What Does a Landscaper Do Exactly?

If you’ve ever wondered what a landscaper actually does, you’re not the only one. Many people think landscaping is just about mowing lawns or planting flowers. But in reality, a professional landscaper provides a wide range of outdoor services that cover everything from full garden design to paving, fencing, and drainage work.

We’ll break down what a landscaper does, what types of services are typically included, and why hiring a professional is often the smartest choice for homeowners.

What Is a Landscaper?

A landscaper is a skilled tradesperson who works on the design, construction, and maintenance of outdoor spaces. Their job is to improve the look, function, and value of gardens, patios, driveways, and other external areas around homes and businesses.

Landscapers can work on small residential jobs or large commercial sites, and their tasks can vary from planting trees to laying block paving or building retaining walls.

Types of Landscaping Services

A good landscaper will often offer a broad range of services to suit different outdoor needs. These usually fall into two main categories: soft landscaping and hard landscaping.

'Soft' Landscaping

Soft landscaping involves anything living or organic in your garden. This includes:

Turfing and lawn care
Tree and shrub planting
Flower bed preparation
Soil improvement
Garden clearance
Hedge trimming and pruning

Soft landscaping is usually focused on the garden’s appearance and ongoing growth.

'Hard' Landscaping

Hard landscaping focuses on the built or structural elements in your outdoor space. This includes:

Patio installation
Driveway surfacing (e.g. block paving, resin, gravel)
Fencing and gates
Decking
Garden walls and steps
Drainage systems
Pergolas or timber structures

These elements are important for both function and style, forming the framework of the garden.

What Else Can a Landscaper Do?

Beyond the obvious tasks like laying patios or planting shrubs, a landscaper may also help with:

Full garden redesigns
Site levelling and groundworks
Installing water features
Outdoor lighting planning
Creating zones for play, seating, or cooking
Selecting materials and planning layouts

At Macclandscapes, we manage both the planning and construction stages, ensuring everything fits together properly and suits the layout of your property. If you’re planning a new outdoor project, contact us here and we’ll talk you through the options.

When Should You Hire a Landscaper?

You might consider hiring a landscaper when:

You’re building an extension and need the garden re-levelled
You want a new patio or driveway installed
Your garden is overgrown or lacks structure
You’re moving into a new property and want to start fresh
You’ve got drainage issues or flooding in the garden
You want to improve kerb appeal before selling

Landscapers don’t just make gardens look nice – they help improve how your outdoor space functions, from safety to accessibility and drainage.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Landscaper

Here’s why working with a professional landscaper can save time, money, and stress in the long run:

Experience – Landscapers know how to deal with sloped land, tricky layouts, or challenging soil
Tools – They come equipped with all the right machinery for digging, levelling, and building
Project planning – A landscaper can manage the whole job from start to finish, including materials, scheduling, and disposal
Durability – Professionally installed patios, driveways, and fencing last much longer than DIY jobs
Increased property value – Well-designed gardens can add significant value to your home

Common Myths About Landscaping

There are a few common myths that often confuse homeowners:

“It’s just gardening” – Landscaping is more about design and construction than ongoing maintenance
“Anyone can do it” – Landscaping requires skill in groundworks, drainage, paving, and material handling
“It’s too expensive” – While some projects are large, landscapers often help save costs by avoiding mistakes or unnecessary materials
“It won’t last” – Professional work is built to last, especially with quality materials and correct preparation

If you're not sure what your outdoor space needs, a quick consultation can help clarify your options.

How Macclandscapes Can Help

As experienced landscapers based in Macclesfield, we offer a wide range of hard and soft landscaping services. From garden clearances to full-scale patio installations, we help local homeowners transform their outdoor spaces into something more practical and attractive. As seen we also offer landscapring supplies in our online store, visit this page here for our products.

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