Article Marketing Resources

Information on the landscaping industry?

I'm a senior in college and am pursuing a degree in Marketing but I've just now come to realize that landscaping is my passion. While I may go back to school for a seperate degree or certification, right now I'd just like to know everything there is to know about the industry to possibly prepare for a business someday. What are some good sources or articles that have tips and basics on everything about the landscaping industry? Thanx in advance.

Public Comments

1. It's summertime. It is easy to get a job with a landscaper. Try it first. It is hard work as a laborer, but it would give you a real understanding of what you want to get into. The landscape manager or company owner will probably be happy to talk to you. In general, landscaping professionals usually have an associates degree. There is probably a nearby community college that either has an ornamental horticulture or a landscaping program and they can put you in touch with various resources. If you want to do work with a four year degree, you need to become a landscape architect, in which case, you'll probably have to go to school for about two more years. I thought I wanted to do this type of work as well when I was in high school. I ended up changing majors in college because this is such an up and down business. The boom times depend a lot on new home construction (not much of that currently) and in the bust times, it can be tough to make it. But there are people who own their own landscaping companies and do very well financially. My suggestion is that nurseries, both wholesale and retail, need marketing people. I live near a large nursery production company, Means Nurseries, and they are always advertising for a new marketing person or district sales person. That way you are combining your degree with your passion.
2. As with most business, you make money by having others work for you. Being Ag related, pay for laborers is pretty paultry. To get to where you can support yourself and a family, you need to know everything about your speciality......you learn through school and working your way up. When you get to the point of being the boss, you hire smart people who know their stuff! And a good business manager to keep you solvent. Landscaping is a pretty broad term, covers many different specialities. You need to test them out before you know where your passion lies. Trade journals, trade conferences galore. Nursery association, landscape associations, golf/turf, etc, etc. Start tripping through the Web. Find Home and Garden shows, visit the exhibition booths, talk to the people and find out what they do, what they read, etc. From there find your way to landscape industry conferences. Some of the best education I received was at these industry conferences from people who work in the field.
3. The green industry typically favors experience over degrees. Even if you had a bachelors in agriculture I would be able to make more than you because I have 10 yrs experience. Most of what I learned in college had no real world comparison to what real landscaping involves. I started in this industry as a little ole laborer and have worked up to a well paid landscape designer. The only people that I have seen make a decent living while relying on their degree were the landscape architects. The best sources of information will be your local and state nursery and green industry associations. For Ohio we have the ONLA and others. Good luck and remember, that you will be doing manual labor for the rest of your life. Makes me wish I tha the opposite of you when I was a little younger.