TierramadreLandscape.com

Years ago I worked in a amateur way in gardening maintenance. I realice that I liked it a lot but I don't have the specific knoledge and experience to start a landscape and gardening design business. I have the feeling that I have the creativity for doing this but of course this is not all. Could someone help me telling me the kind of tools that I would require to start this gradually? Maybe I would requiere to know some landscape design software, etc. In short, what kind of tools would be necesary to have and learn. Maybe the thing would be more complex like doing an Business plan? I'll thank any advice. Chris

mower

bobcat

trimmers

Edger


Gardener: A truck or trailer to carry your equipment and debris (although some enterprising people have even started without this). A lawn mower, rake, broom, and other small hand tools. Buy your equipment used if necessary, but shop carefully.

Landscaper: Basically you need hand tools and a truck or trailer. To start with most other tools you can rent.

Interiorscaper: A car or truck is necessary, watering cans, and assorted small hand tools.

>From the basic requirements to start it would seem that interiorscaping requires the smallest capital outlay. This is correct, but starting an interiorscape business is more difficult in other ways. It requires a better understanding of the trade. Indoor plants are much more difficult to maintain. Also, acquiring accounts is not as easy as in outdoor work. Most, if not all, interiorscape accounts will be commercial, as opposed to the residential work of gardeners.

For gardeners and landscapers a truck or trailer is a must, but as I mentioned earlier it is possible to start without one for some work. If you are doing maintenance you may be able to get accounts that will allow you to use their equipment and not require you to haul away debris. You will be expected to work very inexpensively, though. If you can get a truck do so.

For both gardeners and landscapers another source of income is from clean-ups. This is simply a one-time job of cleaning up an overgrown landscape. These jobs are hard work, but can be quite profitable.

In every business you have to contend with the government. Service businesses are no different. Before you get started investigate what is required in your area. Most likely you will need a business license from your city. The state may require a contractor's license or certification for landscape contractors. Most likely your state will require a pest control license if you intend to apply pesticides. Check out all the city, state, and federal rules before you start.


misc hand tools rakes shovels

2007-08-27 16:08:24 by Quantex

Chris Costin of Scenic Design Landscaping gives advice and tips about how to become a Landscape Gardener.

I just moved into a condo and have a small patio. It has concrete in the center and dirt and plants on the side. The plants are overgrown (especially the ivy). I'd like to pull them up and maybe put down rocks and some planters. But I've never gardened before. Can anyone give me some sources for basic gardening and landscape info?

Definitely get rid of the ivy. It will just keep growing and can cause quite some damage when it gets going.
This is a brilliant site for a beginner gardener.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/modu le1/index.shtml

2008-10-10 07:33:41 by Ms. Mimsie

Price: $16.95

Im appreciate any advice anyone has to offer on this. Im a novice gardener at the moment. I want to be able to earn abit more money. Id like to be either self employed (as i am at the moment) or work with someone.

Would anyone out there be interested in employing me do you think? So i can assist them?

thanks

Whitey, The more you learn about gardening and landscaping, the better off you'll be and the better able to assist anyone who decides to employ you. So always seek to learn more. As for whether to actually get a degree in any certain area of gardening or horticulture or landscaping or design, that is completely up to you and your time and finances.

Here's a link from iVillage Garden Web that addresses exactly your question and may help you: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ teach/msg0121345627194.html
Here's one from Texas A&M: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
And one for a distance learning site: http://www.worldwidelearn.com/career-tra ining/landscape-design.htm for landscape design that might be good. Watch that places like this don't fleece you, though. Maybe check them out through the BBB.

Happy Learning!

2007-02-18 16:10:03 by Whitey

Price: $12.99 $11.04

I live in Toronto, Canada and need of some landscaping ideas for a very small 45sq foot lot (including the house). Looking for recommendations of any type of low maintenance plants, shrubs, flowers, ground cover that will last in this zone. Not sure what zone Toronto is? I am not a gardener and have no idea where to start . I would like to do something that will require very minimal maintenence (i.e. pruning, watering, lawn maintenance) but will still look nice.... am I asking for too much? : ) I would very much love to find some plants to hide meters that are next to the front porch while allowing for access. Also in the summer there are a lot of mosquitoes and some sort of invisible biting bug. Any recommendations of plants to keep them at bay?

Check out Gurney.com
They have a great many plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, etc., that will do great in your area. Lots of low maintenance plants.
They guarantee them so if they don't make it they will replace them.

They will ask you what zone you live in and will ship your plants when they are ready to plant in your area.

2007-08-12 13:26:35 by ceriniel2006

I have recently been given the responsibility to improve the appearance for a small old brick church in NYC (zone 7?). So far I have cleared debris and ingrown vines and had the chainlink fence around the property painted. Building maintenance is not an issue. There is approx 3000 sq ft of open ground. There is a rose of sAbout 2000 sq ft is old established kentucky bluegrass and fescue mix with the fescue gradually winning. I have recently planted the balance in a fescue blend that is now coming up. There are 5 - 30 yr old + trees left that will stay on one side of the building creating shade. (pin oak, red oak, cherry?, maple, and red maple). Soil is Loamy and sloaped maybe 5 feet from back to front of the property. How do you go about deciding what looks good for the space? I have always avoided gardening and now must grow to appreciate its virtues. Also some suggested resources for identifing bits of old gardening left here and there would be helpful. Thanks in adv.

You may want to draw up a site plan for the property and label the trees. A certified arborist should be hired to start a pruning program for the trees and identify any issues. A lot of cherry trees have wood boring insects and issues at the graft union. Planting beds surrounding the trees should be established (if not in place already) to protect the trees from damage from mowers and compaction of roots. Circulation patterns and pathways can be added to the site plan. Note areas on the plan where certain activities take place. For example: "service entrance", "trash pick-up", "picnic area". Make a note of "goat trails" where people are using unofficial pathways and wearing down the landscape. These trails could be covered with materials that would make them more attractive. You would also need to make sure you have ADA access. Reducing the lawn area and adding shrubs, trees and perennials is something that can be done in stages. Start with the trees and large shrubs and work your way down. Any bare ground should be covered with a thick 3-5" layer of mulch to keep weeds down and beautify the area. A clean edge on the borders is also an amazing beautifier. You could do quite a bit of research of plants that look good and that do well in your area. Make note of attractive landscapes in your neighborhood. Create a scrapbook with pictures. To save time, hire a gardener / landscape designer to draw up a plan, lay out some beds, buy new plants, place them in the landscape, and you could do the planting yourself. If you're confident and energetic, you could do it all yourself, but it is quite a job for a large property.

2008-06-17 22:31:31 by Breath on the wind