Townscapes, Inc.

Landscaping involves manipulating the natural environment in an area to make it look a certain way. Although it heavily relies on gardening, landscaping also involves the installation of walls and other features, the construction of buildings, and the consideration of an area as a whole. There are a variety of reasons to practice landscaping, ranging from a desire to make an area look attractive to a push to make an area functional for recreation.

Landscaping originated in ancient cultures. It was used to beautify areas around temples, palaces and public areas. The Romans had homes with landscaped enclosed courtyards and Mayans lined walkways to their temples with elaborate plantings. Native Americans also constructed gardening terraces to cultivate crops. Throughout history or in the present time, landscaping has been set to a confined area such as a home, a building, a museum or similar structure. A lot of commercial landscaping occurs in parks, municipalities, government agencies, recreational sites, colleges and universities, corporations or hotels.

The beginning of a project usually consists of sketching the building and its land, determining soil quality, how the natural environment looks and discovering any limitations the building may have. Next the landscaper designs a mapped layout of how they would like to sculpt the land.

Pathways with fountains, pools, benches, gazebos, stone retaining walls, and other features are often the first work actually done to the landscape. After the largest features are placed, the landscaper will add plants, shrubs, trees and flowers to create a luscious look.

Landscaping requires extensive maintenance to ensure that it continues to look good through years of use. Once an area has been landscaped, it may be turned over to a gardener or maintenance crew who can keep the individual aspects of the landscaping in good shape.

Why Landscape?: Business owners know that first impressions are important. The outdoor appearance of your building and landscape help form that initial impression. Commercial landscaping is the best way to give your customers or potential customers a taste of the organization and aesthetic you’re company can provide. By maintaining a professional environment and appearance that landscaping can provide, your clients can be reassured that your business is the right place to take theirs.

Landscaping also benefits the environment if done properly. By using compost mulch and reintroducing native area plants we help recycle we can help create an additional habitat of animals in the area. By landscaping for the environment, we are also providing safer environments for our families, it helps with water conservation that benefit both the homeowner and the community, helps reduce flooding, increases nature enjoyment, reduces heating and cooling bills if large trees are cultivated near the home, and provides cleaner water bodies for fishing, swimming and drinking.

Specialized Equipment: Every job is different so specialized equipment is used for any situation. Rakes are used to gather leaves in the fall season or to unearth the ground to aerate, smooth or loosen dirt. Edgers create sharp edges along sidewalks, walkways and curbs. They also help with creating new designs for your yard. Saw/Machetes help groom overgrown shrubs and trees throughout the yard. There are a multitude of shovels for different situations like snow, gravel and dirt; all different shapes and sizes to suit the needs of any landscape. Trimmers and cultivators have been increasingly important in landscaping because they are perfect for gardens and flower beds by helping stir up the soil and promote growing. There are also over 40 specialized pieces of state of the art snow equipment utilized for any snow removal emergency. There are an endless amount of tools and equipment utilized to keep landscapes looking fresh and beautiful.

Qualifications: Experience is the most important qualification you can have as a landscaper. Certifications and degrees in the field do exist but credentials to being a landscape manager lies in the experience. A landscaping manager’s work is very hands-on and requires a lot of leadership and ability to operate machinery and knowledge of landscaping techniques. Landscape managers direct renovations to an existing landscape and maintain day-to-day maintenance.

To be a landscaping architect, you must have an associate’s degree or higher. Post education and training for landscape design jobs; it’s possible to land a position as a landscape architect. As with the manager, having experience and a resume of client references is the best way to help you land a job. This job is done mainly in an office setting and requires strong computer design skills with experience and knowledge of urban planning. A landscape architect is responsible for the design of various landscapes, including, for example, golf courses, university campuses, and shopping centers. Landscape architects decide the placement of green space, pathways, buildings and other facilities on these kinds of sites.

Becoming a landscaper’s assistant is a great way to get experience and knowledge for learning landscape design. They are usually placed on the outdoor landscaping crew where they can learn the business from the bottom up. With some education and training, aspiring landscapers usually find themselves in labor and maintenance jobs until they work their way up to management. Joining a labor crew is easiest in spring or summer because business is booming.

Government Grants: There are many different grants small businesses and landscaping companies can apply for.

The Rural Housing Preservation Grant specifically funds low income residents in rural areas who would like to drastically improve their homes by landscaping. Typically the funding comes from the individual states and is usually less than $10,000 per project.

Another government funded grant for landscaping is the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program. The US Department of the Interior offers grants to states and locals governments in order to help upgrade their parks and recreation sites. The application is through the National Park Service.

The Recreation Trails Program is offered by the US Department of Transportation. This program gives out grants to states that are enhancing trails for both motorized and pedestrian activities. Making trails walkable and aesthetically pleasing is only made possible by landscaping.

Lastly, the Sustainable Landscape Grant Program is offered by specific communities who are looking to create sustainable irrigation and plant or garden landscapes that meet specific sustainable specifications. Local governments or townships offer information on these grants.