In
any profession there are various levels of experience and training,
and the landscape design field is no exception. Unfortunately
there is more confusion in this field than in any other because not
everyone knows the difference between a landscape designer and a landscape
architect nor what either of them does specifically.
Landscape
architecture is the art of creating visually interesting and meaningful
designs that provide for the client’s health, safety and well
being, while preserving the environment. A
landscape architect is a state-licensed design professional with a degree
in landscape design. Landscape architects use their technical
and artistic talents to plan and design the built environment. They
create drawings, construction documents, and specifications that dictate
the allocation, arrangement, and construction of land elements and water
resources. Practicing landscape architecture or using the title
"landscape architect" without having a state license is a
violation of the Landscape Architects Practice Act. In addition,
landscape architects are required to have professional liability insurance.
Landscape architects are also trained to document design concepts and
plans on paper as a visual, graphic means of communicating their designs.
This is especially important for larger projects that require permitting
through city planning or building departments. In addition, they are
usually more experienced in the design of "hardscape" features
such as swimming pools, arbors, fountains, retaining walls, and other
engineered nonstructural elements. Landscape architects act as
a third-party go-between between the contractor and the owner. Without
any financial ties to the contractor, a landscape architect will dictate
and support the quality of work that is in the owner's best interest.
Landscape
designers, on the other hand, are not licensed or regulated by the state
and are limited to making plans or drawings for the selection, placement,
or use of plants when the execution of such plans or drawings does not
affect the public health, safety, and welfare. As such, they are
not required to obtain educational and/or training background.
Landscape designers, garden consultants and master gardeners can advise
you in their areas of expertise, but may not have experience in construction
oversight, local regulations, site engineering and building techniques,
as landscape architects do. Some landscape designers are very
well versed in plant materials and are very capable planting designers.
If a designer is tied to a construction company, it may be difficult
to obtain competitive bid prices for the work to be done. As a result,
the owner has no basis for comparison. Construction documents prepared
by a designer may also be less thorough than those prepared by a landscape
architect. This could result in some "in the field"
decisions that may not be in the owner's best financial interest.
