What Is Landscape Design?

        Landscape design is the study and practice of how to best arrange outdoor space in urban areas.
        It sounds really simple because  each of us "knows" when we're in an outdoor space that we like, but actually visualising that landscape, and making it work in a practical sense, is another skill altogether.  It requires knowledge of horticulture and people.


        Moreover,there are "tricks" and techniques  using space efficiently.  Plus, some ideas sound good in conversation but in reality people don't really use space like that, or don't use it how you'd expect them to!


        A key factor in landscape design is that the space must be attractive to people. But sometimes a part of the goal is to make the space attractive for wildlife, too.  Plus, different people want to use space in different ways; some people prefer manicured gardens, young children want somewhere they can trample and hide; other folk would like to see wild flower meadows.  The trick is in getting the right layout so that most everyone gets a bit of what they want.


        Ideally the final layout will be harmonious, beautiful and utilitarian.  No mean feat in practice, quite often.

Landscape design is similar to landscape architecture. Landscape design focuses more on the artistic merits of design, while Landscape Architecture encompasses the artistic design as well as structural engineering.