The Life of a Lanscaper

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Landscapers




Landscaper - someone who arranges features of the landscape or garden attractively

The job that I am researching is a landscaper. Landscapers maintain and landscape property grounds by planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. They also mow grass, trim, mulch, and fertilize plants. Some landscapers perform other types of work as well; for example, some install sprinkler systems and lighting structures and others build structures like decks and patios. This means that they will be working in the outdoors at people's homes or businesses. Because they do all of their work outside, they may have to work in very uncomfortable conditions. Their work can be very strenuous, and normally involves a lot of bending and lifting.

Most landscapers are trained on the job. Though there are no formal education requirements for most positions in this field, some employers require their landscapers to have formal education in a related field like arboriculture, horticulture, or landscape design. Landscapers who perform basic work in residential areas normally go through a very brief training period, where they learn how to perform a few basic tasks, while training can be extensive for those who work at places like golf courses, large public parks, or other places where the work requires additional skills or knowledge. Some landscapers are trained in small engine repair, and training is sometimes supplemented with formal educational courses in related subjects.

Landscapers who use pesticides usually need to be licensed. Becoming licensed requires the completion of an exam that covers how to safely use and dispose of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Training for the licensing exam can be provided on the job or through a formal class.

Due to the conditions of the job, landscapers should be in good physical condition and able to work on their feet for long periods of time. Currently, landscapers make $31,000. There are currently 1,205,830 landscapers in the United States, with 36,220 new landscaper job openings created each year. Landscaper jobs are not expected to see much growth beyond their current levels in the next decade.

I personally would not want to be a landscaper because I do not like the idea of strenuous manual labor. However, I think landscapers are very important for making the outdoors look presentable and pretty.