• Home
    Home
  • Main Portfolio
    Main Portfolio
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Our Process
    Our Process
  • Services
    Services
    • Custom Design
      Custom Design
      • Feng Shui Garden Design
        Feng Shui Garden Design
    • Design Implementation
      Design Implementation
    • Construction & Maintenance
      Construction & Maintenance
    • DIY – DesignedBliss4U
      DIY – DesignedBliss4U
    • Other Services
      Other Services
      • Staging for sale
        Staging for sale
      • Productive gardens
        Productive gardens
      • Rejuvenation projects
        Rejuvenation projects
  • Design Fees & Packages
    Design Fees & Packages
  • Media Publications
    Media Publications
  • Design Resources
    Design Resources
    • FAQs
      FAQs
    • Why use a designer?
      Why use a designer?
    • Ebooks & Videos
      Ebooks & Videos
    • Blog
      Blog
    • Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
      Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
    • Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
      Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
    • Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
      Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
    • Case study – Water Features
      Case study – Water Features
    • Case Study – Productive Garden Design
      Case Study – Productive Garden Design
    • Case study – Vertical Gardens
      Case study – Vertical Gardens
    • Case Study – Vegetable patches
      Case Study – Vegetable patches
    • Case Study – Soil testing
      Case Study – Soil testing
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Home
    Home
  • Main Portfolio
    Main Portfolio
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Our Process
    Our Process
  • Services
    Services
    • Custom Design
      Custom Design
      • Feng Shui Garden Design
        Feng Shui Garden Design
    • Design Implementation
      Design Implementation
    • Construction & Maintenance
      Construction & Maintenance
    • DIY – DesignedBliss4U
      DIY – DesignedBliss4U
    • Other Services
      Other Services
      • Staging for sale
        Staging for sale
      • Productive gardens
        Productive gardens
      • Rejuvenation projects
        Rejuvenation projects
  • Design Fees & Packages
    Design Fees & Packages
  • Media Publications
    Media Publications
  • Design Resources
    Design Resources
    • FAQs
      FAQs
    • Why use a designer?
      Why use a designer?
    • Ebooks & Videos
      Ebooks & Videos
    • Blog
      Blog
    • Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
      Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design
    • Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
      Before & After – Blackburn Garden Design
    • Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
      Before & After – Hawthorn Garden Design
    • Case study – Water Features
      Case study – Water Features
    • Case Study – Productive Garden Design
      Case Study – Productive Garden Design
    • Case study – Vertical Gardens
      Case study – Vertical Gardens
    • Case Study – Vegetable patches
      Case Study – Vegetable patches
    • Case Study – Soil testing
      Case Study – Soil testing
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
To Blog

Why a landscape designer, landscaper and not a gardener?

November 11, 2017
-
Landscaping, Maintenance
-
Posted by Parveen

We get asked this a lot so we’ve decided to clarify a few urban myths on this topic.  Specifically, how people perceive the skillset required to be a designer, landscaper (i.e. landscape contractor) or a gardener.

 

Landscaping and landscape design

 

Landscaping is a 4 year apprenticeship.  Its a commitment of 4 days a week of on-the-job training and 1 day a week at TAFE. The TAFE landscaping course specifically focuses on construction.  It is generally a Cert III level.  The course covers various aspects of project management, OH&S, machinery operation and staff supervision. Plant knowledge is very cursorily covered.  This lends to the common misconception therefore that landscapers are good at construction but poor in plant knowledge.  However, not all are.

Landscape Design is also a course at TAFE and generally is a Cert IV equivalent.  I.e. it is a higher qualification.  It also involves a full time study commitment of a minimum of 3 years.  One full year is spent on honing hand drawings and computer aided drawing skills.  Some subjects overlap with the above-mentioned construction course mainly around project management and construction specifications.  Plant knowledge, however, is a key study component.  Therefore, designers are expected to be ace at plants!

Whilst landscape designers are the generally the creatives of a project; landscapers are really the “builders” for the outdoors.  Landscapers are not merely handymen or a part time gardener earning some cash in their spare time.  You will distinguish the difference between the different types and skillsets when you engage the services of either party.

 

Gardening

 

Gardening is an apprenticeship course at TAFE too.   This course is specific to those who want to work in a nursery or want to maintain parks and gardens. This course therefore has a strong focus on plant knowledge, turf, pruning requirements, soil types and general pests and diseases. Given how the course is structured, gardeners are likely to have a better understanding of plant maintenance and their needs than a landscaper.   However. that is not to say that there aren’t any experienced landscapers out there without excellent plant and maintenance knowledge.

 

So who should maintain your garden?

 

Good question.  Our recommendation to all our clients is to go with the company or individual who has the right tools to maintain the garden and understands the needs of the garden – plants and materials included.  It really doesn’t matter if you choose a person who calls themselves a “designer”, “landscaper” or a “gardener” as long as they have a sound skill base for what you and your garden need!

Price what you need appropriately as someone with the right qualifications and or experience can really make your garden shine its best!

As for the gender bias…in this modern day and age anyone can be a landscape designer, contractor or gardener…wouldn’t you agree?

 

Where our company philosophy fits in all of this…

 

We believe in best practice and in being true professionals in our field.  Therefore, we believe that as a switched on design and landscaping company we have strived to upskill ourselves beyond the minimum above.  We have skillsets in garden maintenance, soil health, tree studies and have obtained general knowledge of plant pests and diseases.

Given the education gained, skillsets in place and level of experience within our network, we are proud to offer a “one stop shop” from design and construction to maintenance.   This is so our clients are well looked after from the start of any landscaping project.

Our designs have included retaining walls, decks, pergolas, paving, turf, irrigation and lighting.  We also specialise in planting, outdoor styling and maintaining our clients gardens  – all, with rave reviews to boot!

 

If you like what we do and are needing help in designing your garden, please contact us for an onsite 90 minute consultation.  We charge $220.00 for the visit and can subsequently quote on project managing the entire transformation for you within your budget.

Do also have a read of our other writeups such as Staging for sale.

Our passion, your garden

Follow us on social media
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Houzz
PREVIOUS POST
Budgets for your Landscape
NEXT POST
What Irrigation System Is Right For You?

Parveen

Recent Posts
  • Modern cottage gardens in Melbourne
  • Gardening with passion! The story behind Sophie and Daniel’s garden
  • Gardens for life – the story of Cate’s garden
  • Clivias
  • Creating a family garden with amazing aesthetic – Gurnik and Sarah
Instagram

ilandscapesolns

A snippet from a favourite design from 2020! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Completed last Sept and about to arrange for some professional shots of it soon!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Probably the best part of the design for me was to see my client's fervour around building the nautilus feature and actually making that happen!  You'll have to see it in real life to believe it as it not only looks amazing but gives her a sense of pride whenever she drives home!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
No more a boring front garden with a square grassed area but something unique to come home to, surrounded by plants that make her happy and a garden she loved designing for herself! 💚
This is one thing that continues to fascinate me!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I LOVE it when ferns unfurl.  It's almost magical and done with such grace of movement!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
From the alternating leaf pattern, the prominent lateral veins to the spores that finally appear underneath their leaves, it's so well planned and amazing!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Isn't nature simply beautiful!!? 💚⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What's your favourite fern?
Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠ Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
The decision is a little trickier than you would initially think but here are some tips that can help!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
🌿Colours - lighter to make the area larger⁠⠀
🌿Size & number - would also depend on what you intend to plant and the aesthetic you'd want to create but if space is really limited I'd perhaps chose a single reasonably sized pot (to facilitate good root growth) that would allow for some layering of plants⁠⠀
🌿Opening - what  I mean by this is the "mouth" of the pot.  This has practical implication for on-going repotting and maintenance.  The wider the opening the easier to repot down the track!⁠⠀
🌿Texture - i love the earthy ones as they feel natural and similarly anything with laid stone or are handcrafted just adds that something extra but these tend to be expensive!⁠⠀
🌿Type - chose the look that compliments the overall style and aesthetic for your space.  For example, you'd not want to chose an ultra modern geometric pot for a farmhouse style cottagey space!  The pot here was chosen to compliment the earthy paving colour and was in line with the shapes of other structures in the courtyard!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What are your key styling tips!  Do share! 💚⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠Slow and steady gets there eventually!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Finally my dwarf senecio has got to a reasonable size and is looking very adorable at the moment!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What especially I love about it is that it has a rounded growth and almost 'shines' at night against the moonlight which is why I've planted it next to the path!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What's your favourite succulent? 💚⁠⠀
Need I say more? Well I'm pretty much plant and g Need I say more?  Well I'm pretty much plant and garden obsessed anyway LOL!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Hope that you’re making your garden your priority in 2021. It's good for the mind, body and soul! 💚
One of my favourite colour combinations in the gar One of my favourite colour combinations in the garden - something purplish blue against a deeper green!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
This geranium sleeps in winter and pops it's head up at start of spring, misleading anyone to think that it's just a boring flat area of green!  My youngest initially thought it was a weed and I luckily stopped her in time before she plucked the geranium out! 😅⁠⠀
⁠⠀
What's your favourite perennial or deciduous plant that you like popping up again in the cheer of warmer weather? 💚
Finally another one of my baby vireya rhododendron Finally another one of my baby vireya rhododendron's has flowered!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Not sure of the name of this one but it's got such a lovely vibe to it.  I just love how the petals soften into a baby pink and curl at the ends. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Been meaning to contact the grower I met back in MIFGS back in 2016 when I bought it to ask about its name. Why? Because I've misplaced its tag which was rather silly of me to be honest!  Well it's on my to do list now for sure!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
If anyone does know it's name in the meantime do please PM me as I would be really grateful! 💚
What's better than this?⁠💦⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Havin What's better than this?⁠💦⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Having an elegant pool area with some mood lighting to create the ambience you'd love to share with your loved ones.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Great for entertainment and an after New Year party chill out! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
So a VERY happy new year from me!!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the support in a very challenging 2020 and let us all look forward to a greater year in 2021.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Thank you all for the opportunities, connections and friendships that were built along the way.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Thanks especially to my family who continue to endure me going off on a plant chase, picture taking mania or talking incessantly about landscaping.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Thank you to all my new and long-term “anchor” clients some of whom have been with me from the inception - you know who you are!! 💚- who continue to put up with the changes in my business structure, my obsession with making your dream garden and for allowing me, very graciously, to be part of your garden journeys!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here’s wishing everyone peace, health, happiness and prosperity in the new year. ⁠⠀
⁠
Let the gentle spirit of love flood our hearts and homes. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let us create some wonderful memories to cherish in the years that follow!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Warmest regards and best wishes for a wonderful start to the year!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Parveen Dhaliwal⁠⠀
⁠⠀
With 2020 coming to and end is the promise of exci With 2020 coming to and end is the promise of exciting builds to designs completed this year that I'll get be involved in 2021!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Most excited about this one given the research and effort that went into it!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Sunken garden oasis for a young family to enjoy - can't wait!!! 

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and safe new year!!!💚
Load More…
Archives
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
Categories
  • Balcony Gardens
  • Biophilia
  • Blog
  • Budgeting
  • Construction
  • Feng Shui
  • Gardens for Life
  • Home office
  • Irrigation
  • Landscape Design
  • Landscaping
  • Maintenance
  • Materials
  • Paving
  • Plants
  • Productive gardening
  • Productive gardens
  • Propagation
  • Pruning
  • Scented gardens
  • Seasonal tips
  • Staging for sale
  • Structures
  • Sustainable Gardening
  • Uncategorized
  • Water Features

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss
Street view of front garden in Burwood garden design by Inspiring Landscape Solutions

Adding Value to your Property with Landscaping

August 31, 2017
-
Posted by Parveen

Motivation Adding value to your property with effective landscaping is easy to achieve if you follow a few simple rules. Whether …

Read More →
Landscape Design, Maintenance
4 MIN READ
Corten wall lightbox used in Glen Waverley garden design

Before & After – Glen Waverley Garden Design

April 5, 2020
-
Posted by Parveen

The brief When Sarah and her husband contacted me, they wanted a garden design that would suit their family lifestyle and …

Read More →
Landscape Design, Landscaping, Plants
6 MIN READ
Corten wall lightbox used in Glen Waverley garden design

How to create your perfect outdoor space

April 3, 2020
-
Posted by Parveen

Do you want to learn what it takes to create the perfect outdoor space? A space that you love to look …

Read More →
Construction, Gardens for Life, Home office, Landscape Design, Landscaping, Maintenance, Plants, Productive gardening, Scented gardens, Seasonal tips
1 MIN READ

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Houzz

ACN: 617 529 914

contact +614 0332 9128

contact@inspiringlandscapes.com.au

 
Landscaper v gardener - understanding what the difference is