A Career in Landscaping
Are you someone who enjoys spending time outside? Working for a landscaping or yard maintenance company in Northern Michigan means you will be outside with varied tasks such as installing landscaping, cutting down trees or maintaining gardens and yards. Jobs in landscaping include excavating, installing patios and hardscapes, planting flowers, and working with plants, trees and shrubs. Many landscaping companies also plow snow in the winter.
A career in landscaping may include entry levels jobs such as taking care of plants or mowing lawns. As employees gain experience, they may work directly with homeowners on landscape and hardscape plans. Landscaping companies employ landscape architects, horticulturists, and master gardeners. Creating beautiful outdoor spaces is very rewarding work!
More about a career in Landscaping
High School:
There are no high school programs locally.
Some landscapers and gardeners get their start by mowing lawns in the summer while in high school and then progress to higher skills with a larger landscaping company. Ask us for a referral to a local company to get started.
Post-Secondary:
Universities and colleges offer programs in landscape architecture, horticulture and related fields. Listed below are some universities in Michigan that specialize in landscape architecture:
University of Michigan/Tubman College
Michigan State University - School of Planning, Design and Construction
Registered Apprenticeships
SEEDS Landscape Technician Apprenticeship Program:
The Landscape Management Technician Apprenticeship program provides 2000 hours of specialized training in landscape management. Apprentices receive paid training resulting in a national credential as a Landscape Management Technician. Open to ages 16-24.
The program includes training in:
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Green Construction
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Reforestation
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Ecological Restoration
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Plant Identification
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Safe Equipment Handling Education
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Leadership Skills
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And More!
This innovative green-collar U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship is made possible by a partnership between Northwest Michigan Works! and SEEDS EcoCorps. For more information, visit www.ecoseeds.org, call 231-947-0312, or email jobs@ecoseeds.org.
A Day In The Life of an Landscaper:
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Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
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Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
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Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
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Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
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Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.
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Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots and spread salt in those areas.
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Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems, retaining walls, fences, planters, or playground equipment.
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Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
More info on a career in Lanscaping: O*NET Online