Interior design is a field made popular by its visual appeal and innate liaison with architecture, advertising and real estate. Its themes convey a multiplicity of moods, making it a subtle art that draws onlookers closer with an inexplicable yet undeniable attraction. Landscaping, its brother, has much-subdued popularity – popularity which is at odds with its stateliness and grandeur; much of the praise here goes not to the creative people who build and design these landscapes, but to the obvious and established beauty of Mother Nature herself. This does nothing to discourage people to pursue the field though. An outlet for creativity would always be in demand.
In all of construction, the aspect of landscaping is the closest to art and agriculture. This makes it special, and demands that people who chase the field are just as special. Landscapers are mandated by nature to have both creative and technical abilities. Why? You may wonder. Think about this; the last park you went to. You probably had a great walk, basking yourself in the glory of nature in a pocket designed just for you. Who do you think designed it? People who had austere imagination? Or people who take active joy in swirling elements of the outdoors and brushing those on a blank template?
What you need to know to enter the landscape construction industry
To excel, inbred talent and drive would only take you so far. You would need to take an active role, and become good at many aspects of landscape construction. A few of these include:
- Site analysis
A prior analysis of the site of construction before the actual building starts is necessary to create a masterpiece that would be enjoyed by all after construction ends. This is a surface-level end goal, though – priority goes to ensuring cost-effective operation that takes into account the climate and natural environment. You would need to be able to examine the soil type, the amount of sun exposure, the native species present, and various other factors, making decisions based on these. This is a fine line to toe that ultimately assures the end goal.
- Creative design
You would need to be able to produce high-quality designs on demand. One of the major aspects of landscape construction is the creation of beauty and the capture of appeal. This implies you would need to be imaginative, you would need to constantly think outside the box and tailor your designs to the best level of functionality. It would not be easy, however, you would find reward in your end product every time.
- Building material
The relationship between construction and choice of building materials is so interwoven, that it has many implications across all aspects of the field. Aesthetic is a priority on its own – you must choose materials that complement the surroundings – but should not be allowed to erode functionality and strength. This is probably the most precarious aspect as there needs to be a balance between all factors. With the right knowledge, however, you can easily come out on top every time.
- Project management
Project management is imperative across all levels of construction. You should be able to organize and manage resources according to detailed plans that are defined by four major factors; period, quality, scope, and budget.
- Technological savvy
You should have an in-depth knowledge of machinery, and be able to determine which should be used for almost every function. You should be able to generate your ideas using CAD software, to enable your colleagues, subordinates, and clients to visualise the image you are creating.
What steps do you need to take?
Before you can even start to think about learning any of the above skills, you have to go through a process; a reawakening of the passion that would push you to excel and thrive. It is also during this process that you would develop those skills, and open yourself to more opportunities that would enable you to take charge of your career path. These steps are as follows:
- Step 1
Develop a passion for landscaping. Drive yourself to understand more and more about the basics of the subject. The internet is a treasure trove of ideas and knowledge. You can adapt patterns, learn principles and develop your own ideas from precedent in the market. This may be difficult at first, especially if your decision to go into landscaping is not from within. As you do these things, however, your passion would definitely grow from a flickering fire to a raging inferno.
- Step 2
Enrol in a training centre. Study a landscaping construction course. This would be where you learn a lot of your skills from. Take a look at our institution’s landscaping construction course and do your best to get into it. You can take horticulture courses, parks and garden courses, and other similar courses alongside if you desire. Apart from picking up the necessary knowledge, it would take you to excel in your field, finishing these courses would essentially certify you to start your landscaping career.
- Step 3
Establish yourself and spread your roots. Nobody conquers the world from a tiny corner of the planet. To actually enjoy your career, you need to keep looking for opportunities, finding friends that can link you up, taking some pro bono jobs here and there (we wouldn’t rigidly advise this, though), and essentially kickstarting your career. Start compiling a portfolio and keep selling yourself till you are noticed. If you are good, your work will speak for itself. Your priority should be making sure that when opportunity knocks, you are ready to reply.
Conclusion
At Construction Industry Training, we have a lot of construction courses for people trying to make headway in the field. You can earn your machine tickets here, learn about machine competencies, and generally immerse yourself in our broad range of courses. There are, of course, requirements you would have to meet to enrol in these courses but at the end of the day, you get a nationally recognised qualification that you can use to kick-start your practice. Visit our site, and contact us for more information.