The Different Types of Landscape Engineering Explained

Learn about different types of landscape engineering such as hardscaping and softscaping. Understand who you should hire for your project and what they do.

The Different Types of Landscape Engineering Explained

The language of landscape design can be confusing. What do landscapers mean when they say hard landscape or soft landscape? There are also different types of garden designers: landscape architects, landscape contractors, landscapers and landscapers. What's the difference? Who should I hire? What do landscapers do? Read on for more information. Landscape engineers, also known as landscape architects, are responsible for developing design plans for outdoor spaces.

They can create public parks, outdoor areas in businesses or schools, or design private gardens for homes. It is important for landscape engineers to be aware of environmental and land use regulations when developing their plans, as well as aspects such as drainage. During the development process, landscape engineering will meet with customers to determine their needs and preferences. Then, they will consider the available budget and develop proposals for the space that are adapted to the wishes of their customers, while respecting regulations. As part of this process, they will also visit the site to determine if there are existing structures or land features that may need to be included in their proposal.

Once the project is approved and work has begun, landscape engineers will visit the site to ensure that the design plan is being followed. The iterative process of planning, designing, and evaluating performance by a multidisciplinary team is the foundation of landscape engineering. You'll likely find several Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) programs; these are professional programs that prepare you to become licensed as a landscape architect. These figures are important because performance data for for-profit landscapes, such as wetlands for wastewater treatment or agroecological agricultural sites, distinguish technically feasible projects from those that are financially and ecologically beneficial. Like landscape architects, urban and regional planners and civil engineers should be familiar with regulations and environmental factors that can affect development projects. Landscape designers may or may not have a university degree or certificate in gardening or horticulture.

You'll take courses in plant biology, along with in-studio courses in which you'll learn drawing techniques to create landscape plans, build models to illustrate your gardening plans and, ultimately, design your own park. An example of contemporary landscape engineering and natural resource management related to the Biosphere 2 and Seawater agriculture projects is the IBTS greenhouse, formerly the Forest City, designed for the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah. Landscape designers are not required to have training in landscape design or even experience in horticulture, although normally they are. That license is obtained after completing the Landscape Architectural Registration Exam (LARE), which is administered by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (CLARB). Landscape architects create site plans and inspect garden work to ensure that it meets client objectives.

In addition, in California, landscape designers cannot create the construction plans that a landscape architect can produce.

Donna Siaperas
Donna Siaperas

Infuriatingly humble sushi trailblazer. General sushi maven. Devoted bacon advocate. Evil zombie buff. Amateur internet scholar. Hardcore pop culture aficionado.