The Rise of the Landscaping Profession

THE RISE OF THE LANDSCAPING PROFESSION LANDSCAPE WORKERS TYPICALLY DO THE FOLLOWING: AVERAGE SALARY OF A LANDSCAPE WORKER $12.33 hourly wage • Mow, edge, and fertilize lawns • Weed and mulch landscapes • Trim hedges, shrubs, and small trees • Remove dead, damaged, or unwanted trees • Plant flowers, trees, and shrubs • Water lawns, landscapes, and gardens 12 $25,650 annual wage 821,750 NUMBER OF LANDSCAPE WORKERS IN 2011 INDUSTRIES WITH THE HIGEST LEVEL OF LANDSCAPING OCCUPATION 500K 438,200 jobs 400K 300K 200K 89,140 jobs 79,860 jobs 100K 19,800 jobs 17,030 jobs Services to Other Local Elementary and Lessors of Buildings Amusement Government Real Estate and and (Occupational Employment Statistics Secondary Schools Dwellings Recreation Industries Designation) TOP PAYING INDUSTRIES FOR THIS OCCUPATION $22.21/hr • Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) $20.99/hr $18.01/hr • Remediation and Other Waste Management Services • Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals $17.84/hr -sSpecialized Freight Trucking $17.37/hr Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing TOP REASONS LANDSCAPE WORKERS JOBS ARE SEASONAL PEOPLE Jobs are most common in the spring, summer, and fall, when planting, mowing, and trimming are necessary GARDEN 44% To be outdoors 18MILLION Combined total size of U.S. Household lawns ACRES 42% To be around beautiful things 39% Relax and escape the pressures of everyday life 1/3 ACRE Average size of U.S. Residential lawn 83 35% Stay active and get exercise MILLION No. of Americans who do some lawn care of their own 80% % U.S. Household with a private lawn LANDSCAPE WORKERS 1,142 • A total of 1,142 grounds landscapers were fatally injured at work during 2003-2008 AN AVERAGE OF 190 EACH YEAR During 2003-2007, an average of 13.3 per 100,000 ground maintenance workers died each year Landscapers accounted • compared with an overall rate of 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 U.S. workers for 3.4% of all occupational fatalities Why it's dangerous: The job requires working outdoors under the sun and working with sharp equipments MAJOR EVENTS LEADING TO LANDSCAPE WORKERS OCCUPATIONAL FATALITIES 31% 25% 23% 16% contact with objects and equipment transportation incidents falls traumatic acute exposure to harmful substances or environments POPULAR LANDSCAPING IDEAS 1. Add a bridge • Suggestion: Add a rustic wooden-plank bridge over a landscaped riverbed of dry stones • Stepping stones in a Japanese Zen garden shouldn't touch each other to ward off evil spirits from crossing the water 2. Renovating Walkways •Use the flagstone, railroad ties or wood rounds to make it look interesting 3. Create a Topiary • Unless you are artistic, it is best to hire a professional • Animal topiaries truly leave an impression 4. Lighting Design •It adds depth and interest to the current landscaping design • Also gives dramatic effects 5. Forced Perspective • This is a popular landscaping idea if one has limited space • Create an illusion by placing large shrubs and bolders at the front of landscaped area • Also, use detail in the foreground of the garden and avoid detail toward the rear 6. Instant Focal Points: Water Fountains • Visually appealing • Generate a pleasing sound for enjoyment EASY WAYS TO GREEN LANDSCAPING 1. Test your soil to know what kind of fertilizer or formula your soil needs. • You can either use home kits or go to universities and have a soil sample test 2. Leave grass clippings which makes a great natural mulch and prevent some weed growth • Grass clippings contain 58% of the nutrients a lawn needs 3. Collect rainwater and use it to water shrubs 4. Avoid pesticides altogether as this affects health and creates a need for pricey lawn improvements 5. Practice Xeriscape, a creative landscaping technique which saves water • Think 'native' means using local plant species because these can better survive extreme weather conditions in your area 6. Create your own by composting • Buy home composter/compost material • Build your own home composter 7. Consider using recycled plastic instead of wood, concrete or stone for landscaping improvements 8. Do some edible landscaping by planting berries, fruit trees and root vegetables Sources: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/building-and-grounds-cleaning/grounds-maintenance-workers.htm#tab-2 http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes373011.htm http://info.boltinsurance.com/risks-and-dangers-of-landscaping-infographic/ http://www.doanslandscape.com/benefits.cfm http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/09/24/americas-10-most-dangerous-jobs/#photo-1 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6017a3.htm http://www.ehow.com/list_6595252_popular-landscaping-ideas.html#page=1 http://landscaping.about.com/od/galleryoflandscapephotos/ss/yard_pictures_4.htm http://eartheasy.com/blog/2012/04/5-easy-ways-to-green-your-landscaping/ http://www.handyamerican.com/articles-cheap-landscaping-tips.asp http://www.bhg.com/gardening/landscaping-projects/landscape-basics/energy-efficient-landscaping-tips/ http://gomestic.com/gardening/should-you-contract-out-your-yard-landscaping-or-do-it-yourself/ http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/25-biggest-landscaping-mistakes/page-2.html landscape Brought to you by: ICARE