When it comes to lawn care, there are many different titles contractors may have to differentiate themselves. You have lawn care professionals, lawn maintenance professionals, lawn mowers, yard cleaners, and more! However, two particular positions frequently get confused with each other; landscape architects and landscape designers. Their names are very similar, only being one word apart from each other, and their differing words could even be considered synonyms! Whether you’re looking to hire a professional to care for your yard or you are considering your future career, you may be confused as to what the difference is between them!
The difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer is mainly a matter of scope. A landscape architect will tackle larger projects and needs more education, licenses, and certifications, while a landscape designer will tackle smaller, more backyard-oriented projects and often needs a stronger artistic eye. To sum it up, a landscape architect can entirely rearrange the structure of your yard or your neighborhood park, while a landscape designer will pick gorgeous plants for your lawn.
As always, there is more information here than can be presented in a small sum of sentences. If you are looking to start a career in landscape design or landscape architecture, it will do you well to know what the requirements are for each of them! If you have an interest in this field or simply want to hire the proper professionals for your lawn renovation, then read onward- you’ll find some very useful information!
Their Job Descriptions
Landscape designers and landscape architects may sound similar on the surface, and even to the average layman, their job descriptions may sound very similar. However, to anybody who knows the industry, they are notoriously distinct and have their practices, requirements, and duties.
Landscape architect lives up to the second half of their name- they have plenty in common with regular architects. Landscape architects will consider all possible features to transform any green space, whether it be a front lawn, a backyard, or a public park, into an architectural feat. The only difference between a landscape architect and a construction architect is that the landscape architect works with the land, rather than skyscrapers!
Landscape architects will consider all aspects of a plot of land, from function to living space, and tailor the land to the client’s needs while maintaining a level of naturalistic beauty. Landscape architects are also tasked with more standard architectural concerns, such as structural integrity and consulting both clients and contractors regarding building materials.
For a great example of landscape architecture, one of the most famous parks in the world- Central Park in New York City- was designed by a landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted is considered to be the father of landscape architecture due to his work on Central Park!
While Central Park may appear to be natural, it was almost entirely designed by Olmsted, who designed and oversaw the creation of naturalistic overlooks, lakes, ponds, and wooded sections throughout the park. Much like any other architects, landscape architects will have their forms of style and flair, so the results in any work will vary; however, many of the design principles behind Central Park are used by every landscape architect, no matter what project they are working on!
While landscape architects focus on major projects that can involve major structural changes to any piece of property, landscape designers tend to focus on smaller projects that more heavily involve the beautification of an area’s natural features. Architects are concerned with structure and construction, but designers are concerned with exactly what their name entails- design.
Landscape design requires more of an artistic touch while landscape architecture is often dictated by math and science, though art is involved. Landscape designers will need more direct knowledge of the flora that go into their projects and must consider things such as balance and color when designing a landscape.
Landscape designers will also know soil type and quality, being able to either pick plants suitable for your soil or suggest alternate soil options that you may choose to pursue. As such, they will also often work in small, private spaces such as yards due to the attention to detail required in each job; spaces such as parks may be picked up by landscape design firms, but these professionals will rarely assign an entire park to a single landscape designer.
Ultimately, the differences between a landscape architect’s and a landscape designer’s duties can be summed up like this: Landscape architects are concerned with construction and structural alteration, while landscape designers are concerned with beautification and artistic expression.
If you are more of a scientific, rational mind, or are otherwise wanting a large-scale restructure of your property, landscape architecture may be the right choice for you. If you are an artist or want a simple beautification without significant restructuring of your property, your choice may be a landscape designer!
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Their Type And Level Of Education
Levels of education are a major difference between landscape architects and landscape designers- perhaps even more so than their duties and job descriptions. There is a major gap between the education required for a landscape architect and a landscape designer.
To legally operate as a landscape architect, somebody will require a degree in landscape architecture at either the bachelor’s or master’s levels. Individual requirements may vary from state to state, so it is best to visit the American Society of Landscape Architects (also known as the ASLA) for more information on your state’s requirements for operating as a landscape architect.
On top of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, students may require several years of work experience before qualifying to operate as a landscape architect- this usually ranges from two to four years, depending on the state.
On the other hand, landscape designers may not need a degree at all! Their educational requirements will vary from employer to employer, but a degree could be entirely optional- especially if they have significant experience in the field.
If an employer requires a degree, it will likely be something in a plant-related field, such as botany or horticulture. The degree will often be a bachelor’s degree at the highest, with many employees not requiring anything more than an associate’s degree.
Many colleges offer courses in landscape design, which certainly bolster any potential designer’s chances of getting hired. Additionally, internships in landscape design are available, granting students opportunities to build work experience by helping to design small projects.
Ultimately, the educational difference is major; landscape architects will require a higher degree, while landscape designers will require a lower degree and more work experience.
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Licensing and Certifications
There is one major difference between landscape designers and landscape architects; licensing. In all states, landscape architects require a license to operate, granted by their state board. State boards have different requirements for licensure, but all of them require one of the aforementioned higher degrees.
On the other hand, landscape designers do not need any licenses or certifications. While a certification can certainly help their credentials, nothing is necessary! Experience is far more important for landscape designers, as landscape designers do not work with major structures like landscape architects do.
Think about it this way. You want to make sure that the person installing major concrete structures in your backyard knows what they are doing, which can be very difficult. You want the person planting trees to just know how to plant the trees- while this is less technical work, you want them to know what looks good!
In Conclusion
Ultimately, you can see that there are many differences between a landscape designer and a landscape architect. Despite their similar names, they fulfill wildly different niches in the world of lawn care! To wrap it all up neatly, let’s cover it all again so you can maintain this valuable information.
A landscape architect will often handle major structural changes to a yard or any open space, while a landscape designer will use a more artistic touch to make a yard beautiful. Landscape architects will require higher levels of education than landscape designers will, with landscape designers not needing a degree at all. Additionally, landscape architects need more licenses than landscape designers do.
It may sound like landscape architects are superior to landscape designers, but don’t let that fool you- they are vastly different jobs, and professionals in each field have a wide range of skill sets and good pay that make either option a valid career choice. If you are looking to get a start in one of these wonderful careers, go ahead! Forge your career path, and get ahead in the wonderful world of lawn care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be both a landscape architect and a landscape designer?
Yes! You can certainly offer both services if you’d like, and nothing is stopping you from doing so. Many landscape architects also function as landscape designers! However, one person doing both services may get overwhelmed; make sure to do some delegating amongst your employees, or refer your customer to a skilled colleague.
Do I need to have artistic ability to be a landscape designer?
Strictly speaking, no, no initial artistic ability is required to become a landscape designer. If you work in horticulture for long enough or manage to get your foot in the door to become a landscape designer, these skills will come to you with time. However, artistic ability, such as an eye for color, can greatly help you in this field!
To learn more on how you can start your own landscaping business, check out my startup documents here.
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Landscape Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a landscape business owner at a job site, driving down the road or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Landscaping Business Boss: I want to help landscape business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.