| Good creative skills are essential for the specialised | | | | 8. Be knowledgeable about earthworks involved in |
| fields of garden design and landscaping. Consequently, | | | | landscaping and garden design. |
| it is important to have a comprehensive | | | | 9. Have a broad knowledge on the basics of starting |
| understanding of the industry and be able to apply | | | | a business, business plans, market analysis and |
| acquired skills in a theoretical and practical manner. | | | | ongoing management. |
| Lifestyle Learning Direct., one of the Gold | | | | How can you become a better Garden Designer and |
| Coast’s premier online learning and | | | | Landscaper? |
| correspondence course providers, suggests that in | | | | To gain professional garden design and landscaping |
| order to be a good garden designer or landscaper | | | | proficiency, it is best to undertake a specialised |
| you need to be able to: | | | | course that teaches you the essential skills. Lifestyle |
| 1. Evaluate a design project, have a clear | | | | Learning Direct. is a leader in the provision of writing |
| understanding of a designer’s role, and be able | | | | distance education courses that aim to give students |
| to conduct a meeting with a client. | | | | a broad understanding of the industry competency |
| 2. Be knowledgeable about the historical influences on | | | | regarding both the theoretical and practical application |
| modern garden design. | | | | of this knowledge. |
| 3. Be able to identify the various ‘hard’ | | | | Apart from understanding the application of good |
| components of landscaping and design, such as | | | | garden design ideas and landscaping elements and |
| garden structures and walls, fences and gates. | | | | principles, you need to be conversant with other |
| 4. Have a good general knowledge about soils and | | | | necessary components such as earthworks, marking |
| plants, and other landscaping products such as | | | | out and job costing, as well as basic drawing skills and |
| compost, gravel, sleepers, pavers, cement, sand, | | | | client/designer communication. As a result, you should |
| rock and slate, and so on. | | | | develop the ability to apply this knowledge in a broad |
| 5. Be familiar with the pricing structure of various | | | | variety of situations, as well as recognise and correct |
| landscaping supplies. | | | | all manner of design errors. |
| 6. Have had practical experience in several areas of | | | | If you dream of being your own boss, as well as the |
| landscape design and its allied industries, such as | | | | theory of garden design and landscaping you also |
| nurseries and landscaping supply yards. | | | | need to know the practical aspects of how to set up |
| 7. Have an awareness of different styles of gardens, | | | | in business. |
| as well as lighting and water features and the various | | | | For more information in relation to garden design and |
| types of surfacing materials available for use in | | | | landscaping, please contact Lifestyle Learning Direct. |
| garden design. | | | | |