Say a client wants to commission you for a new design project. However, the project that your client wants to carry out would result in significant detrimental effects on the environment. What would you do in this situation?

i'm applying to colleges this year and would like opinions on my list - any feedback is welcome. i'd like to know if these are good programs and have good returns (like jobs, curriculum, income, etc) i live in the northeast, and preferably would want to go someone on the east-ish coast

colleges i applied to that have accredited programs:

• rutgers new brunswick
• university of maryland college park
• umass amherst
• thomas jefferson university

let me know if i should consider any other schools to add or not. (i've seen some recommendations on other posts for UGA and Penn state, but not in love with the colleges)

There is a National Portfolio Day in person in NYC and apparently you can get 1:1 feedback on your portfolio. Has anyone gone to this before and was it helpful? Thank you!

I was wondering if there are any places online where people in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or any related field can proofread somebody's MLA statement of purpose. I think mine is fairly decent but I was looking for any kind of pointers on anything I might be missing.

I was also gonna give it to a friend or two to look at but they don't have any relation to the field.

So I am in the process of applying to various MLA programs. I do not have formal design experience and did something unrelated in my undergrad. I am considering a few landscape drawings and photographs for my portfolio, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate to include some things I designed on Sims. I am quite proud of them and in my opinion, the graphics, and the design of Sims is decently professional (not overly cartoony) and aesthetically pleasing.

Any thoughts on this? I don't want it to read as childish.

Please use this thread to discuss whats going on at your school or place of work this week. Run into an interesting problem with a site design and need to hash it out with other LAs? This is the spot. Any content is welcome as long as it Landscape Architecture related. School, work, personal garden? Its all good, lets talk.

What is the LA equivalency to “architectural graphics” or “form space and order”

Or any recommendations for the best LA book for a beginner?

This IBM internship offers a unique opportunity for MLA students but underscores a challenging truth: our industry often struggles to provide competitive salaries, not just for interns but even for experienced professionals. While tech companies and other fields can offer higher pay and benefits, landscape architecture—and design disciplines in general—face ongoing challenges in securing similar financial support.

https://careers.ibm.com/job/21053717/landscape-architecture-design-intern-2025-yorktown-heights-ny/?codes=WEB_SEARCH_NA

Im currently 25 years old trying to figure out what to do going forward with grad school- I have an undergraduate double major in Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture. I really think landscape architecture is super interesting and I took one entry level garden design class where I redesigned a recreation area focusing on permaculture design. This was probably my favorite class in my whole undergraduate degree which leads me to think I should go to grad school for landscape architecture. On the other hand landscape architecture is a really expensive and long program compared to most, and I think its unlikely that I would be able to balance working much while completing the program. And then from what I have researched, entry level pay is typically around 55/60k, and max pay in the industry is around 95k. I am worried about how financially viable this is as a career path long term especially since I live in one of the top 5 most expensive cities in the US.

I have considered doing city planning/urban design instead which seems to have a slightly higher salary in general and a better work life balance? Although over all working directly with policy is less apealing to me, the social aspect of getting to talk to community members seems apealing compared to always being stuck at a computer drafting like a LA.

Does anyone have any advice/guidance/things they wish they had done to help me decide on this choice?

Thanks!!

Cost aside, which program is objectively better for alumni, job outcome, and quality of education

• Penn State
• University of Connecticut
• University of Florida
• UMass Amherst

Any and all advice would be super appreciated!

Is there an open source database that has SRI scores for materials and or how to calculate these materials? I was trying to see if LEED or Sites had that information but I didn’t find anything.

Thank you.

I am a going into my 3rd year of my Bachelors and I haven't had any experience in doing renders/vizualization for projects.

I have no way of learning it at university currently and was wondering if there were any resources available online for learning?

Hello - I live in the DC metro area and am just getting started in the field of Landscape Design. I'm wondering how to price my services. I know it depends on the scale of the job itself, but just general guidance would be super helpful at this stage. So far I am thinking:

Initial Site Visit - $75-$100? (to cover travel time/costs)

Landscape Design plan - this is where I don't know what the market will bear / how to properly price. In my area, the lots are small - approx a quarter acre to give you an idea of size. I've heard to consider charging hourly, but that seems odd at this stage when I am new and everythign takes me a lot longer than it probably should. How do you guys price a design plan with 2-3 revisions, assuming it's basic beautification with minor hardscaping elements?

Plantings mark up - I plan to order the plantings, facilitate delivery, and oversee installation (but not do install myself, I have a partner builder that will do this). The nursery I would buy from gives a 20% contractor discount, which I plan to pocket as part of my fee (so the end price on a customer invoice would just be the regular price they'd see if they went to the nursery themselves). Does that seem right?

And finally, as I mentioned, I plan to partner with a partner landscape installer/maintenance co to do actual installation. Do you think it matters if I have the client write a separate check to them for that piece? How do you handle this if you're a designer that wants to project manage install, but doesn't do install yourself?

Thank you!!

Hello - I am just starting in the field of Landscape Design, and would love to use basic software to show proposed plantings to new clients. I'm taking an online course and the instructor recommended UVision, but it's not compatible with a mac. Looking for something where I could upload an actual image from my iphone and place plantings from a library on top of the image to scale.

I have also been looking at SketchUp which is cool, but I think you have to create the structure from scratch? I will learn that eventually but just wondering if there is a more WYSIWYG basics program I can use for now.

Thank you!

https://youtu.be/GTkVRdOt5oA

Hi! I recently made the decision to make a huge pivot from consulting and apply for a masters in landscape architecture. I studied environmental biology in undergrad and have taken art classes my whole life, and I think this kind of program could be great for my interests.

Does anyone have intel on how hard it is to get into some of the more well-known MLA programs? A general sense of admissions rates? I am planning on applying to ~10 schools including UVA to UPenn, Pratt, CUNY, UMass Amherst, Harvard GSD, Cornell, RISD, etc. Are the odds that I will get into at least one? I went to Georgetown undergrad and got a 3.7 GPA, for reference, and while I have a background in art I’ve done nothing related to architecture or landscape architecture. I’ve heard a number of people say they got into every school they applied to but not sure how realistic that is. Any advice helps!

I work with a non-profit that doesn't yet have the $$ to hire someone to make their plans but is desperately needed for their work. Many acres of previously unusable old pineapple fields (Maui) that is being turned back into useable land (with trees and native plants as well as cultural spaces). I've played around with simple design programs in the past and want a program I can learn fairly easily to make a preliminary plan for our work.

Project: multiple acres where we are building a few container buildings, hales, planting many trees and native plants, water catchment systems.

What cheap/free program can I best and accurately represent the space from above for our planning and future fundraising purposes?

[We will hopefully get the funding to hire someone in the future, but as we are going ahead with planting, the visual planning is needed now.]

Edit: Thank you for all ideas and suggestions. Any help on moving this project going is greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone, this is my first ever reddit post! I’m 28 years old, British and currently living in Spain. I’m very interested in studying Landscape Architecture at a Bachelor’s level as I don't have a huge interest in Architecture on its own. Ideally I’d love to study in France, Portugal, Switzerland, or northern Spain (open to other suggestions too!), but I’m not sure if there are any bachelor’s courses available for foreign students - I would need the course to be english taught (or at least have access to english course material and be able to submit coursework in english.)

So far I’ve found an english taught Bachelors in Budapest but I’m not sure the location/price would work for me. I also contacted Porto university and they are able to accept coursework in english but all lectures are given in Portuguese. I have a loose understanding of Portuguese so may be able to brush up on my language skills enough before September 2025, but thought I would post here to see if there’s anything else I may have missed in my search. If anyone has any advice or has had a similar experience I would really appreciate your input! It would also be great to hear if anyone has had experience studying in a language they are not confident in? Thank you very much for any help!

For the past few years I've been working with a 'mentor' who turned out to be exploitive and ill-intentioned. I own my own company but we've worked together for 10 years and our projects (designed and largely managed by me) were in the tens of millions, sometimes hundreds of millions, range. Our clients were mostly multi-millionaires or billionaires. He handled the clients, paperwork and finances and I was the one who created the designs, renders, technical drawings and construction documents and managed massive sites which kept me so busy that I would acquiesce each time he insisted he'd 'make the time' to teach me in-depth his bidding and financial management process. He paid me a comfortable income (salary, really) and were in the midst of working with lawyers to create a joint venture to bein the sucession plan he's promised for a decade when he abruptly ended our working relationship (I had the nerve to insist on increasing my rates when he wanted me to cut them in half this year!).

Now I'm out of touch with the going hourly rate for high end design and construction. I'm very good - impeccable, even. But fearful in this new chapter. If anyone would be willing to share their rates I'd appreciate the discussion.

Edit: I'm in the midwest with 25 years+ experience (the last 10 have been with him)

Greetings,

This is a total re-designing of the villa landscape that I did before, (for reference please check out my previous post here on my profile.) II have arranged the sheet so as to include all my narrative and information about the design. Yes I also included the plant-material list / legend too.

Now I am requesting critique here. Please give me your opinion as to what better can I do. Changes? Modifications, reasoning, the good the bad and the ugly..

I have tried to design most areas with an Intent. reasoning. so feel free to ask me if you get stuck somewhere.

Thank you.

https://preview.redd.it/h8osp6tmmixd1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=90d0ede0ca69699c7c8917abb4dbbf0dbbd7d632

https://preview.redd.it/9pr0c7tmmixd1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=d389e2531e89da78a3532c344590903220c04a42

https://preview.redd.it/r4392btmmixd1.png?width=1600&format=png&auto=webp&s=b2399fc0673db5eb08212ba49a66701b1a99cafa

I'm looking for creative and imaginative concept projects, not real-life ones or those found on Pinterest. I want to discover the top student projects, read their projects' storylines, and explore their work. I want some inspiration and would appreciate if you guys recommend me some resources

Hello - I hope this post is allowed. Admins can remove if not. I put a lot of work in this, but I know we don't like people asking for low effort / free advice.

The TL;DR is that over the last 2 years I've got down a "planting in a post-wild world" rabbit hole. And I will pull out my grass and give it a shot. Wondering if this will work.

If anyone in ATL loves Thomas Rainer / Adam Woodruff and has interest in working with me on this, I am looking to hire professional guidance.

-- --

Hey everyone!

I've been working on redesigning my front yard in Atlanta, GA (Zone 7), and I wanted to share my progress and get some feedback from this awesome community.

The Situation:

• Right-triangle-shaped garden bed in front of my house, about 182 square feet.
• The sides are roughly 26 ft (adjacent to the house), 14 ft (perpendicular to the house), and the long sde facing the street is about 30 ft. The area gets full sun

Inspiration:

I'm inspired by Thomas Rainer's and Adam Woodruffs principles of creating dense, naturalistic plantings that mimic native plant communities. I want to create a grassland/prairie-themed garden that supports local ecology, looks visually cohesive, and requires less maintenance over time.

The Layout:

I've divided the garden into three main zones:

• Zone A (Back Edge along the House): Taller structural plants like Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), Threadleaf Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), with a dense ground cover of Texas Sedge (Carex texensis) and other low-growing natives.
• Zone B (Central Area): Medium-height grasses and perennials like Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), and others, interplanted closely to create a lush, meadow-like feel.
• Zone C (Front Edge Facing the Street): Low-growing ground covers and perennials like Texas Sedge, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), along with clusters of tulips and daffodils for spring color.

Planting Approach:

• Dense Spacing: Following Rainer's approach, I'm planting ground covers at 6 inches apart and perennials/grasses at 12 inches apart to create a full, naturalistic look and suppress weeds.
• Seasonal Interest: I've selected plants to provide color and interest throughout the seasons, with particular attention to native species that support pollinators.

Where I Ended Up:

After refining the plan and considering feedback, I've adjusted plant quantities and spacings to align with dense planting principles. The garden will have over 600 plants and bulbs, creating a vibrant, interconnected plant community.

Questions:

• Does this layout seem practical for a home garden, or am I overcomplicating it?
• Any tips on sourcing native plants in bulk, or recommendations for nurseries in the Atlanta area?
• For those who've implemented dense plantings, any advice on managing maintenance in the first year?

I'd love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions you might have!

--

Full plant list below

1. Early Spring (Palette 1): Blues and Whites

Color Palette:

• Blues
• Whites
• Light Purples

Key Plants:

• Amsonia 'Blue Ice' (Blue Star)
  • Light blue flowers
• Viola pedata (Bird's Foot Violet)
  • Delicate purple-blue flowers
• Allium 'Summer Beauty' (Flowering Onion)
  • Purple flowers
• Tulips
  • Choose varieties in white or light blue shades
• Daffodils
  • White or pale yellow varieties

Theme Description:

The early spring theme focuses on cool blues and whites, creating a serene and fresh atmosphere as the garden awakens from winter. The combination of light blue and white flowers provides a cohesive and calming effect.

2. Late Spring to Early Summer (Palette 2): Pinks and Purples

Color Palette:

• Pinks
• Lavenders
• Deep Purples

Key Plants:

• Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' (Garden Phlox)
  • Pinkish-lavender flowers
• Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
  • Deep blue-purple flowers
• Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine)
  • Blue-purple flowers
• Allium sphaerocephalon (Drumstick Allium)
  • Burgundy-purple flowers

Theme Description:

This theme transitions into warmer tones with a focus on pinks and purples. The combination of phlox, salvia, and lupines creates a vibrant and harmonious display, attracting pollinators and adding fragrance to the garden.

3. Mid to Late Summer (Palette 3): Yellows and Oranges

Color Palette:

• Bright Yellows
• Warm Oranges
• Golds

Key Plants:

• Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-Eyed Susan)
  • Bright yellow flowers with dark centers
• Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf Coreopsis)
  • Sunny yellow flowers
• Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
  • Vibrant orange flowers
• Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
  • Pinkish-purple flowers, bridging to the next palette

Theme Description:

The garden heats up with warm yellows and oranges, reflecting the brightness of summer. These colors create an energetic and cheerful atmosphere, attracting butterflies and other pollinators.

4. Late Summer to Fall (Palette 4): Purples and Golds

Color Palette:

• Deep Purples
• Golden Yellows
• Burgundy

Key Plants:

• Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England Aster)
  • Purple flowers
• Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)
  • Golden-yellow flowers
• Liatris spicata (Blazing Star)
  • Tall purple flower spikes
• Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain)
  • Purple flowers
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
  • Foliage turning reddish-bronze

Theme Description:

As summer transitions to fall, the garden showcases a rich blend of purples and golds. This palette provides a harmonious contrast and continues to support pollinators late into the season.

5. Fall (Palette 5): Rusts and Reds

Color Palette:

• Reds
• Oranges
• Bronze
• Golden Yellows

Key Plants:

• Amsonia hubrichtii (Threadleaf Bluestar)
  • Golden-yellow fall foliage
• Muhlenbergia capillaris (Purple Muhly Grass)
  • Airy pink-purple plumes
• Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
  • Foliage turns reddish-bronze
• Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)
  • Continues with golden blooms
• Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
  • Seed heads add texture and interest

Inviting designers & Landscape Architects to join the Green Meridian - closed industry discussion group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/RQPMWNzs1mUxoS3R/

Please use this thread to discuss whats going on at your school or place of work this week. Run into an interesting problem with a site design and need to hash it out with other LAs? This is the spot. Any content is welcome as long as it Landscape Architecture related. School, work, personal garden? Its all good, lets talk.