Some Facts About Landscape Design

Landscape architecture is essentially a combination of architecture,engineering and horticulture.

To create a successful landscape design,the talents of all three;architect,civil engineer and
horticulturist are needed and when combined in a single individual,the result is a landscape
architect or landscape designer. Assembling a team of an architect,engineer and horticulturist
would be too expensive and cumbersome,thus a definite need exists for landscape architects and
designers.

Nurserymen often act as landscape designers but are seldom interested in anything but planting
and are hardly ever trained in such matters as drainage,grading and other engineering items
dealing with construction. Architects are often tempted to lay out the surroundings of their
buildings but usually turn over the selection of plants to a nurseryman who may or may not do a
good job.

Engineers often encroach on the landscape designers field by undertaking problems involving
site design which may or may not involve purely engineering matters. On large projects,the
collaboration of architects and engineers is essential since no one man can have all the needed
knowledge and techniques at his disposal but on small projects,a competent landscape designer
can provide all necessary technical knowledge to design execute successfully any scheme that
may be developed.

Whereas an academic training experience is desirable,it is by no means necessary. Intelligence

and experience can produce just as brilliant a landscape architect as any academic course ever
devised. Many landscape designers specialize. Some are good on engineering but poor on plant
material. Selection should be made with these things in mind.

The practice of landscape design is strictly professional. The landscape designer has nothing to
sell but his services. He does not sell plants nor undertakes to carry out his designs under a
construction contract for labor and materials. He does not work on a commission from
nurserymen or contractors based on construction costs. No reputable landscape designer works
in any of these ways. He charges directly to the client for his professional services. In this way,he
is completely free to work for the clients greatest advantage. That he can at the same time save
his client substantial sums of money,often far in excess of his fee,is an established fact.

Most small suburban and country properties are not so complicated but that a preliminary
conference between owner and landscape designer on the site,preferably before the house is
located and also preferably with the architect joining in,can establish a general pattern of
development to be undertaken. This should not take more than a day of the professionals time
and should be charged for accordingly. To follow this conference,a concept design,which need
not be elaborate,but a simple line drawing,can be prepared in the office. To make the concept
drawing,the designer will need a survey of the property on which he can locate the house. This
survey may consist of the architects plot plan or field measurements taken at the time of the
conference or on a subsequent visit to the site,if the house is already under construction or
completed. A topographical survey is needed only if the topography is quite rough. A few grade
shots may be needed here and there where elevations may be critical.

These can be obtained by a local surveyor,engaged by the owner,who will forward the data to the
designer. The concept plan serves as the basis for discussion between the owner and
designer,either at a second conference or by correspondence. The concept plan may prove to be
more elaborate than the owner expected or may fail to include some item he particularly wants
but this is ok because it may be discussed and in any case it is easier to arrive at a satisfactory
solution if some sort of concept design is prepared because it provides something tangible to
discuss rather than abstract ideas.

Once the concept plan has been discussed and modified (or approved, with minor changes to be
made),a master plan is developed. From then on the client may carry on by himself,with perhaps
a further conference or two with the designer. How many additional conferences are needed will
depend on the distance from the designers office (travel cost),the intricacy of the work or rate of
progress being made or all three factors. Or the owner may authorize the preparation of a
planting plan and whatever construction details that may be required.

Various parts of the job may be carried out if and when it seems advisable. This is an advantage
to the client. Costs can be kept under control so that at no time is the client obligated for more
than he can afford or wants to spend. Some jobs may begin and end with the concept
design,others go through topographical survey,concept plan,master plan,grading
plan,construction drawings,planting plan and field supervision. Most fall somewhere in between.