Learn Practical Skills At Home

Your comprehensive lessons are clear and well-organized; easy to follow, yet challenging and engaging at the same time. Each lesson begins with an introductory note from your instructor, plus a preview outlining the subject matter and study objectives.

Next comes the reading assignment from your textbook, lesson book or supplemental references. Practice exercises and optional hands-on projects help you check and review the key concepts you've learned. Then, turn in your open-book exam (available online) for the lesson, whenever YOU are ready.

As you progress through The Professional Landscape Design Program, you’ll receive the following supplies at no extra cost: Drawing compass, French curve, Protractor, Four drawing pencils, Triangles, Twelve-inch ruler, Twelve-inch T-square, Engineer’s scale, Drawing paper and vellum, Eraser, Erasing shield, Illustration board, Pencil sharpener, Sandpaper pencil-sharpening pad, Drafting tape with dispenser and Black felt-tip marker.

Use these tools as you complete the hands-on projects in your lessons-and later after graduation! All these items are included with your course tuition at no additional cost.

Enroll online or call 1-800-535-1613 to speak with an Admission Advisor!

Meet Your Instructor

Dr. Richard Ludwig is the author and chief instructor of The Professional Landscape Design Program. He has an extensive background in horticulture, landscape design and garden center management. He's also an experienced college educator. He looks forward to sharing his vast expertise with you in this fascinating distance education course!

What You’ll Learn Lesson By Lesson in this Course

Lesson 1: THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY AND YOU. What landscape designers do; the scope of landscape design projects; professional organizations; principles of good landscape design; qualities that make a great landscape designer.

Lesson 2: LETTERING AND DRAWING TOOLS. Using drawing tools; reading architectÕs and engineerÕs scales; measuring and interpreting dimensions to scale; lettering; using pen and ink; drawing plans.

Lesson 3: GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES. How to show elevation, perspective and plant placement in plans; rendering symbols for plant materials and hardscape features; labeling plans; listing plants.

Lesson 4: SITE ANALYSIS AND THE DESIGN PROCESS. Site evaluation; reading and grading the terrain; project development; functional diagrams; preliminary drawings; final plans; the design cycle.

Lesson 5: THE OUTDOOR ROOM. The outdoor wall, floor and ceiling; understanding balance; focal points of interest; simplicity; rhythm; line; unity; architecture, plants and hardscapes in the design.

Lesson 6: PLANT SELECTION AND FLOWERS. Woody and herbaceous plants; selecting trees, shrubs and ground covers; creative ways to use flowers, annuals, perennials and biennials; bulbs.

Lesson 7: XERISCAPING AND LANDSCAPE ENRICHMENT. Natural and fabricated enrichments; tangible and intangible enrichments; the economic, environmental, and aesthetic advantages of creating landscapes that conserve water.

Lesson 8: HARDSCAPES. Designing enclosures for protection, privacy, climate modification, and directing foot traffic; enclosure styles and materials; the four basic surfacing types; ramps and steps.

Lesson 9: USING COMPUTERS AND PRICING A DESIGN. Using the computer in the design process; popular software for landscape designers; CAD systems; video imaging; figuring cost vs. price; preparing estimates, bids and specifications.

Lesson 10: LANDSCAPE CALCULATIONS. Calculating quantities from plans; taking linear and surface measurements; calculating volume and time, soil compaction; Òpit and ballÓ calculations.

Lesson 11: CONTRACTS AND SPECIFICATIONS. Components of the design contract; common contractual arrangements; dealing with competitive bids; estimating labor and material costs; types of specifications; performance bonds; forms and documents for specifications; project manuals.

Lesson 12: INSTALLING PLANTS AND GRASS. Essential planting tools; soil conditioning methods; how to install trees, shrubs and ground covers; bedding plants and bulbs; turf grasses; blending grasses; single-species lawns; seeding, sodding and plugging; mulching; sprigging; cutting water loss.

Lesson 13: LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION. Trickle and sprinkler irrigation systems; sprinkler heads; precipitation rates; matching water flow and pressure with pipe size; locating sprinklers; parts.

Lesson 14: INTERIOR PLANTSCAPING. The growing medium; creating containers for plants; interior plant installation; fertilization; controlling humidity, water, air pollution, insects, diseases and vandalism; grouping compatible species.

Lesson 15: MAINTAINING PLANTS AND LAWNS. Watering and fertilizing trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns; edging the lawn; pruning methods; mulching; controlling lawn weeds and pests; aerating and mowing techniques for lawns.

Lesson 16: PRICING MAINTENANCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. Reducing injury to plants in winter; features of a landscape maintenance cost analysis; unit pricing; preparing a complete cost estimate; total quality management; improving service.

Lesson 17: HUMAN RESOURCES AND SAFETY. Staffing challenges; career opportunities; potential hazards and dangers of landscape practices; industry and government efforts to promote safety.

Lesson 18: STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Being the boss; acquiring the necessary supplies; starting out a landscaping business; administrative matters; advertising services; maintaining a professional image; hiring a crew.

SUPPLEMENT: LANDSCAPE ILLUMINATION. Advantages and disadvantages of the major types of lighting systems; effects of downlighting, uplighting, backlighting and shadowing.
SUPPLEMENT: TIME MANAGEMENT GUIDE. Working efficiently and productively as a student and in your career.
SUPPLEMENT: CAREER SEARCH GUIDE. Helpful tips for locating job opportunities and starting your new career.