2 answers
dezmon
Student
Richland, Washington
1
Question
Asked
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is landscaping boring
im looking to get into landscaping so im curious #yolo
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2 answers
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1738
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Dezmon,
Landscaping is not boring because there is always more to learn! I do my own landscaping, nothing as a business. But, I really got into it! There are shade trees and the understory trees, which tend to be more colorful. Shrubs that are short and "Shrubs that grow 12-15 feet tall. Shade and sun, drought tolerant and those that need watering, plants that are okay near swimming pools and those that aren't. Not to mention, if you care about nature's critters, you want plants to provide shelter year around, food, nesting materials, and you need to work in a source of water. There are special gardens of grasses, cacti and succulents, water plants, etc. Then, when you see a bunch of little caterpillars on your plants, you will have to set to work identifying them. After all, some plants are larval host plants, and these caterpillars will become butterflies! While they might make the plant ugly, they won't kill it. If you want to attract butterflies, you will research the best plants for that purpose. And, the same for hummingbirds.
You will want to create something pleasing to the eye. I tend to let my plants grow kind of wild, and my neighbors don't like it! My boy took a Landscape Design class in high school, and really loved it. I think it was part of the FFA program.
Now, the down-side. If you get into professional landscape design, you will be working for a customer. That customer might want something you really do not like. While you can make suggestions and recommendations, ultimately, the customer decides.
Hope this helps!
Landscaping is not boring because there is always more to learn! I do my own landscaping, nothing as a business. But, I really got into it! There are shade trees and the understory trees, which tend to be more colorful. Shrubs that are short and "Shrubs that grow 12-15 feet tall. Shade and sun, drought tolerant and those that need watering, plants that are okay near swimming pools and those that aren't. Not to mention, if you care about nature's critters, you want plants to provide shelter year around, food, nesting materials, and you need to work in a source of water. There are special gardens of grasses, cacti and succulents, water plants, etc. Then, when you see a bunch of little caterpillars on your plants, you will have to set to work identifying them. After all, some plants are larval host plants, and these caterpillars will become butterflies! While they might make the plant ugly, they won't kill it. If you want to attract butterflies, you will research the best plants for that purpose. And, the same for hummingbirds.
You will want to create something pleasing to the eye. I tend to let my plants grow kind of wild, and my neighbors don't like it! My boy took a Landscape Design class in high school, and really loved it. I think it was part of the FFA program.
Now, the down-side. If you get into professional landscape design, you will be working for a customer. That customer might want something you really do not like. While you can make suggestions and recommendations, ultimately, the customer decides.
Hope this helps!
Lollie Ramirez-Bennett
Associate Director
4
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Lollie’s Answer
Like Kim's son, my husband got interested in horticulture via his involvement with FFA and has always had a passion for landscaping. I think that the field has many benefits - including the ability of working on something so creative and knowing that your work will improve the esthetics of your community. In my opinion, working with plants & nature - is definitely worth the effort. As for the customers, I simply recommend that you make sure you are very clear about explaining your recommendations/plans and insuring that you are on the same page with the customer before proceeding with anything.