WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GARDENER AND A LANDSCAPER?

The two terms gardener and landscaper are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between them. The role of a gardener is to grow and maintain a garden, and all that it contains, while the role of a landscaper is the installation, design and construction of outdoor spaces. Hence, landscaping is centered on the design and creation of outdoor areas, while gardening is centered on the upkeep and cultivation of plants.

Both are an essential part of creating and sustaining attractive outdoor spaces, but they require different expertise and responsibilities. Let’s look at them separately below.

Gardener

Gardening is the largest and most dynamic part of an outdoor space, whether it is a commercial area or a residential property. It instantly adds liveliness and color to the area and serves a lot of benefits for a property. However, it is necessary to regularly maintain and take care of all that is included in a garden. This is where a gardener comes in; a gardener’s responsibilities involve:

  • Choosing and planting suitable plants, flowers, vegetables fruits etc.
  • Ensuring all the plants grow and maintain their health in an optimal condition
  • Pruning and shaping plants, trees and shrubs
  • Maintaining the health of all plants and greenery – watering and feeding them daily
  •  Other routine tasks such as mowing lawns, weeding and clearing all dead leaves and debris off the garden space

Landscaper

Landscaping is the part of an outdoor space which involves adding additional features that enhance and add functionality to an outdoor space. constructing elements such as pathways, stonework, patios, water features etc. This involves expertise and skills and typically includes heavy work such as:

  • Constructing elements such as pathways, stonework, patios, water features etc.
  • Installing lighting and managing irrigation systems
  • Other routine tasks such as maintaining and cleaning a landscape area

There may be skilled individuals who work under both names or companies that provide services for both. But there is no doubt that there is a clear difference between a gardener and a landscaper.