Landscape Designer or Garden Consultant
To plan environmentally sound yards and home gardens
Many landscape and garden designers have transformed a personal passion
for gardening into a career that sustains them, adding beauty and
enhancing the environment wherever they go. "If you love to garden
there is nothing more satisfying than design work," said California
landscape designer Suzan Mopper.
Practical experience, a wealth of knowledge and an eye for beauty are
the only requisites for a career as a landscape and garden designer
although an ability to market, network and establish a client referral
base is essential to a steady career.
"You don't need a formal education. You do need an extensive working
knowledge of plants, design principals and climate," said Karen
Phillips a wildlife garden specialist in Weldon, California.
In addition to a strong background with a variety of plants, a
knowledge of irrigation systems, soil and climate requirements and
changing trends in gardening are essential to the work of the landscape
designer. Relying on a sometimes intuitive understanding of both people
and the landscape, the garden designer must unravel each client's
preferences and ultimate vision for the garden and then manifest that
dream.
Phillips said clients often prefer to do the planting work themselves
and want to decide on the final selection of plants. By providing
design sketches, plant lists and maintenance instructions, Phillips
acts as a mentor to clients encouraging them as they begin an adventure
with gardening.
Making the change from gardener to landscape designer often means
spending a little more time indoors working up designs, compiling
plants lists and tracking down suppliers sometimes from around the
world.
Keeping up with changing trends in design, plant use and materials
requires ongoing research for the landscape and garden designer.
Phillips takes many of her cues from nature and spends a great deal of
time exploring wild areas looking for new plant combinations and then
translating what occurs naturally into beautiful settings for her
clients.
Roger Boddaert, a landscape designer in Fallbrook, California, began
studying ornamental horticulture and landscape design in college but
eventually decided to forego a degree for hands-on experience working
as a groundskeeper in an orchard. From there he worked with various
landscape companies until starting his own business.
"Every day offers a new adventure," Boddaert said. He sees his career
as an opportunity to "make people happy through the art of making a
pleasurable exterior environment and open their eyes to the glory of
nature."
Requires: No formal education but talent, experience and on the job training. Start up costs are minimal
Salary: Can make between $25 per hour and up to $100 per hour.
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