Landscaping

What’s it all about?

Getting into the great outdoors and getting your hands dirty, some good old-fashioned hard work and keeping fit and healthy while doing it, knowing about plants, trees, flowers, bushes and all that sort of thing, and designing and creating natural or man-made masterpieces, are all part of being a landscaper.

Will it suit me?

If you want to get physical, if you like nature, if you’re not afraid of manual labour, if you like transforming gardens, yards, parks or building sites, if you enjoy plant knowledge, and you don’t mind an early start to your day, then maybe a landscaping apprenticeship is the way to go for you!
You will need to finish Year 10 and have passed with reasonably good marks to begin this course at TAFE. You can go on to specialise in other areas of horticulture, landscaping and design when if you want to when you’re done with your apprenticeship.

What will I learn?

You will get down and dirty with practical work like digging, planting and weeding, laying down paving and installing watering systems, making ponds and clearing stuff, it’s true, but you will also be learning about plants and trees, what will grow where, how to design a garden, using tools and equipment, and dealing with customers.

How long will it last and what is the wage?

An average landscaping apprenticeship is about 4 years, and is very similar to a horticultural apprenticeship. When you finish your landscaping studies, you can go on to become a horticulturist with a little extra study if you like. You will make about $ 250 a week when you start out as an apprentice in your 1st year, and this works up to about $450 a week in your 4th year.

What careers will there be for me and what will I earn?

As a qualified landscaper you will be earning about $45,000 – $50,000 per year. If you become a landscape designer with professional design companies, this can increase from $50,000 – $75,000. If you start your own business and employ people, you could be earning $75,000 – $100,000 and above, if your company grows big.
Owning your own business is a profitable way to go in the industry. No matter whether you decide to set up your own company or work for someone else, you have lots of career options. You can be a landscaper, a landscape designer or architect, a horticulturist, work in gardens, parks, be a grounds person, manager or supervisor, run a landscaping supplies business, work for the national parks, botanical gardens or other government departments.

So get your rocks on and get amongst it!