 What
is a landscape designer?
A landscape
designer is a person with a background and
training in all of the elements of landscape
design, including hardscape layout, soils, plants,
garden style, and artistic features.
What is a
Certified Landscape Designer?
This is a
person who is a member of the APLD who has
undertaken the Certification process by our
international organization's Certification Review
committee. This committee has reviewed examples of
the designer's work, and deemed it qualified to
meet their professional standards. Certification
also requires designers to receive Continuing
Education Units (CEU's) in order to maintain their
Certified status. Also, only Certified members may
use the initials "APLD" after their name. (For more information on
Certification of landscape designers, please visit
our
Certification and CEU's webpage).
How can I
find a landscape designer to help me with my
landscaping needs as a homeowner or business owner?
You may
visit our "Find
a Landscape Designer" webpage to find a
listing of current APLD Oregon chapter member
designers and associated businesses. The list is
in alphabetical order, first showing our Certified
members, then our Associate (not yet Certified),
student, and allied business members.
Are
landscape designers licensed by the state?
No,
currently no license is required by the states of
Oregon or Washington for a person to be active as
a landscape designer. For this reason, we
encourage our members to become Certified by our
international organization in order to show that
they meet certain professional requirements of
design ability.
Also, all APLD members agree to abide by the
APLD's "Standards of Practice"
which are aimed at promoting fair and informed
decision-making, loyalty to clients, environmental
protection, and other standards. (Please see our
SOP's
listed below).
Do
landscape designers also build and install
landscaping?
Some do, and
some don't, it depends on whether or not they are
also licensed landscape contractors. In the state
of Oregon, a person who installs and builds
landscaping, including hardscapes, plantings,
irrigation, etc., must be a licensed landscape
contractor, working for a licensed, landscaping
business.
Some landscape designers have "design/build"
businesses because they are also landscape
contractors. For more information on licensed
landscape contractors, and to find out if someone
holds a current landscape contracting license in
Oregon, you may visit the websites of the
Oregon Landscape Contractors Association
and the
Oregon Landscape Contractors Board.
Do
landscape designers work with landscape contractors?
Yes, they
do. Most landscape designers who are not
design/build firms can refer you to licensed
landscape contractors to implement their designs.
Do
landscape designers work with do-it-yourselfers?
Most do, and
it can be a very satisfying collaboration. Your
landscape designer can help you figure out how to
go about building your new garden in phases over
time. Some hardscape elements take a certain
amount of expertise to build, or may require
engineering or permitting, and are best left to a
licensed landscape construction professional. Your
landscape designer can help you to identify which
aspects of your project may be suitable for you to
implement, and which would need a professional
installer.
How can I
join APLD Oregon?
First, you
need to join the international organization. This
can be done online. At the time you register for
membership in APLD, you may select a state or
regional chapter to join as well. For complete
details, please visit our "Join
APLD Oregon" webpage.
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