn a salary of around £22.500. Younger trainees without a driving license will earn between £15,500 and 18,000 a year.

Hard landscapers generally earn more than soft landscapers. The average hard landscaper salary in the UK is £30,000 a year, however the salary of a hard landscaper can vary hugely. For example landscapers in London will earn more than other regions.

Hard landscapers who run whole projects can earn between £32,000 and 38,000 a year. This is also the case for multiple trade landscapers working in high specification garden design installation companies.
 
However a self employed landscaper with their own business employing staff can earn much more. Such landscaping business owners can earn between £35,000 and £75,000 a year for one full time team.

Skilled landscapers who are dedicated to perfect service and start a business can end up in the top 20% of earners.

10 Benefits of a landscaping career
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• A broad variety of project locations never needing to work in the same place.

• Never boring with a wide variety of different project tasks.

• Always outside in the fresh air and sunlight

• Skilled landscapers are in high demand

• Reasonable rates of pay and potential to be a very high earner

• Traditional and sociable working hours

• A physically active career which builds strength and endurance

• A good entry level into other trades and professions

• A good trade to progress to owning your own business

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• Rewarding and satisfying to be able to see projects to completion 

10 Disadvantages of a landscaping career
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• Bad weather can disrupt project timings and earnings

• Work is subject to seasonal demand and not so busy in the winter

• Physical injuries can lead to economic hardship

• Projects can be very logistical

• Projects can carry a large amount of economic risk

• Not as well paid as other trades

• Can be physically very demanding

• Finding well skilled and reliable staff can be challenging

• Need a lot of expensive tools and machinery

• Very hard to find business during recessions

Is landscaping hard work?

Landscaping is a very physical profession but the phrase 'hard work' means different things to different people. If the idea of wheel barrowing soil or digging foundations sounds like drudgery then maybe landscaping is not for you.

However I will say it is amazing how everything new is always challenging at first. I have had overweight guys start working for me and lose half their body weight in 6 months. It should never be underestimated how a physically active career can enhance your life on all levels.

Landscaping is one of the best careers for getting into shape and improving your mental health. Is landscaping hard work? Only at first, you get used to it!  If you enjoy the continuous euphoria of endorphins after a good days work then no!

Can you keep landscaping up until retirement?

Some of the strongest and fittest people I have ever met have been landscapers in their 50’s and above. I really am not exaggerating at all! I used to sub contract to one of the largest landscaping companies in the country.

The longest serving employees were two brothers one 64 and the other 66. Both of them had retired a few times and then decided to came back to work. I remember teams of young guys trying to keep up with them shovelling rocks.

They couldn’t, none of us could! The fact is we may become less energetic as we age but experience and conditioning over time always wins. Older landscapers do not need to do labouring but many still choose to!

The truth is most older landscapers only carry out skilled work and manage others. If you love being a landscaper you can keep working forever especially if you build a team. 

Will landscaping be a good career in the future?

The general trend in all advanced economies is a severe lack of skilled trade’s people. For years our society has incorrectly associated manual careers with both a lower social and earning class.

Social media and digital forms of entertainment have led to a more sedentary upbringing. This seems to have led many young people to not choose outdoor trades as careers.
Our education system has directly funnelled young people into qualifications not suited for the work force.

Too much emphasis has been focused around academic studies and not what industry needs. In the mean time aging populations do not have the young labour needed for trades such as landscaping.

The aging baby boomer generation has amassed more wealth than any generation in history. Consequently skilled trades have seen a boom in demand and hence a rise in salaries.

This trend is very much set to continue for the 2020’s and into the 2030’s.  Expensive housing and the rising cost of living has resulted in low birth rates and asset rich retirees.

This recipe will lead to ever increasing demand and wages of skilled trades into the future. Hence I believe a multi-trade hard landscaper or successful landscaping business has a very bright future. 

Thank you for reading our article on 'is landscaping a good career?' Are you looking to get started in the landscaping industry?

Are you local to Buckinghamshire and willing to travel? I am always looking for young and enthusiastic talent to join our team.

If you are interested send me an email with a little bit about yourself with your CV attached to: paulnicolaides@eco-spaces.co.uk 

If you think this article would interest anyone you know please share it with them. 

Thank you!
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