1. Landscape Contractor By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Tabitha Lovell Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education March 2006 AGRICULTURALCAREERSAGRICULTURALCAREERS

2. Job Duties and Responsibilities Plan, organize and direct projects such as landscaping, interior plantscaping, lawn care and tree service May include contracting or managing the building and installing of fences, decks, patios, walkways, etc. Submit bids on contracts for landscaping and grounds maintenance work Plan and estimate the cost and amount of material needed to do the job Organize and plan the planting of trees, gardens, lawns, hedges, shrubs Hire and supervise staff and keep records

3. Qualities and Skills Able to deal effectively with clients and employees Enjoy working outdoors with plants and be able to handle changes due to weather Have an eye for visual design and be creative and unique in their work Good communication skills to ensure they get their plans and ideas across to clients correctly A strong work ethic and persistence when it comes to completion of projects Able to perform physically strenuous and repetitive labor Able to withstand extreme temperatures Able to bend, dig, shovel, lift or stand for long periods of time

4. Salary Landscape contractors are usually paid an hourly wage Those with experience can earn anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour Those who own their own landscape contracting business can earn over $100,000 per year

5. Work Environment Work outdoors in all kinds of weather Work week can be up to 50 or 60 hours Pressure related to meeting deadlines may occur Work-related machinery and tools can be hazardous

6. Becoming a Landscape Contractor A formal education not necessary, but it is beneficial A two or four year degree in landscape design, management, architecture, contracting or a degree in horticulture or nursery landscape may be beneficial Many people begin their career as a laborer without a college degree and receive training on the job Those with intentions to establish their own business are recommended to receive a bachelor’s degree Many states require landscape contractors to be certified Individual employees who apply chemicals and pesticides maybe required to have their pesticide license

7. Career Resources Associated Landscape Contractors of America 950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450 Herndon, Virginia 20170 Internet: http://www.alca.org American Nursery and Landscape Association 1000 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 2005 Internet: http://www.anla.org Professional Lawn Care Association of America 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, N.E., Suite C-135 Marietta, GA 30068 Internet: http://www.plcaa.org Professional Grounds Management Society 720 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Internet: http://www.pgms.org