I think any trade can be skilled depending on how far you want to go with it. I have been a landscaper for 5 years and I classify it as a skilled trade that has a lot of hacks who do shit work (same as all trades I guess).
If you want to be a good landscaper you have to learn:
* Machines. Riding mowers, skid steers, mini excavators, stump grinders. How to level and install lawns. Some guys I worked with don’t even know how to use backpack blowers intelligently.
* Plants. Every plant has different pruning schedules and guidelines. Many plants are invasive and they have different root systems/respond to different pesticides. You have to be a gardener.
* Trees. You have to be an amateur arborist. You have to be able to tell if a tree is dying and needs to be removed, and how to safely remove it. You need to study when and how to effective prune trees without hurting them. Shitty landscapers don’t even know not to cover a tree’s root flare with mulch.
* Hardscapes. You have to know how to build retaining walls, walkways, patios, firepits to ensure they are level and stable for many years.
* Materials. You have to understand the difference between all the kinds of mulch, soil, grass seed, gravel, fertilizer, etc.
* Small engine repair. You have to be able to diagnose and fix issues with your equipment so you have to be an amateur mechanic.
The barrier to entry to landscaping is extremely low so it’s not considered skilled. I worked as a carpenter framing custom houses for 6 months. I have so much respect for all trades. But since starting my business, I often make 3-4x per hour what I did in construction.
A couple weeks ago I made $1500 in an 11 hour day and my customers happily paid it. My customers love me because they can tell I’m passionate about plants and not just some dumbass with a truck and some hedge trimmers.