What is the difference between a landscape designer, a landscape architect and a landscape contractor?

Landscape designers provide design ideas, conceptual plans and planting plans, but do not provide any structural analyses or engineering specifications for how things are to be built. Those details are subject to design by civil engineers, landscape architects or landscape contractors. Designers will likely know plants well and be able to provide horticultural advice/information. Hardscapes, such as pavers, retaining walls, and water features are often included in their plans to enhance the aesthetic sense of the design plan. Landscape architects have undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in Landscape Architecture, are licensed by the state and are trained in designing and engineering the exterior built environment. They are qualified to create construction-ready plans with construction details for complex retaining walls, decks, arbors and water features. Landscape contractors implement the plans of landscape designers and architects, as well as their own plans if they offer design/ ...  more