Question
I have a nephew who wants to get into lanscaping and design. He did not finish high school. Can you tell me the best way for him to learn (study, vocation schools, ?). And then the best way get into the field and make a living at it?

Thank you!

Answer
Lionel,
This is an FAQ that I answered a while back that may relate to you as well.This is how I personally got started and with no degree at all. If there are points that don't relate to you just ask me more questions.
FAQ:
Question and Answer
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Asks in Category Landscaping & Design:

Subject:  Want to be landscape designer

Question:  I would like to be a good landscape designer, and I have done for a year. I do get some referal, but I still have to seek clients. I often go to new community, knock the door... I got most of rejection, sometimes I talked to homeowners for hours, but I don't get the job. I feel I spend most of time for nothing. Advertising is expensive, I would like to hear your suggestion, how to market and target good clients, prepare contract... thank you.

Answer:  Well,about 20 years ago I came a perennial nut.I started beds of Mums first because I thought I would sell them.What I actually got though was every kind of mum you can imagine.Not the ones that sell,except the fall cushion mums,but ALL kinds.Spider mums,florist mums,spoon mums,daisy mums, you name it I got it.WOW. Did not expect that. But proceeded anyway to fill up my huge wooden ties surrounded beds with soil and weed barrier in place. Then stuck all kinds of my fav perennials in the leftover space.I had all kinds of perennials and nothing to do with them.I already had covered about an acre of my own surrounding property with beds.This was all done solo.I had a few customers but not enough for a sucessful business.Besides I lived in the country about 15 miles from any nice cushy homes where people could afford designers.
Well,this sounds corny and a little silly but here is what I did one lonely boring winter. I have MILLIONS of landscape magazines and catalogs.You know the ones. They make you sick with envy and the prices are so out of this world you wonder what kind of people spend money on these plants and designs.Well,let me tell you...plenty do.
I started cutting out my favorite plants that I KNOW that grow in my area,because I had used them for years.So,you do have to know firsthand something about plants that work well in your locale from first hand experience or by observing them in other peoples landscapes. Take photos if you can't find them in magazines or internet.Usually you can find them in seconds on the internet.If you have a printer(color) print them out and cut them out.Don't forget info on them. Magazine designs are a must. I cut out designs,potted plants,little areas of designed sections as well as my own home landscape.Categorized them by months and then by my favs,like spring bulbs,water gardens trellis plantings,native plants or Xeroscaping as its called now,low maintenance perennials is my specialty. I put them all in a binder in photo album pages.Just a plain white binder with a clear plastic slitted cover where I made my own business flyer and stuck it in the front,which had my business name,and phone number.I had some business cards made up.Of course,I had no business locale per say,just my home.I must say,even though it took me all winter,which is my off season anyway,it was a beautiful example of a way for people to see that you could indeed have blooms from Jan to Dec quite easily with some careful planning which is what a designers job is. The first place I went is a hair salon where I knew wealthier women would go get there hair done.The owner was a really great woman and I told her if I could leave my book I would do her window boxes and pots that she had out in front of her shop.They looked a little neglected.She agreed. And I got clients in only a few days time from that book and those wlovely window boxes that took all day. I filled them with spring bulbs then other little annuals and lots of vinca vine(my saviour).They were nice,and then in spring they were gorgeous!With Daffodils,tulips,hyacinths and those always frivolous vinca vines that added the perfect touch.My next client was a friend and customer of the salon and I did a whole "shady nook" while they went on vacation. It was a hit! And that is how I began.From then on,it's strictly "word of mouth".Advertising gets lost in the print,unless you can afford a full page color layout.I couldn't.
Most of my work is hard back breaking work.Reconstruction mostly.I did do a few new homes in the housing boom. with the help of my doubting husband who even thought it was a lot of hard work.If I have new home I have to sub contract the work,which is OK but you have to find the right people or it makes you look bad.I have now found the best people and do have to hire them for the bigger jobs like grading and digging new beds and big mulch jobs. But mostly it's me.My son and his college friens worked some with mulching and taking down brick beds but they have to be watched like eagles or they will sit instead of work,and that can get you in trouble with your clients in no time flat.HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IS A MUST. I haven't had much educational background in design except a hort certificate which is obtained online.Not hard at all.But I don't really need it now,until I look for a bigger job in a larger city with a big company which I am considering soon because I am already 41.(don't tell).It will however involve travel.I still have a 14 year old girl still to raise and an 18 year old that came back to the nest a few months ago.(that's a whole other saga)
You can do it,if you have the all consuming urge to create,which is what I live for!Have any more questions just ask.I gotta go now and do some work on a almost finished (took two years)cottage garden and landscape of a truly wonderful couple of professors that were thrilled to get help with the neglected gardens of a home they purchased a few years ago. It's been tiring,and slow but I am am now just doing maintenace.Well.....maybe a new bed to think about!HA!  
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