Why the Landscaping Industry’s Labor Crisis Is Creating Opportunities in Landscape Curbing
Appleton, United States – May 2, 2026 / Curb Depot /
APPLETON, Wis. (April 30, 2026) — The U.S. landscaping industry’s persistent labor shortage is reshaping the market for specialty contractors, with trained landscape curbing professionals among the trades experiencing the strongest demand. According to a 2024 report published by the Landscape Management Network, 76 percent of landscaping contractors reported at least one unfilled position on their crews, a figure that underscores the severity of the workforce gap across the outdoor services sector.
Ryan Wolfrath, owner of Wisconsin-based Curb Depot, says the shortage has created a window of opportunity for people considering a career in the trades. “Landscape curbing is one of those specialties where demand consistently outpaces the number of trained operators,” Wolfrath said. “Contractors across the country tell us they can’t find enough people who know how to run an extruder, finish concrete properly, and deliver consistent results.”
Understanding the Scope of the Workforce Gap
The numbers illustrate an industry struggling to keep up with demand. The National Association of Landscape Professionals reports that more than 1.29 million people currently work in landscaping and groundskeeping roles in the United States, yet that number still falls short of what the market requires. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that approximately 65,000 additional grounds maintenance positions will need to be filled by 2033, representing 5 percent employment growth — a rate classified as faster than average across all occupations.
The challenge goes beyond raw headcount. The 2026 Commercial Landscape Industry Report from Aspire Software found that 54 percent of contractors identify recruiting and retaining staff as a top business risk, ranking the issue alongside economic uncertainty and rising material costs. Nearly 70 percent of surveyed contractors plan to raise wages in 2026, yet industry analysts note that pay increases alone have not resolved the underlying skills gap.
Why Landscape Curbing Represents a Distinct Opportunity
Within the broader landscaping market, landscape curbing occupies a niche that rewards specialized skill. Unlike general lawn maintenance, where low barriers to entry contribute to market saturation, concrete curbing requires purpose-built equipment, technical training, and hands-on experience with concrete materials. Operators must understand mix ratios, extruder calibration, ground preparation, troweling techniques, and stamping processes before delivering professional results.
This technical barrier creates favorable economics. Landscape curbing typically commands $3 to $8 per linear foot installed, with natural stone finishes earning substantially higher margins. The combination of specialized skill requirements and homeowner demand for durable, attractive edging means trained curbing contractors often face less direct competition than providers of commodity services.
What Effective Curbing Training Covers
For prospective operators, understanding what proper curbing training entails can mean the difference between a profitable launch and a costly learning curve. Comprehensive programs typically combine classroom instruction on business fundamentals with hands-on field training on the technical aspects of installation.
The classroom component addresses topics many new contractors overlook: estimating and pricing strategy, marketing and customer acquisition, material sourcing, and the operational systems needed to manage jobs efficiently. Without this foundation, even technically capable operators often struggle to sustain a viable business.
Hands-on training covers the core installation workflow, including ground preparation, concrete mixing, extruder setup and operation, troweling and finishing, stamping, expansion joint installation, and cleanup procedures. Each step requires supervised practice to develop the consistency that paying customers expect.
“The biggest mistake I see from people who try to learn on their own is underestimating how much the business side matters,” Wolfrath said. “You can learn to run a machine, but if you don’t know how to price jobs, manage materials, and build systems that let you scale, you’ll hit a ceiling quickly.”
Seasonal Timing and Market Readiness
For operators considering entry into the curbing trade, spring and summer represent the peak installation season across most of the continental United States. Property owners typically schedule landscape edging work between April and October, when ground conditions and temperatures support concrete curing. Contractors who complete landscape edging training ahead of or early in the season position themselves to capture demand during the highest-volume months.
The seasonal pattern reinforces the importance of preparation. Industry data shows that the majority of landscaping companies earn the bulk of their revenue between April and September, making pre-season training and equipment readiness essential for maximizing first-year returns.
Entering the Trade: What to Expect
Beyond training, aspiring curbing contractors must evaluate the equipment and startup requirements for entering the field. A landscape curbing operation requires an extruder machine, stamps and finishing tools, a vehicle capable of transporting equipment and materials, and a supply of concrete mix and colorants.
The total startup investment for a curbing business remains modest compared to many construction trades, as operations can launch with a single machine and one trained operator. This lower entry point, combined with the technical skill barrier that limits untrained competition, contributes to the market dynamics that make curbing an attractive specialty.
Individuals and business owners seeking information about curbing training programs, equipment, and business opportunity resources can visit curbdepot.com or contact the Curb Depot team directly.
About Curb Depot
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, Curb Depot is a provider of landscape curbing equipment, machines, and professional training programs serving contractors across the continental United States and Canada. The company’s training offerings include Curbing 101 for operators new to the industry, Natural Stone Training for experienced curbers seeking premium service lines, and combined training packages. Curb Depot’s one-day programs blend classroom instruction on business operations with hands-on installation training, available both at its Wisconsin facility and as travel-to-you sessions for teams nationwide. For more information, visit https://curbdepot.com or call 920-740-2218.
Contact:
Ryan Wolfrath
Curb Depot
920-740-2218
Contact Information:
Curb Depot
2355 Lynndale Ct Unit 5
Appleton, Wisconson 54914
United States
Ryan Wolfrath
920-740-2218
https://curbdepot.com
