Sow the seeds of a successful landscape with either of these pros
Landscape architects focus on complex structural aspects of a landscape.
Architects often collaborate with engineers, architects, and other professionals.
Landscape designers offer a one-on-one garden design experience.
Designers often have the most in-depth plant knowledge.
Landscape architects must have a degree, while designers don’t need one.
You have a vision for your outdoor space, but getting down to the fundamental details can be tricky. For most projects, you can choose either a landscape architect or a landscape designer to bring your ideas to life. So, which is the right pro for the job? In this guide, we’ll compare the benefits of hiring a landscape designer versus a landscape architect below.
Landscape architects are one of the major types of architects who complete a set list of educational requirements and training to receive licensure. Landscape architects work on both commercial and residential projects and have knowledge in everything from property surveying to drainage systems. Their design covers both the structural and aesthetic aspects of a landscape, as well as how the two function together.
Landscape designers, on the other hand, may come from a range of educational backgrounds and often do not need a license to practice. Designers have a rich knowledge of botany and your local climate, and they focus more on the artistic aspect of designing a landscape that looks stunning year-round. Even though these pros do not meet licensure standards, many belong to national landscape designer organizations to receive certifications and ongoing training.
| Landscape Designer | Landscape Architect |
|---|---|
| Enhancing existing landscapes | Designing new landscapes |
| Choosing native plants | Surveying your landscape |
| Xeriscaping | Regrading |
| Pollinator garden design | Installing drainage |
| Water element design | Designing hardscapes |
| Seasonal changes | Increasing sustainability |
Landscape designers do just what their titles imply: design landscapes. They tend to focus more on the aesthetics of your property than the functionality, so they’re often the better option if you’re just looking to improve the appearance of your landscaping and don’t need major changes to accomplish that.
Hiring a landscape designer costs between $50 and $150 per hour. Landscape designers often have extensive horticultural knowledge and nursery experience. They’ll sit down with you to discuss your needs and wants. These pros are well-versed in garden design and can help you avoid costly mistakes, such as planting the wrong types of plants together or using trees and plants that won’t survive in your climate or complement your home.
Once they’ve got a solid understanding, your local landscape designer will come up with a landscape design plan for your yard. This will give a visual idea of how the finished project will look. From there, they’ll keep working with you until you have a design you truly love.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Artistic guidance | Does not handle hardscapes |
| Ideal for existing landscapes | May require an architect |
| Lower cost |
When to Hire:
Garden enhancements
Planning a landscape's aesthetics
Seasonal landscape changes
Hiring a landscape designer comes with a few key benefits over hiring an architect, the most crucial of which is the lower cost. They tend to tackle smaller projects that demand more artistic guidance than architecture and major building plans, and their per-hour prices also tend to be lower than those you’d see from a landscaping architect.
Because landscape designers are more limited in their scope, they’re best suited for enhancing existing landscapes. If you already have flower beds or functional sections of your yard, like patios and decks, a landscaping designer can help those spaces look more professional and fill them with plants and small features that will complement your home and suit your local climate.
The biggest drawback to hiring a landscape designer over a landscape architect is that the scope of work they can do is more limited. If you’re looking for softscaping, like garden bed design or small water features, a designer is probably your best bet. But if you’re looking to build pergolas, add larger water features like pools or fountains, include patios, decks, and walkways, and improve drainage, then a designer likely won’t be able to meet your needs.
Landscape designers also tend to design your space and nothing more, so they won’t carry out the installation work themselves, and they’re less likely than architects to coordinate with other professionals who will. With a designer, you’ll often have to DIY the installation or find pros and hire them yourself, which is less often the case with a landscape architect.
A landscape architect is a licensed professional with specialized education in landscaping architecture and design. They handle everything from designing landscaping features, like pergolas, patios, decks, and water features, to improving drainage or sustainability on your property. Local landscape architects are likely to work with professionals to carry out the actual work, too, so unlike a landscape designer, you can go from ideas to reality all through a single architect.
A traditional architect costs between $125 and $250 per hour, while landscape architects cost between $70 and $150 an hour. They often work on large or custom landscaping projects, including those for commercial properties, but they can also work on smaller residential projects.
Much like local architects you’d hire for drawing up building plans, landscape architects must hold either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, as well as a license to practice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide scope of expertise | Less artistic approach |
| Ideal for newly built homes | Higher costs |
| Obtains ongoing training |
When to Hire:
Major landscape alterations
New home builds
Hardscape planning
The biggest upside to hiring a landscape architect is the breadth of services you can choose from. Architects handle larger and more complicated projects than designers that can include hardscaping—like patio, deck, and walkway design—water features—including pools, large ponds, and fountains—and outbuildings and structures—including pergolas, sheds, and cabanas. This makes them the better option for designing landscaping for new construction and for total overhauls of existing landscaping.
Architects also go through dedicated educational programs and receive licenses to practice, so there’s virtually no risk that you’ll get an architect who isn’t skilled or knowledgeable about the work you’re looking to do. Since designers don’t receive formal education or get licensed to practice, there’s a risk you’ll end up with an inexperienced designer.
One downside of hiring a landscape architect is that the added education, licensing, and experience means they likely charge more than a designer. Not only do their per-hour prices tend to be a bit higher, but the work they do is also more involved, leading to higher total costs.
Landscape architects focus more on functionality and cohesiveness than on the aesthetic appeal and practicality that designers prioritize. If you’re just looking to add beauty to your landscape, an architect might not be the right fit. Additionally, they often don’t have the same botanical knowledge that landscape designers do, so they’re less likely to be able to choose specific plants that beautify your space and make sense in your local climate.
The biggest difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect is the nature of the projects they take on. A landscape designer will work closely with you, focusing on the types of plants you want and the overall aesthetic of your desired space. A landscape architect will focus on larger projects and designing functional spaces, and they’re more likely to work with contractors to get the work done properly.
The costs of a landscape designer vs. a landscape architect are similar, but architects tend to charge a bit more per hour, and they will cost more overall. Landscape architects take on larger, often full-scale projects that look at the big picture of a property. Designers will occasionally work on large garden overhauls, but the scope is often smaller, which leads to lower prices.
The work of a landscape architect directly affects the health and sustainability of a property and everyone on it. Because of this, states require landscape architects to receive and update their licenses each year. Confirming their licensure is an important part of hiring the right person—similar to when you're figuring out how to hire an architect for your home.
While there will always be a crossover between these two positions, landscape architects have a wider scope of training compared to designers. Their drafting and surveying experience will allow them to address larger issues with landscapes that need a bit more TLC. That being said, there are plenty of times when hiring a landscape designer is simply a better fit for your project. One-on-one artistic collaboration may be just the thing you need to elevate your garden to the next level.
Landscape architects handle larger projects, which can include altering the terrain on your property. Designers might be able to help reduce the need for drainage by strategically placing plants and garden walls, but architects can draw up plans and hire professionals that allow you to regrade your land, install retaining walls, and couple the new slope with proper drainage.
