CLCA, California Landscape Contractors Association

Why Should I Pursue A Career In Landscaping?

Landscaping isn't just cutting the hedges or planting trees anymore. Today's landscape industry represents a diverse field of specialties, requiring a broad knowledge base, computer skills and a firm business sense.

Unlock Your Future In The Landscape Industry

You can design your career as a landscape professional while you are still in high school, as a college student, or as a career change. Scholarships are available and some businesses offer internships to gain valuable experience while exploring employment options and interests.

What Lies Ahead For You In The Landscape Industry

Either working for an established company or as the owner of your own business, you will be in demand at private residences and commercial sites and developments, and by hotels and resorts, entertainment venues, municipal parks and golf courses.

Skilled and qualified professionals are needed who are knowledgeable in modern practices of resource conservation and personnel management, and who can provide service and expertise working with:

• Hi-tech information systems,
• Cutting-edge computerized irrigation and GPS equipment, and
• State-of-the-art design tools.

As you display a mastery of these skills, you may also enjoy the benefits of:

• Working outdoors in a variety of locations and with many different types of people.
• The need for skilled land management professionals statewide, allowing you to start your career anywhere you want.
• Your technical focus and experience ensuring future employability.

Breaking Ground

As with any profession, your ability to get the job done and to communicate well is essential. There's no better way to guarantee success than through education. Even still, landscaping is one of the few professions left that values experience and common sense, allowing people with less formal education to achieve higher positions and salaries than in other fields. Nevertheless, the more you work in school, the easier it will be for you to land that future job.

Instead of spending years in college, you can begin your career immediately and learn while you earn. If college just isn't for you, enrolling in a Regional Occupation Program (ROP) can provide added experience and knowledge well ahead of your peers. There's a catch though: those first few years will probably involve just as much hard work and low pay as you would've had in school.

A two-year degree program will teach you the basic skills and practices necessary to begin your career at a more advanced level. Even a general understanding of business practices, communication and critical thinking skills will help propel you towards the 'next level' as a supervisor, crew leader or assistant manager.

A four-year degree can be your ticket to a career-level position or management opportunity. Nearly all the technical and management positions in the landscape industry are held by college graduates. You may find that the discipline and contacts you gain while in school will help you decide to open your own business.

Tips For Success:

• Take business courses, even if this means taking more courses than required for your major. Majors are developed to give you a specialization, but real life is a juggling act. Diversify your talents!
• Learn Spanish. It's a reality of doing business in California.
• Personality Matters! Stay motivated and eager to learn. Be respectful and diligent in all that you do. You get back what you put in. Your reputation will prove indispensable.

Find Your Fit

With so many options, it's hard to decide which direction to take. Our advice is "Go with your strengths." Find something you enjoy early on, and try to see a niche for yourself. See where your strengths might lie in this list of industry opportunities:

Landscape Contractors

• Design, drafting, planning, surveying, CAD and/ or mini-CAD
• Equipment operation
• Electrical, carpentry, and masonry
• Site management
• Specialized construction, such as water features, built-in barbecues, and outdoor fireplaces
• Irrigation system design, installation, maintenance and management
• Plant design and installation
• Lighting design and installation
• Integrated pest management

Landscape Architects
Provide the master plan specifications and conceptual designs landscape contractors need to create a finished masterpiece.

• Lighting placement and design
• Pools, spas and other water features
• How the site works with its buildings, walk-ways, and roadways
• Horticulture (Plant placement)
• Irrigation and drainage system design

Industry Resources
You don't just have to be the guy using the equipment -- somebody's gotta sell it, too! You can really 'rake' in the dough with a commissions-based sales position:

• Sod, plant and rock material
• Irrigation and lighting supplies
• Chemicals and Fertilizers
• Heavy equipment
• Lumber and hardware

Take it from these guys:

"I realized, while I was still in school, that I wanted to work outside and take dull, lousy looking landscaping, or bare dirt, and turn my vision for these properties into reality. It is amazing to watch a client see it finished. And better yet, to maintain it for the client so you have total control over the vision."
Jon Alsdorf, CLT / Jon R. Alsdorf Landscape Contractor

"The green industry has presented me with tremendous opportunities to build and grow my contracting business. The exciting by-product of our success is watching our employees reach and achieve their dreams as well."
Tom Heaviland / Heaviland Enterprises

Student Clubs

The California Landscape Contractors Association encourages students to become involved with student clubs. Student clubs provide members with the opportunity to interact with other green industry professionals and to gain hands-on experience in their future profession.

Here is a list of student clubs affiliated with CLCA:

California State Polytechnic University
Environmental Horticulture Science Department
College of Agriculture
1 Grand Ave.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
(805) 756-2279

Foothill Community College
Environmental Horticulture and Design Department
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
(650) 949-7402

Butte Community College
Environmental Horticulture Department
3536 Butte Campus Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
(530) 895-2540

For more information, contact CLCA Headquarters.
Downlaod an informational packet for starting a Student Club at your school.