Landscape Architects (LA)  are required to be licensed in Oregon and many other state to protect health, safety, and welfare. Significant and costly problems arise when landscapes are designed and/or  installed poorly or incorrectly.  Besides plants dying, flooding, erosion, walls tipping, and decks collapsing are typical failures. Many failures can harm people. Practicing landscape architecture or using the title “landscape architect” , ‘”landscape architect designer, or similar without a LA license is illegal in Oregon.

Landscape architects design and manage any project concerning the design and use of outdoor space and the land. The scope of the profession includes site planning, town or urban planning, park and recreation planning, regional planning, garden design and historic preservation.

Landscape and garden designers are not licensed, nor are there any standards associated with these titles.  They are therefore limited by law to making plans or drawings for the selection, placement, or use of plants when the execution of such plans or drawings will not affect the public health, safety, and welfare. Generally, that limits designers to designing simple planting plans that do not require changes to the ground surface or design of structures.

Landscape Contractors (LC) are required to be licensed in Oregon and many other states to protect health, safety, and welfare.  They are licensed to install plants, patios, walls (with height limitations), decks, irrigation. outdoor lighting,  and similar landscape items.  A good LC is highly skilled in all aspects of landscape installation.  LC contractors install landscape designs developed by landscape architects.

Horticulturists are trained in the science of growing and producing plants. Many horticulturists become nurserymen or work in garden centers.  They have extensive knowledge in plant health, pests, diseases, growing conditions, and most concerns of growing and maintaining healthy plants.

Master Gardeners are individual volunteers who have gone through 40  hours of horticultural training through a college program.  They offer advice and direction regarding many aspects of plant health, and collaborate with other professionals to answer homeowner’s landscape and gardening questions. They recertify with the college extension office annually.