I am on a farm and my designer installed ornamental grasses around my house that have now invaded my pastures. I have to go out and hand spray them to kill it. We are removing them as soon as the ground thaws.

Best advice I can give? Be humble and willing to learn. It's easy to feel great about what you're doing even early on, because it *is* likely better than what anyone else you know is capable of. Odds are though, it could still be better. I was always a pretty decent designer, and then I got a job with a design-build working under people with 30 years of experience. The difference in my work before that job and after is night and day. You didn't say if you did the program to get into the industry or just to get better at something you enjoy, but either way - never stop learning!

I would say pay attention to trends. There are far more pollinator-friendly gardens, rain gardens and xeriscaped gardens than in the past. There's a bigger focus on native plants in the landscape.

The climate is changing, too. That means you'll need to pay attention to that. In Maine, warmer winters has led to insulating snow melting, so plants suffer more in cold snaps, despite the average winter being warmer. In Massachusetts, summers with drought conditions are more common. Really know your local climate and soil.

For someone starting out and looking to develop their craft, my advice would be to keep practicing and experimenting with different design ideas and techniques.

Try to draw inspiration from nature, other designers, and even art and architecture. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and push the boundaries of traditional design.

Also, consider taking some hrdf claimable courses to further enhance your skills. These courses can provide you with valuable insights and techniques that can help you create more thoughtful and engaging designs.

As a practicing designer for the last 30 or so years, there are two things I'd advise.

1. Listen carefully to your client and seriously address their needs, wants and concerns. Not everything they think they want or need will be appropriate so be prepared to offer well-reasoned alternatives. But also do not attempt to impose your personal design preferences if that is not what they are looking for. It is ultimately their garden, not yours.
2. Become a horticulturist and learn as much about plants as you possibly can, including hardiness, cultural requirements and suitability for location. I've had too many clients with gardens needing a redesign because of the wrong plant(s) used initially. Detailed plant knowledge of a wide range of plants is perhaps the best thing you can learn after basic design skills.