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Landscape Architect

Excerpt:

Best Careers 2009: Landscape Architect Since it costs little to open up shop, 20 percent of landscape architects are self-employed. Those who are less entrepreneurial work for firms or for the government. One thorn: Landscape architecture projects are subject to an ever growing thicket of government regulations. To be content in this career, it helps if you're an avid environmentalist and can tolerate the often labyrinthine approvals process. And if the stress builds, you can always seek a moment of peace in one of your landscape projects.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-landscape-architect.html-------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt:

Landscape Architects Staying Busy

In the latest quarterly survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects, 55 percent of respondents said their billable hours are at or above average. In addition, 38 percent plan to hire additional more landscape architects in the current quarter. The survey queried 427 firms. The survey also showed that landscape architecture firms are seeing high interest from clients in sustainability issues. About 73 percent of clients expressed interest in bioswales and stormwater management, and nearly the same percentage want low maintenance, native plantings. About 28 percent voiced interest in green roofs.

Source: http://www.djcoregon.com/articleDetail.htm/2008/05/19/Landscape-architects-staying-busy
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Excerpt:

Best Practices: Thriving In A Take-Away Environment
With the decline in new construction comes a new reality for landscape maintenance contractors. Companies that want to grow or maintain their sales levels will be dramatically affected by what is rapidly becoming a take-away environment. Companies will have more pressure than ever on their accounts as other contractors become more aggressive in their sales techniques and pricing. With few new projects to bid on, most contractors will resort to going after other contractors' work.

Staying close to your customers and always doing a great job is the best strategy, but during tough times it's also important to pay more attention to your clients' businesses.

Source: http://www.landscapemanagement.net/landscape/Best+Practices/Best-Practices-Thriving-in-a-take-away-environment/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/586695
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Excerpt:

You and Your Landscape Contracting Business

This manual was prepared specifically for you as you contemplate starting a landscape contracting business in Oregon. The laws that surround landscaping work are different than other businesses and though there are some similarities, there are some distinct differences that can create problems for you with your clientsand with the State Landscape Contractors Board if you are not cognizant of these differences. It is the intent of the Board to help guide you through the process of beginning your business in order to keep you and your business in compliance with the applicable laws that govern landscaping work in Oregon. The Board wants you to succeed and wishes you the best in prosperity and a satisfactory life as you work in this wonderful and creative field of landscaping.

Source: http://www.oregon.gov/LCB/docs/YouandYourcontractingbusinessweb.pdf
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Excerpt: Landscape Architects

Employment of landscape architects is expected to increase by 16 percent during the 2006-16 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Employment will grow because the expertise of landscape architects will be sought after in the planning and development of new construction to meet the needs of a growing population. With land costs rising and the public desiring more beautiful spaces, the importance of good site planning and landscape design is growing. New construction will spur demand for landscape architects to help plan sites that meet with environmental regulations and zoning laws and integrate new structures with the natural environment in the least disruptive way. For example, landscape architects will be needed to manage stormwater run-off to avoid pollution of waterways and conserve water resources. Landscape architects also will be increasingly involved in preserving and restoring wetlands and other environmentally sensitive sites.

Source: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos039.htm#addinfo

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Excerpt: Influence of Landscape Architects Rises With Urbanization

Landscape architects aren't typically well known, but their work is a major part of many peoples' lives. As urbanization increases, their influence on city dwellers will become more noticeable, according to this article. "Just as architects have shaped our surroundings, so have landscape architects who design our parks, plazas and many streetscapes that contribute to Vancouver's label as the world's most livable city. Yet you probably don't know their names." "Margot Long, a principal at PWL Partnership, a local landscape architecture firm, won an award for her plan for Southeast False Creek, for Town and Gown Square at SFU and for her master plan for Mountain View Cemetery. She's working on the redesign for downtown Granville Street, the waterfront for East Fraserlands and the waterfront for Vancouver, Wash. But she doesn't care if you don't know who she is." "As more people cram into cities, the work of landscape architects is becoming more important. 'Eighty per cent of the population live in the cities so our cities are so much more important, yet we as human beings still relate so much to the land and our landscape,' Long said."

Source: http://www.planetizen.com/node/33947
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Excerpt: Sustainable Landscape Industry Takes Root in Texas

The U.S. landscape industry has enjoyed decades of prosperity, but that will continue only if operators find more environmentally-friendly growing and selling methods, and embrace sustainability, says the executive vice president of the American Nursery and Landscape Association. Dolibois said his Washington, DC-based organization represents some 2,300 companies that provide products and services to about 80 million U.S. households, but he said the relative good fortune of the industry faces crucial challenges that must be overcome for future success. For one, the industry "has ridden on the back of the Boomer behemoth" for the past 15 years, he said, but now must realize that the primary purchasing population - the middle-aged households - are diminishing. The industry certainly must pursue the Gen Y'ers - those who now are 18 to 30 years old - as they transition toward maintaining their own homes, Dolibois said, but the industry must also look for ways to extend the Boomers' interest in buying plants and landscape items.

Source: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2008/2008-10-09-091.asp

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