Landscape Design Education and Training

Beautify your community with training for landscape design
By Shannon Tani Landscape design education and training is necessary if you want to take your landscape design from a hobby to a profession. Landscape designer education is ideal for people who don't want to work in an office environment.

With a couple of landscape design courses under your belt, you could be designing for your neighbors or even the city government. Landscape design can be a great career choice, but it's not for everyone.

Before you consider a landscape design education, think about the following:

1. While some people do work for landscape design companies, many designers choose to work on their own. Landscape architect training doesn't always include lessons in business management, so make sure you learn how to run your own business as well.

2. In many areas of the country, landscape design is seasonal work. In order to put your landscape design training to good use, you'll want to move to an area that has a moderate climate.

3. People who specialize in a particular area may have a great chance for success. Try to find an area that you're interested in so that you can become the local expert.

Look for schools that offer landscape design education and training

If you simply plan to design your own backyard, then you can probably get away with self-taught techniques. However, in order to become a true professional, you should look for schools that offer courses in landscape design.
Try:  Trade-Schools.net lists some schools where you can take online landscape design courses. This is convenient if you don't have the time or money to attend a traditional school, or if there are simply no landscaping programs in your area. To advance your career, the Harvard Graduate School of Design offers programs in Landscaping.

Seek out landscape design courses that focus on eco-friendly design

People are becoming more concerned about the environment and want things to be ecologically sound. Some landscape designers have considered this as they create their designs. Find courses that teach you how to do this in order to increase your customer base.
Try:  The University of Vermont, for example, offers degrees in sustainable landscape horticulture. Living Routes offers a permaculture course in association with University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Take courses in landscape design that result in certification

There's no doubt that holding a certification in landscape design increases your credibility. If you're going to take landscape design classes, you should look to obtain professional certification.
Try:  Graduate School, USDA offers evening and weekend classes to obtain a certification in landscape design. If you have four years of experience, you can apply for certification through the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

• While you may be able to learn some of the basics online or in a classroom, try to find courses for landscape design that include hands-on experience outdoors.