A role in landscape construction focuses on making the land functional by altering or building it. This can involve various activities such as flattening the land, improving drainage, or raising specific areas. Some examples of landscape construction activities include building structures, excavating, installing new features, making general improvements, creating new drainage systems, and removing existing features. These actions aim to enhance the functionality of the land and create a more pleasing and practical outdoor environment.
Tasks Involved
Design and Create
Designing and crafting intricate plans, encompassing detailed drawings and material selections, for landscaping projects. Additionally, they oversee construction schedules with precision and expertise.
Install features
Efficiently install durable hardscape and soft softscape structures, including pathways, gardens, and outdoor features.
Construct elements
Construct a range of elements, such as gravel and paved areas, walls, fences, pergolas, ponds, barbecues, and garden furniture.
Horticulture
Prepare soil conditions and planting areas to support thriving seeds and plants and demonstrate expertise in planting various trees, bushes, hedges, flowers, and bulbs. Additionally, establish lush lawns through topsoil distribution and grass seed planting or instant turf installation.
Licensing Options to Consider
Obtaining a Certificate III in Landscape Construction AHC30921 delivers a wide variety of construction licensing & registration opportunities nationally across Australia. Please see a list of some of these licensing opportunities below.
For further information please contact us to speak to one of our licensing experts.
- Trade Contractor Structural landscaping (trade) – QLD
- Structural Landscaping Licence – NSW
- Domestic Builder Limited Retaining Walls – VIC
- Domestic Builder Limited to Structural landscape – VIC
(Note: Licensing information above has been generalised/reduced for contextualisation purposes. Some licensing may require additional qualifications and/or units to be completed for eligibility purposes.)
Career Paths
Landscape Construction is a growing and constantly changing industry. There are consistently new roles available for skilled and ambitious workers, with Landscape stretching into multiple industries.
Licensed builder restricted to structural landscape (Queensland)
Prepare site, excavate, lay paving or concrete associated with landscaping. Install irrigation for landscaping works. Install, erect and construct playground equipment.
Licensed landscape construction contractor
Landscape contractors create or refurbish outdoor spaces by planting trees, flowers, lawns, and shrubs, and constructing hard landscaping features, such as paths, patios, or decks. They provide services to residential and commercial customers in homes, office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, and public areas.
Landscape construction business owner
Landscaping business owners are entrepreneurs who have made the decision to commit their knowledge, passion, and leadership skills to build a local, regional, or national enterprise.
Landscape construction manager
They are the company’s eyes and ears on project sites, ensuring work is done according to plan, managing, and motivating team members, and working with office staff and vendors to coordinate successful project installations and site management.
Landscape construction site supervisor
Landscape supervisors are responsible for managing all field operations. They coordinate the procurement and scheduled use of resources such as labor, equipment, and materials to ensure maximum use and completion of work within budget, safety guidelines, and quality standards.
Landscape construction foreman
responsible for leading a team of landscapers and subcontractors in completing a range of civil, hard, and soft landscaping.
Education Pathways
Becoming formally qualified in Landscape Construction will assist you in gaining new jobs and having a reputable reputation amongst clients. Consider the below options to upskill and reskill:
- Certificate III in Landscape Construction AHC30921
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction CPC40120
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
5 Steps to Move into Landscape Construction
- Earn a qualification
Pursuing vocational education to earn a qualification in Landscape will assist in obtaining new jobs and demonstrates your skill level to clients. Whether pursuing vocational education or a formal qualification, gaining recognised skills will benefit the trajectory of your career.
- Complete an apprenticeship
Completing an apprenticeship will show future employers your experience and knowledge. On-the-job learning will provide you with real-world skills that you will require during your day-to-day. The knowledge you will learn from those you work with will build on any theory you have learnt, and provide a genuine understanding of the role.
- Gain experience
Following on from your apprenticeship, working regularly for a company will further enhance your skills and develop your real-world experience. Consider small jobs at the start, like school grounds keeping, council work, or yard maintenance.
- Obtain any required licences
To provide your clients with peace of mind, and also for legislative requirements, it is recommended to obtain the necessary licences. Having a licence also demonstrates your commitment to the role.
- Join a business or start your own
The landscape industry is constantly evolving with work readily and consistently available. Starting your own business can lead to a lucrative and rewarding career.
What’s Going on in the Industry
The landscape construction industry is experiencing remarkable advancements driven by technological innovations. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) has revolutionised the planning process, allowing for precise and efficient creation of detailed designs. Moreover, the industry has embraced Building Information Modeling (BIM), which has led to a surge in the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and a transition toward Augmented Reality (AR). These immersive technologies enable clients to have on-site visual experiences, providing them with a realistic preview of their future landscapes.
There have also been significant improvements in data collection and analysis, supported by machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). This integration enhances project insights and decision-making processes. As we move forward, the utilisation of drones is expected to increase, offering valuable data for machine learning algorithms and enabling efficient site inspections and monitoring of design performance.
