Getting started in Landscape Design

One of the first things students should be doing after graduating, is contact their local Architects.They are a ready made source of work and because of new planning regulations, many applications now require a planting plan as part of the planning conditions.

As qualified designers, you should be able to offer architects:A full planting service to include specification and 5 year maintenance schedule.A Arboriculture method statementA Tree survey to BS5837 (2005)A RPA plan and APN12 recommendationsIn addition to this you can also offer a full 3D perspective and rendering service if you CAD skills are up to scratchAll of the above should be laid out in a letter to the architect having first found out his/her name so you can address it to them personally.You then follow up this letter with a call a few days later enquiring if they received the information and if you can be of any further help.Think about it! If a homeowner builds an extension they will change the footprint of the garden. As a result the garden will need re-planning. By offering to assist the architect they can provide a cheep and very lucrative source of work.

"Others have ID ed it.
I chop them off at ground level with secutears then spray a drop or two of Praxys on the wound... if it doesnt killt he first time, it will the 2nd or 3rd"

At the Portugal Invitational, Kress showed turf professionals that unmanned mowing has moved from emerging concept to practical course-management solutionChampionship golf leaves no room for compromise. That's precisely why Kress chose the inaugural…

"If it has thorns it is likely to be a Robinia. I have a client who has a couple of trees 10 or so Metres away & this year they have been popping up all over the lawn. A nightmare tree for anybody who climbs!!!
I have a Gleditsia myself, (my…"

Comments

pete November 22, 2009 at 1:04pm

I was listening to Russell Ackoff giving his thoughts on management recently....
Forgive me Duncan - might not be quite the right place for this, but thought some may find it interesting.
Duncan Heather November 22, 2009 at 1:46pm

I take it as a huge compliment that my article reminded you of Ackoff The guy was a genius!
Andrew Tabor November 24, 2009 at 7:50pm

Hi Duncan,
Can I get into this sounds right up my alley!

Andrew.
Duncan Heather November 25, 2009 at 8:21am

We teach this on our course at the Oxford College of Garden Design but believe some of the arbour associations do courses on tree surveying so if you don't currently have the skills. this would be a good place to start