What does a landscape designer do?

What is a Landscape Designer?

A landscape designer plans and designs outdoor spaces like gardens, parks, yards, and public areas. They help make these spaces both beautiful and functional, choosing the right plants, materials, and layouts to fit the space and purpose. Unlike landscape architects, who usually handle big projects and need a license, landscape designers often focus on smaller projects, such as homes or small businesses. Their work combines creativity with practical knowledge about plants, the environment, and how people use outdoor spaces.

What does a Landscape Designer do?

Duties and Responsibilities
Landscape designers handle many tasks to create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces. Their main responsibilities include:

• Planning and Designing: Developing detailed layouts for gardens, yards, parks, or commercial landscapes, taking into account space, sunlight, and traffic flow to make the area both attractive and practical.
• Selecting Plants and Materials: Choosing the right plants, trees, flowers, and materials for the environment, considering soil type, climate, maintenance needs, and seasonal changes.
• Consulting with Clients: Meeting with clients to understand their goals, budget, and style preferences, while providing expert guidance on design choices and long-term care.
• Overseeing Installation: Supervising contractors, gardeners, and installers to ensure the design is implemented correctly, coordinating tasks such as planting, paving, and building structures or water features.
• Maintaining Knowledge: Staying up-to-date on trends in landscape design, horticulture techniques, sustainable practices, and local regulations to offer informed recommendations.
• Problem Solving: Addressing challenges like poor soil quality, drainage issues, slope management, or limited space, and finding creative solutions that keep the design both functional and visually appealing.

Different Types of Landscape Designers
The various kinds of landscape designers are often distinguished based on the scale, focus or specialization of their work:

• Residential Landscape Designers focus on private gardens, yards, and home properties.
• Commercial Landscape Designers design outdoor spaces for businesses, offices, hotels, or retail areas.
• Urban or Public Space Designers work on parks, plazas, streetscapes, and other community spaces.
• Garden Designers specialize in ornamental gardens, including plant selection, layout, and seasonal design.
• Sustainable or Ecological Designers emphasize environmentally friendly practices, native plants, water conservation, and habitat creation.
• Hardscape-Focused Designers concentrate on non-plant elements like patios, walkways, water features, and outdoor structures.
• Thematic or Specialty Designers create specialized landscapes, such as Japanese gardens, rooftop gardens, or therapeutic/healing gardens for hospitals and wellness centers.

Many landscape designers combine several of these specializations depending on their skills and client needs.

What is the workplace of a Landscape Designer like?

Landscape designers are employed by a variety of organizations or work independently. These are among their most common employers:

• Landscape Design Firms – companies specializing in designing and planning outdoor spaces
• Architectural or Engineering Firms – collaborating on large-scale residential, commercial, or urban projects
• Nurseries and Garden Centers – providing design services alongside plant sales
• Municipal or Government Agencies – planning public parks, streetscapes, and community spaces
• Construction or Landscaping Companies – working with contractors to implement designs
• Resorts, Hotels, and Golf Courses – designing and maintaining aesthetically pleasing grounds
• Educational Institutions – designing campus landscapes or working in horticulture departments
• Self-Employment / Freelance – offering design services directly to private clients

The workplace of a landscape designer is a mix of office work and outdoor activity. Much of their time may be spent in a studio or office, creating designs using computer software, drafting plans, researching plants and materials, and preparing proposals for clients. They also spend time communicating with clients, contractors, and suppliers to ensure projects meet expectations and budgets.

A significant part of the job takes place outdoors at project sites. Landscape designers visit gardens, yards, parks, or commercial properties to assess the space, take measurements, and oversee installations. This hands-on work allows them to see how their designs translate in real life, make adjustments, and ensure that plants and structures are installed correctly. The role can involve walking on uneven terrain, working in various weather conditions, and collaborating closely with teams to bring a design to life.