What Does a Landscaper Do?

Landscapers typically work for landscaping companies or local governments to design aesthetically-pleasing outdoor spaces. They use their knowledge of horticulture and eye for design to contribute to their ideas. Their job is to maintain relationships with plant nurseries and garden supply companies, travel to landscaping sites and work with other landscaping professionals to achieve their goals. They may also perform general upkeep tasks like raking leaves, administering pesticides, deadheading flowers and mowing lawns.

Landscaper Skills and Qualifications

The Landscaper position often includes planting trees, shrubs and flowers to either upgrade an existing outdoor space or create a new one. Some positions also handle grading and installing lawns or constructing hardscapes such as decks, walkways and patios while others help with installing sprinkler or lighting systems. Landscapers can be employed in various commercial and residential settings including motels, shopping malls, office buildings, homes and apartment buildings.

The specific skills required for a Landscaper position can vary from employer to employer but job descriptions for a Landscaper may contain the following skills and qualifications:

• Physical stamina

• Self-motivation

• Visualization

• Creativity

Landscaper Education and Training Requirements

While typically there are no educational requirements associated with a Landscaper position, many employers look for formal education or certification in areas like arboriculture, landscape design, or horticulture.

Employers often provide a short period of on-the-job training to teach new employees skills required and often include how to maintain and plant areas along with how to use small tractors, leaf blowers, trimmers, mowers and other equipment. Larger institutional employers like municipalities, college campuses or golf courses may supplement this preliminary training with additional coursework in small-engine repair, tree climbing, insect and disease diagnosis, urban forestry, arboriculture and horticulture.

Many states require individuals responsible for applying fertilizers and pesticides to be licensed. Obtaining this licensure generally involves completing a test on the proper use and disposal of fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.

While professional certifications may not be required, they can demonstrate a candidate’s reliability and competency. There are seven ground maintenance and landscaping certifications for individuals at various levels of experience available from the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Six certifications are available to Landscapers with various levels of experience from the International Society of Arboriculture. Tree care safety professionals can obtain certification through the Tree Care Industry Association and landscapers with various levels of experience can obtain certification from the Professional Grounds Management Society.

Landscaper Experience Requirements

Landscapers with excellent communication skills often become crew leaders or advance to other supervisory positions. Becoming a landscape contractor or manager typically requires some level of formal education and additional years of related work experience. Many individuals use landscaping experience to start independent landscaping companies.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

If this job description for a Landscaper isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider these similar positions:

• Groundskeeper
• Interior Designer