What's the REAL difference between the two trades? Why is there a low-grade friction between the disciplines? What can we do about it?
Years ago, I was asked to weigh in on a new landscape architectural practice law. There was a proposed state legislation at that time that would have made certain kinds of residential landscape design illegal unless the practitioner had an LA license. You'd think that I would be for it. After all, as an LA myself - it would've made my livelihood even more exclusive. But I couldn't in good conscience support it - because I don't honestly believe that there is such a marked distinction between the two trades. Oh, to be honest, I wish there were - but the facts just don't bear this out. The fact is, there is a wide discrepancy in knowledge and ability in both directions. You can of course find a very professionally skilled PHD - level landscape architect that can detail out a sophisticated plan set - and contrast this with a landscape designer that is finding planting selections at random from The Sunset Western Landscaping Book and scrawling ideas on the back of a napkin…..
But conversely - a client might invest thousands on a completely useless package from a licensed landscaper architect that doesn't spend much time outside - only to build an on-budget paradise later - with the help of a garden designer that has years of experience in horticulture. My point is that no one has a hammerlock on knowledge - and these distinctions between the two similar- but differing disciplines are where we want to drill into today.
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