How many of you have degrees?

[mklawnman]

Hey i was wondering who out there has any bachler/master degrees in landscaping/maintenance? Im 18 right now and plan on majoring in Landscape Horticulture (Landscape design, maintenance and turf)and is wondering am i doing the right thing and getting a degree? Right now i have a small lawn mowing company that me and my brother run right now, we dont do any landscapin yet, just bush trimming and mulching and some pants. Though i will be going off to school away from my customers during the fall and early spring months, so ill have to cut back on my services until i graduate from college. I know u dont need to have a degree in this field to make a decent living but im sure the schooling would make me more successfull.
Just want to hear any thoughts or opinions on this.
Matt (Lawnman)

[a1 lawncare]

hey matt, way to go i think you've got your head in the right place, you will be alot more diverse with the degree, i am working on mine when i can, a class here and a class there. also a degree is somethig no one can take away from you, you'll always be able to fall back on it if you go to work for someone else, in my opinion you can't lose, it will open more doors and avenues for you.......

maybe you should think about night school and keep your buisness going (growing) it'll just get better, like when you have your degree and a buisnees going then going to the bank to get the money for that tractor or bobcat or whatever just got easier

once again good luck, and go get it, keith

[MJ]

Hi, mklawnman. Along with your degrees in Landscape Horticulture, I'd suggest some classes in Business or an Associate degree in Business with concentration in Small Business Administration. Most businesses fail not because of the quality of the work, but because he fails to apply sound business principles. Generally, if you apply to a bank for a loan, they want to know what business experience you have. Technical knowledge is less important to them than business knowledge and that AA degree is your ticket.

[Guido]

I'd incorporate a little bit of business ciriculum wherever you can into there.

But definetly go to school now while all your H.S. is fresh in your head. Believe me, its NO FUN going back later and you need a lot more motivation than you will now.

It can only help, no matter where the path leads you.

GO TO SCHOOL! :)

[Eric ELM]

Here are two other threads on this same topic.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4860
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18410

[geogunn]

matt--I think you should look into architecture. the money for a lad your age is not in setting and pruning bushes. it is in design!

landscape design is a component of architecture so there you go.

there is lots to be said about his subject. good luck.

GEO

[lawnboy82]

MK- Glad to hear that you are trying to be a professional at what you do by getting that degree. Might I ask where you plan on attending? I am personally working towards a degree in Turfgrass Management. I think that having some form of degree in this industry ( Landscape contracting / Turf / Arboriculture / etc.) it sets you apart from even some of your largest competition by stating that you took the time to find out about the plants, diseases, insects, etc. As is done in my school, I would hope that it is done at your school that they make you do an internship. Its a good way to learn, and make money. At my school I believe you can get 3 or 4 credits for the internship alone. But I must go now, so I shall bid you good luck in your current and future endeavors.

[mklawnman]

I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, im going to a local UW 2yr school for one year then transfering to River falls next year. See River Falls is 5hrs away from where i live so night school wouldnt work, though i could get a AS degree from a tech school but thats only a AS, not a BS which only Universities have. I've thought about going into Landscape architecture but right now i plan on focusing on landscape maintenance and design, but as i've heard before things change while your in college so who knows maybe ill become a landscape architect instead who knows. For the time im in college my dad will help me with some of my work hopefully, but i figure ill make it through anyhow. I've taken many business and Ag courses in high school, on business management, landscape design, but i plan on taking some business related courses in college, thats a definate!
I have the the skills for this field that im in, just need to study more about plants and about landscaping itself.
MAtt

[MJ]

Good luck, Matt, you seem to be on the right track.

[sheppard]

Have a Master's degree in History and Religion. Have a Bachelors in Biblical Literature. Could not feed a family on that ( or myself for that matter). But mowing grass? The money keeps coming in the mail! All this from just cutting grass. Wish I'd have done this 15 years ago.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[hustlers]

great and good luck, You will be able to justify
whatever you charge when your finished aslong
as your quality is top notch
I am 20 but have been in school for
the last 4 years studying hort, turf, etc.
It pays off because i can answer almost
any question my customer has and translate
that into my work.
my problem was ;i used to be cheap and
i cant get all my rates up to 35-60$ hr.
So my older mowing accounts arent
near as profitable as my new ones.

[bahiya]

I'm with Sheppard - skip the Master's degree. I have an MBA, a B.S. (that's for sure!) in public relations, and an A.A.T. in Environmental Horticulture, with an emphasis in landscape Contracting. Of the 3, guess which one I use. Any degree in Horticulture, landscaping, design - this will help you far more than the window dressing. If you need or want an advanced degree, go for it, but don't go so far with the college that you lose sight of what really matters. Good business sense (knowing when you are making money versus just spending it), maintaining positive cash flow, speaking politely and listening well to your customers,and writing easy to read proposals, will do more for your business than any amount of education. I wish that my handwriting were better, but I do always try to spell names, addresses, and subject matter correctly.

To sum it up: Go for the technical degree (2 years), take some business classes, learn what you need to know in order to pass the applicator's test, and good luck! Sounds like you're on the right track!

[mklawnman]

Hey Hustlers, u from Minnisota??(excuse me for my spelling) Cause if you r what school do u go to? Ya know for your older accounts u could raise the rates by say $5 to where u want that prime rate to be at each new mowing season, thats what ive been doing 2acher lots r about $45-$50. Used to be at like $40, but my dad told me i should up them to make more profit and so i did, no complaints from customers cause they know i do a great job of mowing, and the lawns look great.
Matt

[bkd]

Get your degree any way that you can! You are young and there are many opportunities out there for those willing to take advantage of them. I work in a factory 40 to 60 hours a week as a night shift supervisor, have about 11 mowing accounts and go to school during the winter months to get my BS in business management. I am getting my degree online through the University of Phoenix online program. There are many schools now offering these types of classes. This is one way you could keep your mowing business and get your degree. They pile the homework on you, but you don't have to be in a classroom at certain times. You do the work at your convenience, but it does take time to complete it. However, it teaches you good time management practices. Good luck and I hope this is helpful!

BKD

[Marquis Lawn]

My lawn biz got me through my BA in Finance for the past few years. Now I have guys to work it for me, and it's more of a part time job now. This gives time to work on my master's and do other jobs as they arise. I must say that after a few hot Texas summers, it is better to manage othersthan to do the work myself. I recommend pursuing education to everyone, just for the fact that it gives you options. I like the lawn game, but if I ever want (or need to) I've got other options for work. I can't say the same for many of my friends doing this biz. Get education when you're young-- you'll NEVER regret it.

[BLakin01]

You're doing the right thing, going to school. I'm currently going for an assosciate's degree in Turfgrass Management at Joliet Junior College. The classes are great, and it is one of the best programs in the midwest. I'll graduate in December, but what I'm going to do after that, is beyond me. Hopefully it will be something that I can put my degree to good use. Otherwise, good luck, and stick with it. I know 4 years+ in school isn't like 2, but it's school nonetheless.

Brandon Lakin
B&H Mowing Service
Rensselaer, IN

[hustlers]

mk lawn man

I went to clc , local college for
turfgrass MGMT. degree
and also got one in landscape design
but have yet to do a complete design
cause of mowing

also got my certified turfgrass professional diploma
from U of georgia- 1 yr.

Got my local fertilizer liscense
and commercial pesticide licsense
for lawn, trees and shrubs

Also got about 30 business credits
and would recommend to everybody to
take small business mgmt.

[HBFOXJr]

BS in Horticulture.

30 years in the trade self employed.

Wish I had more business classes.

A 2 day bidding and estimating seminar with Jim Huston or Charles Vander Kooi is indespensible.

[mklawnman]

Sounds like alot of people have degrees in other fields but ended up working in this field and not using their schooling. But i can see that back when alot of guys went to school landscaping wasnt their thing, but then one day they decided to cut lawns and now r hooked. I plan on using my schooling, not get hooked in some other profession cause ive been mowing lawns since i was 12, just love driving lawn mowers around, though i figure someday ill have to grow into a landscaping business too to make some good liveable money for a family. Ill remeber to take enough business courses. How much is it to get a pesticide license? I know it vary's cause im thinking of reading the stuff and taking the test.
Matt

[Guido]

Originally posted by sheppard
Have a Master's degree in History and Religion. Have a Bachelors in Biblical Literature. Could not feed a family on that ( or myself for that matter). But mowing grass? The money keeps coming in the mail! All this from just cutting grass. Wish I'd have done this 15 years ago.

Cordially,
Sheppard

You honestly believe the problem is having a masters degree??

Could it be what you picked as a major?? Not sure where someone with a biblical literature degree works besides a catholic high school or somethinhg like that? Probobly not much demand, right?

I bet a MBA would be a little bit more useful, right?

I really wouldn't discourage anyone from going to school that wants to. What happens when they can't do manual labor anymore, or they lose an eye, or they don't like this trade?? They need something that will cross over. Whats accepted more wider than a business degree??

Just my 3 cents....... keep the change! ;)