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Landscape Contractor. A G R I C U L T U R A L C A R E E R S. By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Tabitha Lovell Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education March 2006. Job Duties and Responsibilities.
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Landscape Contractor A G R I C U L T U R A L C A R E E R S By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Tabitha Lovell Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education March 2006
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
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
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
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
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
Career Resources Associated Landscape Contractors of America 950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450 Herndon, Virginia 20170Internet: 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 StreetBaltimore, MD 21230Internet: http://www.pgms.org