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by Ma. Rachel Roxas Yapchiongco
Many residential areas and commercial establishments in the country have beautiful landscapes to make their surroundings pleasing to the eyes. There has been a growing demand for lawn care and landscaping business through the years. A lot of private home owners spend money beautifying their gardens and lawns. Many business establishments hire specialists to make their grounds attractive to customers.
To achieve a beautiful landscape requires a fusion of art and science. A landscaper combines love for plants, keen sense of observation and skills in designing. A landscaping business can be profitable and rewarding for people who enjoy working outdoors. People who have knowledge in plants or enjoy gardening can take up landscaping training to start their small landscaping business. Here are some guidelines to help you get started.
1. Conduct a feasibility study.
Before jumping into landscaping business, it is important to make your own feasibility study. Outline various aspects that can influence the success or failure of the business such as location, target market, competitors, start-up needs, operational costs, marketing strategies, pricing and services to offer.
2. Invest on important tools and equipment.
A landscaping business requires variety of tools and equipment such as a wheelbarrow, spading forks, garden hoes, pruners, rakes, spades, trowels, shovels, brooms, blower, grass cutter, mower, lawn cart and others. It is necessary to invest on vital tools and equipment in order to accomplish various gardening or lawn services. It is also important for a landscaper to have a vehicle such as a truck with a trailer to transport plants, tools and other materials from one site to another. A vehicle is also necessary to bring landscape personnel or workers to the site.
3. Sign up for landscaping training program
To learn more landscaping services, you can also attend seminars or training about landscaping services. Seminars can keep you updated with the latest trends and developments in the landscaping industry.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) offers Landscape Installation and Maintenance under its Competency-Based Curriculum. The “course is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of an individual in the field of landscaping in accordance with industry standards.” It includes site clearing, site preparation, installation of plants, plant support, lawn-grass maintenance, wedding and cultivation, trimming and pruning landscape plants, controlling and preventing plant pests and diseases and others. For more information, visit TESDA website.
Earning a certification in landscaping can boost your business credibility and make your services more attractive to customers.
4. Set up an actual landscape sample at home
For a small and home-based landscaping business, you can use your own garden or lawn as a landscape sample to attract customers. Create a beautiful garden or lawn at home that you can show to your customers. Your very own picture-perfect garden or lawn can give customers an idea about your landscaping skills. Think of it like a business “showroom” to attract clients. You can add garden tables, chairs and benches and use that area to entertain customers.
5. Hire a team for your landscaping business.
You can start your landscaping business with a small team. They can be contractual workers that you can pay on a daily basis or per project basis. Supervise the workers based on the services required by the customer.
6. Plan the landscaping services that you’ll offer to customers.
You can start your landscaping business by offering basic services such as basic care and lawn maintenance; installation of trees, shrubs and other plants; and minor landscape design. With proper training, you can include specialized services like installation of water features; specialty ponds; rock and boulder work; outdoor lighting; patios and walks; arbors and trellises; automatic sprinklers and more.
Photo: “Landscape Garden Kyoto Japan” by , c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved