Written by Mark WolfeSamantha Allen and published on https://www.forbes.com/.
When it comes to taking care of your yard, you may be wondering whether you need a gardener or a landscaper. Both professionals can provide valuable services, but there are some key differences between the two. A gardener is typically more focused on plant care, such as watering, pruning, and fertilizing. They may also be responsible for planting new flowers, shrubs, and trees. Landscapers, on the other hand, often have a broader range of responsibilities. In addition to plant care, they may also provide lawn care services, such as mowing and trimming. They may also build retaining walls, install irrigation systems and perform general repairs. As a result, landscapers tend to have a more diverse skill set than gardeners.
Gardener Vs Landscaper: What’s The Difference?
Gardener vs Landscaper
When you need a professional to help you get your yard in order, it is good to know who you should call. What is the difference between a landscaper and a gardener? Many homeowners consider “gardening” to be the time they spend cultivating a flower or veggie garden, and “landscaping” the other, less fulfilling, yard work that they might consider hiring out. Skilled professionals work under both names, so let’s take a deeper look.
Gardening
The generally accepted meaning of gardening is the practice of cultivating a plot of ground and growing plants. Considering the variety of non-plant elements in an average yard, such as decks, patios, privacy fences, retaining walls, driveways, outdoor lighting, irrigation systems, and more, gardening is a somewhat limited set of responsibilities.
Hobby or Professional
We regularly use the word “gardener” in two different ways. A gardener is most often a homeowner who plants and cares for their own yard, which may include flower or vegetable gardens. Some professionals also claim the title gardener, especially those with a more narrow, plant-focused scope of work.
Plant Focused
Gardening tasks traditionally revolve around cultivating plants. Gardeners take responsibility for planting, pruning, mowing, fertilization, weed control, and leaf removal, along with some light maintenance of adjacent non-plant elements like fences or pavement, also known as hardscaping. Some professional gardeners specialize in certain skilled tasks, such as pruning Japanese maples or maintaining rock gardens.
Design, Installation, and Maintenance
Gardeners work to create the right conditions for plants to thrive, and then monitor and care for the plants. Garden designers determine the appropriate plant selection and layout for an aesthetically pleasing effect that also promotes good plant health. Some garden designs also include the placement of elements like water features, garden art, and pathways.
Garden installation is largely a matter of planting. Maintenance includes all aspects of plant care, from fertilization and watering to pest management, pruning, and mulching. Gardeners also keep the adjacent landscape looking its best by pressure washing paved surfaces and siding, cleaning downspouts and gutters, replacing light bulbs and sprinkler heads, etcetera.
Landscaping
Landscaping includes all visible features of the land. It accounts for plants, irrigation systems, retaining walls, pathways, pavement, garden sculptures, fences, arbors, lighting, water features, and even the house itself. Landscapers work among and alter these elements to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the space.
Professional
Most lawn care professionals in America refer to themselves by the broad term landscaper, regardless of their typical scope of work. Some landscapers only mow, prune, remove leaves, and plant flowers, which, we have noted, are traditional gardener tasks. Others perform comprehensive landscaping services, including design, installation, and maintenance of hardscaping, irrigation, lighting, and plants.
Systems Focused
Landscaping creates solutions for the entire property. If you need to build a retaining wall, correct a drainage problem, install a flagstone pathway, add outdoor lighting or an irrigation system, or maintain the lawn, a landscaper can do it. The key to a successful hire is in matching the landscaper’s knowledge, skills, and experience with your individual needs.
Design, Installation, and Maintenance
Many landscapers offer professional design services by highly-trained landscape architects. Landscape designs are scale drawings that show the placement of existing and future trees, garden beds, buildings, hardscaping elements, and other garden features. They can also include overlays for irrigation and landscape lighting systems.
Landscape installers build the space according to design plans. Specialists in landscape lighting, irrigation, and water gardening have the technical expertise to design, install and maintain these sophisticated elements. Landscape maintenance technicians perform traditional gardening functions of caring for grass, trees, garden beds, and container gardens.
Landscaping and Gardening
Gardening is the largest and most active part of landscaping. Many DIYers hire landscapers for highly skilled or heavy work such as landscape design services, installing lighting and irrigation, constructing paved walkways and patios, or planting large specimens. Other busy individuals contract landscapers or gardeners for weekly lawn maintenance, or less frequently for occasional specialty jobs.
Before you hire a lawn care pro, be sure to consider your full range of needs and expectations so that you can find the right contractor. For routine plant and lawn maintenance, a gardener might be the best fit, but for big jobs or broad-ranging tasks, a landscaper could be a better fit.
To Wrap Up in Choosing Landscaping and Gardening Professionals
When choosing a professional to help with your yard work, it’s important to consider the specific needs of your property. If you’re mostly concerned with plant care, then a gardener may be the best option. However, if you need help with a more diverse range of tasks, then a landscaper may be a better fit.
Original post here https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/outdoor/gardener-vs-landscaper/.
