Landscape Designers, Contractors, Architects
How to Become a Landscape Designer
In college, landscape designers take courses in such topics as graphics, construction and horticulture, learning how to identify, select, design with and care for plants. They learn how to "sell" their designs to prospective clients using software and freehand drawings. Hands-on experience plays a large role in future success.
How to Find a Landscape Architect
This article offers a basic guide to landscape architecture services, including the proper questions to ask about a landscape architect when attempting to hire one. I begin by advising you how to locate landscaping pros; then how -- once you've located one -- to sift through the candidates to find the one right for the job.
Sample Contract for Landscape Designers and Other Services
Signing a contract is reassuring, if it contains clauses helpful to you -- but a crapshoot if it doesn't. This sample service contract gives you an idea of the kinds of clauses (such as insurance clauses) you should be looking for in contracts. Although the example is for a tree service to remove a tree, the principles apply to work being done...
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted is America's landscape architect par excellence. Among the more famous examples of his work are the Biltmore Estate gardens, Boston's Emerald Necklace and New York's Central Park. That's right: if you've ever strolled through one of these masterpieces, then you're familiar with Olmsted's work.
Yard Makeovers by the "Garden Police"
Landscape designers, Shirley Bovshow and Michael Glassman co-star on the TV show, "Garden Police." Forget the typical paradigm for TV makeover shows, in which homeowners request the services of landscape designers; on this show, homeowners are treated as criminals and "forced" to accept yard makeovers.
How to Find Landscape Contractors
Besides telling us how to find landscape contractors, Lisa Hallett Taylor, About's Guide to Pool and Patio, provides such useful tips as what questions to ask landscape contractors in this article. For example, such issues as licensing and experience, schedules and deadlines should be discussed.
Cooperative Extension Services
Or maybe the help you need does not require a landscape designer, landscape contractor or landscape architect? If you simply need a plant question answered and can't get help on the web, contact a cooperative extension service. Marie Iannotti, About's Gardening Guide, tells us all about county extensions.
Raising Real Estate Values Through Landscape Architects
A story arguing the merit of hiring landscape architects or designers, from CNN Money. A nicely landscaped lawn can raise property value by 15 percent. The article points to estimates from real estate agents asserting that 95 percent of home shoppers won’t bother with a house on the market that lacks attractive landscaping. So hiring a landscape designer or architect can pay off.
Find a Landscape Architect, Hire a Landscape Architect
This site offers a basic guide to landscape architecture services, including the proper questions to ask a landscape architect when deciding on hiring one. Especially useful is this site's contact form to help you in finding a landscape architect in the first place.
Vocational Information Center on Careers in Landscaping
Find information about landscaping careers in the job descriptions accessed through this site's Horticulture and Landscape Design Career Guide. Consult the job descriptions to learn about a position: the skills and/or training needed to qualify, the nature of the work, and how much you will be paid.
Lawn Care Tips From Landscaping Pros
LawnSite.com has a lawn and landscape industry forum where contractors meet and discuss the industry. You can do a little "eavesdropping" to learn what landscaping pros are saying and gain some ideas. They also have a special forum titled, "Homeowner Assistance Forum," where homeowners are allowed to ask landscaping pros questions.
Free Landscaping Estimates
CalFinder landscaping connects homeowners with certified landscaping contractors in local areas across the country. "Our contractors are certified and ready to provide you with free landscaping estimates."
Landscape Design Advice
Landscape design advice from a professional landscape designer. Patio designs, types of paving, creative landscaping ideas, swimming pools, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, driveway designs, landscape retaining walls, landscaping slopes, and much more are all discussed.
Example of What a Landscaping Service Offers: Surfin Turf Landscaping
Have you ever contemplated giving up yard work and letting a professional take over the maintenance of your property? Then perhaps you've wondered just what services, exactly, a landscape service should offer. Surfin Turf Landscaping furnishes us with an example. Their website lists the services they provide -- typical for a landscaping service, except that, being located in Miami, Florida, the list includes hurricane safety tips.
Landscape Architects Defined
Use this information from The American Society of Landscape Architects to distinguish between landscape architects and a number of other types of pros with which they could be confused: namely, other "architects," civil engineers, urban planners, designers, horticulturalists and contractors.
Selecting a Landscape Architect
Advice from the American Society of Landscape Architects on selecting a professional to work for you. Defining your needs, researching credentials, knowing your budget, interviewing and starting early are all recommended and discussed.
Job-Applications.com
Job-Applications.com furnishes hundreds of links for online applications and (when available) printable job forms. The site lists positions that are available at a particular company. You can also access background info about a potential employer and be schooled in the art of the interview! The example I link to here is a natural lawn-care company.