by Carolyn Choi

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: December 23, 2011

Interesting fact number one is that anyone can get into landscaping without a degree or a vast amount of experience. When I say landscaping I refer to freelance landscape design. An eye for design and a love and knowledge of plants help but being able to effectively communicate with clients is also of utmost importance. I know whereof I speak because I jumped into the garden design business feet first after being behind a desk for thirty years.

I've been gardening since I was "knee-high to a grasshopper" which is about 10 years in human age. When my own garden won an award for most creative in the highly competitive Chicago Tribune's annual contest I was inspired to begin my second career as a garden designer.

Having never been in my own business I sought as much knowledge and expertise as I could from those who had been in freelance landscaping for sometime. I joined the staff of a large garden center and learned about trees, shrubs, perennials, soil and planting. Talking with fellow gardeners and designers was helpful in conducting my own business and their advice and mentoring was invaluable.

When I meet with a client the first thing I do is ask them about their wants and needs. You would be surprised at how many designers don't do this simple but important thing and try to impose their ideas instead. Of course I have my own opinion and will give it freely when asked. The most exciting answers a client can give a designer is "you have Carte Blanche." While exciting, at the same time it is also a lot of pressure because your reputation and the client's satisfaction are at stake.

Another interesting aspect about landscaping jobs is that a good one is the only advertisement you'll ever need. I use "word of mouth" and have never had to advertise. I've observed landscape designers that will put any tree or shrub in regardless of sun/shade requirements, ultimate size, etc. just to have a full look. Down the road this means an overgrown landscape that will need to be corrected. A pet peeve of mine is to space plants properly for their ultimate size and in the sun or shade they need. We've all seen houses that look as if they'd been consumed by a huge tree or shrubs and flowers competing for space.

I once advised a customer at the garden center who was a designer that the tree she selected wouldn't survive in the spot she wanted it for. Her reply was that she didn't care as long as it was alive until the check cleared. Unfortunately this attitude is not uncommon in the business.

I was called in for a consultation by a large condo complex where rows of evergreens kept dying and had to be replaced on a frequent basis. Mulch had been piled high around them and when I leveled it off I found that the ball of the evergreen still in the burlap was just sitting above ground and hadn't even been planted. Even the novice landscape employee knows that shrubs have to be planted at the depth of the ball and the burlap removed to encourage quicker root establishment.

Also interesting and an added benefit about landscaping jobs is the health aspect of it . I don't think the majority of female landscapers or designers that I know get "down and dirty" like I do but for me that if one of the things I enjoy about it and at 64 I can outperform someone half my age. Gardening and landscaping gives you the same results as doing Yoga. I still put in 8 to 10 hour days in the field.

One of the most famous gardens in the world - Giverny, was created by Monet who famously said that he would've never been an artist if he hadn't been a gardener first. As an artist and garden designer myself I wholeheartedly concur.

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