Landscaping..?

Question

I'd like to start my own Landscaping Company, but unsure how to begin. I know ther are vusiness classes U can take but are there college courses avail. for landscaping or is it a learn as you go? Any information will be helpful.

Answer 1

You better not learn as you go or you'll be broke very quickly and maybe in legal mess as well.

College level training goes in two directions: landscape architect (which isn't the direction for you) or landscape horticulture (perhaps with a design emphasis). Now some colleges may combine the two and separate after two years.

If you can't do college, look to local community college or voc-tech type schools for possible courses. Problem is there is so much to learn: engineering (slopes, retention, drainage), soils (types, characteristics, etc), plants( Trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, native, nonnative, etc) , environmental effects, insect/disease (ID as well as management...you'll need a pesticide operator license to spray) , pruning, machines (type, operation, maintenance), irrigation, design (including surverying and site analysis) and installation staging, AND the most important, how to run a business. (you'd think that would be easy! Ha! The number one cause of new business failure is poor business skills)

OK, if your bubble isn't broken yet, sign on with a landscape company and work a few years. Take courses when you can....even Master Gardener classes are a great aid. If you are mostly interested in design, take design classes as well as horticulture classes and perhaps sign on with a local nursery that does design...start out doing the "go-fer" work such as site analysis and measuring.

Answer 2

Here is one university program that can serve as an example to aid you in your search.

http://www.pbio.unh.edu/undergraduate/envhortbs.html