Young entrepreneur Jan Rohleder - The green individualist

Jan Rohleder, 36 years old, from Königshain is a state-certified technician for gardening and landscaping. He works as a self-employed entrepreneur in gardening and landscaping and runs his own company “Der grüne Individualist”. His focus is on garden planning, which he also carries out independently.

In this interview, the young entrepreneur tells us about the future prospects of gardening and landscaping, upcoming trends and challenges for the landscaping industry.

How did you get into horticulture?

Jan Rohleder: Gardening has always been my dream job. I started my training at the municipal cemetery in Görlitz in 2004 and completed it in 2007.

How do you see the future of horticulture and landscaping?

JR: I see the opportunities in landscaping in the private customer sector. In recent years, various influences have had a lasting impact on people's awareness of their “own green space”. I therefore think that the private sector will continue to grow in the coming years.

Which trends will prevail?

There are several trends that will prevail in gardening and landscaping in the coming years:

The green living room: the garden will be designed as a high-quality, additional living space that serves as a year-round retreat and vacation spot, for example with a sauna, pool or outdoor office.

Sustainability: Resource-saving designs and construction methods such as climate-adapted planting, insect-friendly gardens, natural pools and weather-adapted irrigation systems are becoming increasingly important.

Digitalization: Customers want digital solutions in garden planning and execution, such as visualization of garden planning and app-controlled end devices.

Garden maintenance: Due to demographic trends, it is becoming more important to design low-maintenance gardens. Many customers are also unable to maintain their own gardens. We can accommodate these customers and provide more support as a company.

What challenges are there and how were you prepared for them as a young entrepreneur?

One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of skilled workers. Another problem is the bureaucracy, which is often perceived as a creativity killer.

However, I received a lot of support from the Saxony state association when I set up my business. They discussed my business plan with me and helped me apply for funding.

What would you recommend to the gardening and landscaping industry for the future?

Digitalization offers great opportunities, especially for recruiting young talent. Modern technologies such as digitalized construction machinery and controlled end devices should be integrated during training to make the profession attractive to young people. Investment in training is crucial. Also to ensure the quality and sustainability of order processing. Flexible working time models and a good work-life balance are also important factors, especially for young fathers and mothers.

What do you wish for the sector?

I would like to see politicians implement their fundamental decisions in favor of public green spaces more consistently. Politicians are saying that the public sector needs to become greener - I would like to see more support for this approach.

What role will the GaLaBau trade fair play in the future?

The GaLaBau trade fair is a forward-looking event for the industry. It is the largest of its kind in the world and sets important trends. Companies have the opportunity here to present themselves and keep pace with developments in the industry. The diversity of exhibitors offers a comprehensive overview of the latest innovations and opportunities in the GaLaBau sector.