4 Careers in Landscape Design

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the landscape design field, there are several different paths you can take depending on what you’re specifically looking to specialize in. Getting started, here are 4 fields that might be a good fit for your interests:

Landscape architects- These are the people who are responsible for designing large public areas (think city parks, community gardens and college campuses). He or she creates a plan to place plants and features throughout public spaces while maintaining harmony with the look and feel of any surrounding buildings. They will also provide proper instructions for how said area should be maintained after being built. Landscape architects are usually required to receive some form of registration in order to complete public projects in most areas.

Landscape designers- These individuals typically work on projects slightly smaller than those of landscape architects (think family residential properties or condo complexes). Planting design is the most integral part of this field; meaning designers are tasked to consider maintenance, area weather patterns and aesthetic while designing an appealing exterior for a client’s home.

Landscape contractors- These are the people who physical build the landscapes that have been designed by the aforementioned two contributors. In many cases, landscape contractors also expand their businesses by landscape nurserymen, who grow and sell plants as well.

Landscape gardeners- These professionals are responsible for the care and maintenance of a garden or landscape that has already been fully installed. His or her tasks would include seasonal planting, watering and trimming of plants, mowing and fertilization of grass, etc.

Want to learn more? The New York Institute of Art and Design offers an online landscape design course that can teach you how to become a landscape designer. Request your free course catalog today!