Landscaping facts
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, and/or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome.
Landscape contracting is defined by Penn State University as "a profession that involves the art and technology of landscape planning, construction and maintenance for human enjoyment and use."[1] It is offered as a four-year academic major at a number of universities in the United States, including Penn State University, Oklahoma State University,[2] and University of Massachusetts Amherst,[3] The landscape contracting degree is accredited by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America.
Landscape ecology is the science of studying and improving the relationship between spatial pattern and ecological processes on a multitude of landscape scales and organizational levels.[1][2][3] As a highly interdisciplinary enterprise, landscape ecology integrates biophysical and analytical approaches with humanistic and holistic perspectives across natural and social sciences. Landscapes are spatially heterogeneous geographic areas characterized by diverse interacting patches or ecosystems, ranging from relatively natural terrestrial and aquatic systems such as forests, grasslands and lakes to human-dominated environments including agricultural and urban settings.[2][4][5] The most salient characteristics of landscape ecology are its emphasis on the relationship among pattern, process and scale and its focus on broad-scale ecological and environmental issues.
Landscape engineering or landscaping is the application of mathematics and science to shape land and waterscapes. It can also be described as green engineering, but the design professionals best known for landscape engineering are landscape architects. Landscape engineering is the interdisciplinary application of engineering and other applied sciences to the design and creation of anthropogenic landscapes. It differs from, but embraces traditional reclamation. It includes scientific disciplines: Agronomy, Botany, Ecology, Forestry, Geology, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, and Wildlife Biology. It also draws upon applied sciences: Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Engineering Geomorphology, landscape architecture, and Mining, Geotechnical, and Civil, Agricultural & Irrigation Engineering.
Landscape engineering builds on the engineering strengths of declaring goals, determining initial conditions, iteratively designing, predicting performance based on knowledge of the design, monitoring performance, and adjusting designs to meet the declared goals. It builds on the strengths and history of reclamation practice. Its distinguishing feature is the marriage of landforms, substrates, and vegetation throughout all phases of design and construction, which previously have been kept as separate disciplines.
Though landscape engineering embodies all elements of traditional engineering (planning, investigation, design, construction, operation, assessment, research, management, and training), it is focused on three main areas. The first is closure planning – which includes goal setting and design of the landscape as a whole. The second division is landscape design more focused on the design of individual landforms to reliably meet the goals as set out in the closure planning process. Landscape performance assessment is critical to both of these, and is also important for estimating liability and levels of financial assurance. The iterative process of planning, design, and performance assessment by a multidisciplinary team is the basis of landscape engineering.
Source: McKenna, G.T., 2002. Sustainable mine reclamation and landscape engineering. PhD Thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 661p.
Landscape planning is a branch of landscape architecture. Urban park systems and greenways of the type planned by Frederick Law Olmsted are key examples of urban landscape planning. Landscape designers tend to work for clients who wish to commission construction work. Landscape planners can look beyond the 'closely drawn technical limits' and 'narrowly drawn territorial boundaries' which constrain design projects.
Landscape planners tend to work on projects which:
- are of broad geographical scope
- concern many land uses or many clients
- are implemented over a long period of time
In rural areas, the damage caused by unplanned mineral extraction was one of the early reasons for a public demand for landscape planning.
Landscape design is similar to landscape architecture. Landscape design focuses more on the artistic merits of design, while Landscape architecture encompasses the artistic design as well as structural engineering. Landscape design and Landscape Architecture, both take into account soils, drainage, climate and other issues, because the survival of selected plants depends on those. Landscape Architecture may require a license depending on the country and region (a license is needed in most USA states). In Oregon, for example, a Landscape Contractor licensed with the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board, may provide levels of landscape architecture and design as long as that landscaper does not assign the title "landscape architect" to themselves. Landscape designers may be required to have a license, depending on the level and detail in the design plan, as well as the location. Landscape design landscape planning is concerned with small and large scale projects. The establishment of landscape plants over a period of time is not landscape design, but is considered "landscape management". Landscape design is almost synonymous with garden design. Landscape architecture and landscape design can, and should, embrace garden design, landscape management, landscape engineering, landscape detailing, landscape urbanism, landscape assessment and landscape planning.
Traditionally, landscape designers and architects have used pencil and paper to plot the position of plants and other landscape features. Landscape design software has become a popular choice since the advent of the personal computer.
Practically speaking, landscape architecture and landscape design are almost the same, if done properly according to the science, knowledge and skill that should be utilized. Some Landscape Designers are licensed Landscape Architects. Sometimes, professionals must call themselves "Landscape Designers" because local laws and rules prevent advertising as "Landscape Architects" without that level of license. Licensed Landscape Architects must pass a rigorous 5 section exam to ensure a minimum level of competency within the profession and to protect the health, welfare and safety of the end user.
There are also licensed Landscape Contractors who perform landscape design. They may employ landscape designers.
Culturally, Landscape Architects are frequently associated with larger projects, and Landscape Designers are associated with smaller projects. But in actual practice, that's not the case 100% of the time.
In the landscape design profession, "Landscape Architecture" is generally the name of the more advanced level of college education pertaining to landscape design.
Naturescaping (or nature scaping) is a term that refers to a method of landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating certain plants, especially native ones, into ones yard, one can attract beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures, and help keep our rivers and streams healthy.
Extensive urban growth and urban sprawl over the last few decades has had a significant impact on habitat that birds and other wildlife once called home. Homeowners with yards have a unique opportunity to curtail this loss of habitat by creating their own backyard wildlife sanctuary.
