Landscape Designer Career & Pay: How to Start Garden Design with Dean Riddle

Landscape Designer Career

Landscape design is one of those careers that blends creativity with real earning potential - and you don’t need a degree to get started. In this episode, we talk with landscape designer and gardener Dean Riddle about what it actually takes to build a career in landscaping, what garden designers really do, and how much you can make.

We also talk about the realities of gardening in the Northeast- especially in places like New York and New Jersey - including short growing seasons, winter downtime, deer pressure, and how climate change is already changing what grows and when.

If you’re looking into landscaping careers, garden design jobs, or how to start a landscaping business without a degree, this episode gives you a clear, real-world look at what goes into the work and the potential earnings.

To hear more about good paying careers. You can build without a degree, head to HowMuchCanIMake.info  We have over 80 episodes with a growing library of articles with real data and insights on different jobs. You can listen to people in those roles talk about what the day to day is really like, how they got in, and how much they make. 

Dean's Gardens Pictures:

https://www.shelterupstate.com/journal/makingasplash

https://janeboothnewenglandgardens.com/2015/02/19/riddle-of-the-catskill-mountains-gardens-illustrated/

"How Much Can I Make?" Is nominated for 2026 Women in Podcasting Award!

Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation

Visit howmuchcanimake.info

About the host: Mirav Ozeri has always been drawn to storytelling and journalism, especially the stories of everyday people.

In the 90’s She founded her own video production company, producing, directing, and editing documentaries and videos for political organizations which led to a 17-year career at CBS News, where she served as a producer/editor, helped launch CBS MarketWatch, and later worked as a senior editor and segment producer until the program was acquired by Dow Jones.

During her years at CBS, Mirav developed and produced a television pilot built around a simple idea: giving people an honest look at what different careers are really like. Although the pilot was never picked up, the concept stayed with her. Years later, she brought it back as How Much Can I Make?, a podcast that explores real jobs, real stories, and the many paths people take to build a career.