How to Be a Landscape Architect?

Landscape architects design outdoor spaces. They work with surveyors, engineers and architects to determine the most efficient and pleasing arrangement of hardscapes, landscaping, developed areas and natural areas. Review the process for becoming a landscape architect in this article. Schools offering .

Step 1: Research Landscape Architect Career Duties and Education

Landscape architects utilize geography, science, horticulture, mathematics, engineering and art to aid in the design and conception of public and outdoor spaces, such as residential developments, public parks, shopping malls, golf courses and college campuses. Aspiring landscape architects must obtain a bachelor's degree in order to gain entry into the field, and licensure is required in nearly all states. Graduate degree programs are also available.

Step 2: Complete a Bachelor's Degree Program

You could enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) or a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) program. Make sure your program is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). Throughout your program, you are trained in designing and creating landscapes by incorporating trees, plants, structures and other organic elements. Topics covered include theory and history of landscape design, horticulture, soil science and site/project planning. Great emphasis is placed on the functional and artistic uses of plants. You also get real-world experience through hands-on design projects.

Success Tip: Gain proficiency in software and computer skills.

Technology plays a key role for landscape architects. During your degree program, you should become proficient in the software technologies of video simulation, geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). Landscape architects use CAD to create plans and build 3-D models of their designs.

Step 3: Participate in an Internship

As part of the undergraduate degree program, most colleges or universities require you to participate in an internship at a landscape architecture company or botanical garden. Internships expose you to the daily job duties of landscape architects. In addition to gaining hands-on work experience, you may need to write up various reports detailing your experience and what you learned.

Step 4: Obtain a Professional License

Most states require individuals to earn a license in order to gain the title of landscape architect. The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E), which is offered through the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), may be taken during the spring or fall. In order to qualify to sit for this national exam, you need to have earned a bachelor's degree and have accumulated 1-4 years of supervised work experience (the amount of job experience depends on your state). Your state may require an additional exam that covers local ecological zones, native plants and state laws. Some may find it advantageous to take a refresher course before sitting for the exam.

Step 5: Advance Your Career

Several types of Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) programs are also offered at colleges and universities. Some are designed for individuals who have an educational background in another field, but there are also programs if you are seeking your second professional degree in landscape architecture; this type of program allows you to complete electives of your choice in order to specialize. The American Society of Landscape Architects provides information on the various options.

Source: learn.org

Landscaping Tips

Though your home is your castle, there is no necessity to surround it with a moat. Here are 5 tips that will help you to make your landscaping feel more warm, welcoming and cozy.

1. Put some flowers nearby your entrance. Flowers make any area look more welcoming and attractive, so greeting your guests with Petunia, Snapdragon, Lily-of-the-Nile or some other garden flowers is always a great thing to do. What is more, to add some space between your house and the entrance, you can consider adding a little white fence. It will create an illusion that your front yard is bigger than it actually is. What is more, adding fence will create a great space for planting flowers to add some color and coziness.

2. Add rambling vines to make your yard look absolutely lovely. You can not deny that rambling vines always create romantic and even magical atmosphere. So why not to use this tip while decorating your yard?

3. To hide the unattractive driveway, consider adding some color, texture, and height. You can easily do it by adding various sorts of flowers. To start, create an island of green lawn right in the hub of a drive. Then add a couple of low boxwood hedges with flowers toward the back of your island.

4. If you want your yard to blossom and flourish bust still do not have enough time to maintain it, consider planting low-fuss lilies. Such flowers look absolutely gorgeous and come in the variety of rainbow hues, so you can pick the one you love most. What is more, low-fuss lilies do not care about the sort of soil, they love the sun and welcome hot, they do not afraid of drought. In other words, Crinums is an ideal flower for all those who are looking for low-maintenance solutions.

5. The last tip also touches the low-maintenance aspect. To make your life easier, group plantings into beds and islands. This will help you to avoid mowing and trimming around each individual plant, save a lot of time and even money.