The Three Disciplines of Landscaping: Architecture, Design & Garden Design

Six Elements, Three Scales

Landscaping arranges landform, vertical/horizontal structures, vegetation, water, and climate into functional, beautiful outdoor space. Three overlapping professions operate at different scales:

1. Landscape Architecture

• Focus – Public realm: urban plans, parks, campuses, infrastructure.
• Scale – Large, multi-year, multi-contract.
• Duty – Protect natural systems (forests, rivers, coasts) while improving human quality of life.
• Credentials – Advanced degrees, licensure, broad technical scope (analysis, planning, stewardship).

2. Landscape Design

• Focus – Site-scale: residential estates, commercial grounds, roof terraces.
• Bridge – Merges ecology, horticulture, engineering, architecture.
• Collaboration – Works with architects, ecologists, civil engineers, surveyors.
• Practitioners – Tom Stuart-Smith, Andy Sturgeon, Arabella Lennox Boyd, Randle Siddeley (UK leaders).

3. Garden Design

• Focus – Domestic private space: planting plans, furniture, outbuildings.
• Skills – Design principles + horticultural expertise; hands-on plant knowledge.
• Overlap – Many landscape designers also design gardens; some are licensed contractors.

Shared Mission

From flower bed to city park, all three disciplines improve the UK’s outdoor environment—making it more functional, beautiful, and ecologically sound.