Lawn mowing; photo by Ervin Pospisil/Wikimedia Commons
The landscape business you are most likely familiar with is the gardener who pulls up in front of your home once every 2 weeks to mow the lawn, edge the grass, clip back some hedges and periodically provide some pruning services. This kind of landscaping business offers yard maintenance services. Other businesses may focus on a variety of other services in addition to maintenance work; some may provide garden planning, flower selection and planting, extensive pruning, winterizing of a garden, and in some cases also the incorporation of fanciful elements such as ponds or waterfalls.
Landscaper performing maintenance work; photo by ThorRune/Wikimedia Commons
In order for a landscape business to have ample work, the idea to diversify the client portfolio has taken hold. Most landscaping entrepreneurs market to homeowners for basic garden planning and maintenance services, to commercial venues for landscape beautification and seasonal adjustments, and to private institutions for the generation of an attractive curb appeal through landscaping and planting. Bigger landscaping businesses with commercial equipment may also vie for maintenance contracts at golf courses and city parks.
Riding mower; photo by Joseph Barillari/Wikimedia Commons
Entrepreneurs starting out in the landscaping business may have to rely on their own lawnmower and hedge clippers. As they garner accounts and net an income, the profits must be put back into the business to purchase commercial equipment. It is only with the help of commercial equipment that large properties can be landscaped quicker--leaving more time to take on new accounts--and that commercial accounts, such as golf courses, will seriously consider doing business with the entrepreneur's landscaping business.
Electrical and manual hedge clippers; photo by KVDP/Wikimedia Commons
The majority of landscaping entrepreneurs start with basic garden maintenance work, but over time they learn more about the intricacies of landscaping--either on the job or through course work. It is then that they learn about watering schedules, determining the proper use of fertilizer, grass cycling, and also soil preparation and augmentation. Moreover, landscapers also learn more about tree pruning, insect infestations and advanced landscaping design. The more diversified a landscaper's knowledge of his business becomes, the more he can charge his clients for the services he provides. Many first-time landscape professionals find that taking some basic bookkeeping and business classes is a tremendously helpful undertaking to grow the business.
Compost; photo by Kessner Photography/Wikimedia Commons
As consumers are demanding more and more ecologically sound solutions from the businesses with which they contract for services, landscaping professionals work hard to provide these kinds of environmentally friendly gardening approaches. This includes the use of biodegradable landscaping materials, mulching lawnmowers, the movement to set up composting area for clients, and the use of natural insect controls.
