54 questions that have absolutely nothing to do with mowers

The next few pages illustrate the results of the first-ever Landscaper Census, a project we undertook earlier this year in an attempt to gain and share a better perspective on what the average landscaper and lawn care operator are really like.

Some of our suspicions were confirmed – most of you prefer to drive trucks and identify as Republican, for example, but some were a surprise. Here’s what I found most interesting:

• You’re not making millions: Nearly half of respondents said their take-home pay was less than $50,000 a year.
• You’re working at family businesses: 43 percent said their spouse works in some capacity or is co-owner in the business. About as many landscapers had parents who worked in the green industry (17 percent) as have children who work in the industry (19 percent)
• You’re educated: A third (32 percent) of landscapers have earned a four-year degree.
• You’re engaged: 52 percent attend church regularly, 81 percent vote in every election
• You’re passionate: Just 42 percent said landscaping was their first choice of career. Previous industries and jobs ranged from farming to hospitality to insurance to graphic design. But more than double that – 86 percent – of landscapers said that if given the chance to do it all over again, they’d still go into the landscape industry.
• You’ve still got problems: 20 percent have had or are currently dealing with high blood pressure; another 20 percent with bad backs. Thirteen percent say they’ve battled depression and 15 percent with anxiety.
• You’re clearly very busy: Only 31 percent said the landscape at their own home was good enough to win an award. Most – 61 percent – said it was just OK. (That’s OK, guys. Mine’s not much to look at, either.)
   

So read on to learn more about what the industry is really like and how you fit in to the larger universe of landscapers.

– Chuck Bowen

Survey methodology
We fielded the survey via a link emailed to Lawn & Landscape readers who are owners or principals of landscape or lawn care businesses. We also posted the link on our website and shared via social media during the first two weeks of January, and the results are drawn from an aggregate of 321 respondents.