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With the warm weather on its way we can all agree that there is nothing better than having a barbeque on a sunny day in the comfort of your own backyard. And today, the popularity in designing your own tranquil outdoor space is evident in the landscaping industry. Becoming a landscaper is more than planting flowers and trimming the hedges.

Landscaping is simply the art of designing and constructing a garden with two elements- hardscaping and softscaping.  Hardscaping refers to the complementing parts of the garden such as retaining walls, decks, water features and so forth. Softscaping is the actual living part of the garden- the plants, trees, flowers and grasses. When creatively mixed, these elements can form an oasis in a desert, a jungle in the city, or simply a tranquil gathering place for you and your mates.

In becoming a landscaper, you will learn the fundamentals of horticulture, participate in landscape construction and design, or become a landscaping project manager. This career path can bring you to private or corporate paths depending on your passion. You can design landscaping planes for parks, or parking lots, or work with local residences to create the ultimate outdoor space.

The difference between gardening and landscaping lies in ongoing maintenance of the garden. This process involves:

• Watering
• Mowing the lawn
• Weeding the garden beds
• Replacing and/or adding plants
• Pruning shrubbery and trees

Landscaping involves not only the garden beds and shrubbery, but also the walkways around the properties and retaining walls and fences that add character to the yard. A landscaping apprenticeship allows you to learn from industry professionals and learn new methods of design and implementation of projects. It is a great career if you like to work with your hands and don’t mind getting a little dirty.

The nominal term for a landscape gardener apprenticeship is around 3 years full time and around 4.5 years if attending school at the same time.  An apprentice landscaper is involved in carrying out landscaping operations in a variety of residential, commercial and public settings, including interior plants setting, golf courses, garden centers, nurseries, greenhouses and playgrounds.

In consultation with landscape architects, clients, nursery personnel and garden workers, you’ll install and maintain plants, trees, garden ornaments, lawns, walkways and other landscaping features. You may also supervise or be involved in any combination of the following activities:

• Preparing the ground for planting
• Planting and transplanting nursery stock
• Applying fertilizers and pesticides
• Seeding and sodding lawns
• Trimming and pruning hedges, trees and shrubs
• Caring for established lawns
• Installing rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems and retaining walls
• Maintaining fences, planters and/or playground equipment
• Planting and maintaining flowers and ground covers
• Providing advice to customers on plant selection

Some requirements to landscaping involve:

• Manual dexterity and a good sense of balance
• Strength and stamina to lift and carry landscape materials
• Good eyesight and color vision
• Interest in working outdoors in all kinds of weather
• Good health and no allergies to plants or chemicals
• Ability to work alone or with others
• Keenness to use tools and mechanical equipment
• Ability to follow established procedures and take responsibility for projects.

Becoming a landscaping is a more revered career then saying you are a gardener and provides opportunities of creative design at a large-scale setting. Landscapers go a step beyond maintaining and work with creating. So, if you love the outdoors and have a designer’s eye, look into landscaping apprenticeships and become more than just a gardener.