You could always train as a landscape designer. In many locations. these are in short supply. Or consider being a "fine gardener" - these are horticultural specialists that focus on curating and maintaining larger and more complicated gardens, both private and public.

I'd look through all the many posts on The Professional Gardener forum as well, as that focuses specifically on plant related jobs and careers.

Garden coach, garden consultant. Otherwise you can eventually differentiate yourself from the existing local cadre of design and build companies by doing work that stands out. With the maintenance focused operations that you have characterized not really being within the subject area that you are apparently interested in pursuing anyway. In other words if you were wanting to do custom auto detailing it wouldn't matter what drive through car washes were like.

Perhaps you could specialize in Xeriscape gardening for your zone. You could build up a portfolio of your work by helping friends and neighbors achieve beautiful gardens.

@Embothrium , I think I follow what you mean at the end. That because my desired service is so different, that worry about differentiating from them isn’t an issue. This is true, I guess I just worried about the name, cause they all just call themselves “landscapers”.

What is your desired service ?

@HU, landscape consulting, design, and installation of beds.

Having just spent the morning weeding just one of my beds, I would place a focus on low maintenance designs.

@ffpalms , I definitely know everyone would be down for that!

Be forewarned that on a routine basis and for some time the money has been in hardscaping rather than planting. So that it is common for clients that accept $60,000 for individual built features like stone patios and so on to balk at planting budgets that are a small fraction of what associated non-living elements cost. In addition a chronic mantra that is specific to later times is that what plantings are included be in the plant-and-forget category. That they don't want any kinds of plants installed that will have to be looked after to any significant degree. This latter phenomenon is what you are likely to have to face rather than what mow blow and go companies are hired for - two of my personal friends that have long professional histories of designing interesting gardens have reported this desire for no maintenance plantings being something that crops up frequently these days.

An exception is the shelling out for large, expensive individual specimen plants like 100 year old weeping laceleaf Japanese maples. With those that can afford such of course seeing these as decorative landscape objects in the same usage category as fountains, gazebos and sculptures. So really plants being seen as hardscaping, instead of as plants. Same as clipped hedges and topiary, where the formal shearing converts the plants into architectural elements.

What about consulting, design, installation, and follow up maintenance? Offer to revisit your work periodically, to prune, weed, replant, etc as needed. So "low maintenance" to the homeowner but better looking and more environmentally friendly than "plop and go" landscapers.

@Dig Doug, thanks so much. Can you tell me how you’d suggest someone get into it?

I do not know your experience level, but getting to know the local design/build firms & introducing yourself to the owner is a good place to start. If you already have a design portfolio, show it off. The big key is the ability to sell what you design & to manage the installation profitably.

I live in the wealthiest part of the country. Landscaping company density is very high here. Few homeowners cut their own grass and when people want landscaping done, the first place they go is whoever cuts their lawn. They all do everything from tree removal/maintenance, lawn care, landscaping, snow removal. If a specialist is needed, they get subcontracted by the company that cuts the lawn. I think the idea that you'll strictly do one or two things is somewhat naïve. Not that people like that don't exist. They probably do. But for every one of them, there are probably hundreds of do it all landscaping companies and they get work because companies have worked with them in the past. What you propose is akin to a store that only sells milk and eggs. I think you have to do regular lawn maintenance to pay the bills and get your foot in the door.

@Embothrium, I do love hardscaping a lot too. I love building fountains and water features.

However, being that I’d be getting into this as an individual, I worry about the logistics and practicality of installing hardscapes being a one-man operation. Thoughts?

" I think you have to do regular lawn maintenance to pay the bills and get your foot in the door. "

Nonsense!! And entirely too many unfounded assumptions in that entire post!

Niche gardening careers are extremely common in my area (PNW). There are the usual lawn care outfits, typically a solo or two-man enterprise; landscape contractors that implement garden plans or improvements; and garden designers that often work independently or in conjunction with contractors or a larger, full service design/build company.

But there are also specialists: those who focus on just pruning; periodic or seasonal weeding; establishing and maintaining vegetable and edible gardens; biweekly or monthly maintenance; garden coaches or consultants. I had a business acquaintance that developed an entire business around clearing and clean outs of existing gardens prior to new landscaping work being done.

It is quite possible to develop a specialized garden business, become locally familiar, support yourself and make an adequate living without ever having to do lawn maintenance!! I've done so for 30 years!

@Dig Doug, I am currently a public educator. Therefore, no “professional” experience in the field. So I don’t think the route you mentioned would work well for me… I imagine I’ll have to go about it at a much more grassroots level.

@gardengal, thank you. I’d love to talk to you some more about your experience and some advice you have for a newbie!

You can message me directly if you like :-)

Jack, you might want to start by defining who your target customer will be. Higher income with more money than time? Young families? Urban homesteaders? Hands on gardeners or "low maintenance" folks? For example, in my area all of the new housing construction is larger houses on very small lots with tiny yards. The houses come with a patio big enough to hold a BBQ, a strip of lawn and a few ordinary shrubs planted without any thought or plan. I could see this being a niche market for the right person. Think beyond your desire to create beautiful gardens and think like a business person -- find a need and fill it. Good luck to you!

P.S. I owned one of those tiny houses I described above. I met a guy who worked at a local nursery and had just finished his landscape architect degree. I hired him to redesign my backyard (a 1500 sq. ft. house on a 2500 sq. ft lot) and do the installation. He did a fabulous job -- mostly patio with strategically place trees and shrubs for shade and privacy -- I had the best yard in the subdivision. I suspect he lost money on the job because it took WAY longer to install than planned. But in the end he had a satisfied customer for referrals and great photos for his portfolio. And he learned some valuable lessons about the true costs of running a business. I don't know if he ever quit his day job but I sure hope he made it.

@gardengal not sure how to do that. I’m pretty new to this app lol