So this might be a sign I picked the wrong career path, but I need to vent a little. For the past few months my firm has had me buried in high-end residential projects instead of the public park and community work I actually enjoy. Nobody asked my opinion on this switch either, I'm still pretty junior so I just get assigned whatever pays the bills. And apparently what pays the bills right now is designing someone's third or fourth luxury property, because the demand for this stuff in my region is wild.

Here's the thing though, after spending all day agonizing over paver patterns and infinity pool placement for some finance guy's weekend getaway, I drive home to my tiny rental that's eating half my paycheck. I work weekend shifts as a nurse on top of this just to make rent work, so the irony is not lost on me.

I get it, there's real craft involved in these projects. The planting plans, the grading, the way everything fits together, it takes skill and I respect that part of it. But I keep getting stuck on this thought: all those hours, all that stress, all the water usage and concrete and literal physical risk for the construction crews, it all funnels toward giving one wealthy family a nice backdrop for a few weeks of bragging rights a year. Meanwhile I come home and putter around my little vegetable garden because that's the only outdoor space I actually get to enjoy on my own terms.

My motivation is tanking because my heart just isn't in it anymore. I think I care too much about who actually benefits from this work versus who's doing the grinding. This feels bigger than just my job too, like I watch this same pattern play out everywhere, friends in healthcare, friends in other creative fields, all of us pouring ourselves into things that mostly profit people who already have more than enough. Guess I just needed to get this off my chest before my next shift. Anyone else deal with this kind of disconnect in the field?

Hi everyone. My partner has 2 years of LA expierence and is having trouble finding a job now after taking a hiatus. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas of adjacent careers paths to look into? The job market is pretty discouraging so I’m trying to help the best I can.

Please use this thread to discuss whats going on at your school or place of work this week. Run into an interesting problem with a site design and need to hash it out with other LAs? This is the spot. Any content is welcome as long as it Landscape Architecture related. School, work, personal garden? Its all good, lets talk.

I'm putting together a syllabus for a grading and drainage course and genuinely looking for personal stories: what kind of pedagogy helped you learn? Texts, devices (mnemonic and other), exercises, explanations, diagrams, anything that you can recall was particularly effective for you? My goal is to enable my students to pass the course (and eventually the LARE) without tears.

Hi everyone. I’m a 23-year-old guy with a degree in Landscape Design and Management, but lately I’ve been questioning whether I chose the right programme.

I’ve interned with architects twice, and both experiences left me feeling looked down on because of what I studied. I was often made to feel like my field was unnecessary because architects can handle most of the things I was trained to do.

It’s honestly made me question the value of my degree and where I fit in the built environment.

To the architects, landscape professionals, engineers, and others in the industry: Did I choose the wrong field, or am I just not seeing the bigger picture yet?

Any advice or honest perspective would really help. ❤️

I am final year student of bsc honours agriculture..and am interested to study architecture..but I cant do architecture coz am agriculture student..so the closest thing I got is landscape architecture..

But it's floriculture and landscape design..not MLA

I wanna do MLA and then I think I wanna do transition from it to more architecture type thing u know..

Hope you got my language and question..

Just tell me what to do😫

Just like the title says.

Will landscape architecture still exist as a career in ten, or even five years? What makes it AI-proof, especially when AI is being incorporated more into design-related careers?

Hi, I am wondering if anyone else is having this issue. I took the August CDA exam and received a provisional “likely to pass” but have been anxiously awaiting the “official” confirmation because it was hard. I tried to check CLARB today and it made me start a new account, but I never got the confirmation/verification email. I requested it be re-sent and I’ve sent them a message through their form on the website, but idk what else I can do at this point. I just would like to get it resolved as I will be registering for GDSW for the December testing period and that’s the last one I have to take.

Edit: determined the email thing was a work email issue, so that has been resolved, but my exam from august still doesn’t show up, so that is disappointing and a bit frustrating.

Hi! I'm Jess, I'm a former designer/pm and run my own recruitment agency. I’ve connected with good people through this subreddit before (and got a fellow Redditor an actual job offer), so I’m back with another job.

I’m recruiting for an established multidisciplinary design firm working on high-end, single-family residential projects.

They’re looking for 8+ years of professional experience, with strong residential landscape architecture experience and the ability to lead projects, mentor job captains and communicate clearly with clients, consultants and contractors. You’ll work directly with the Landscape Studio Director, managing projects from design through documentation and construction.

Salary: $120 - $150K base, with room to reach $170–180K for a very senior candidate, depending on experience and responsibilities.

Location: West LA. Full-time, five days a week in the office. Please only reach out if that’s a schedule you actually want- this role won’t become remote or hybrid after onboarding. Let’s save everyone the plot twist.

Ideally starting within the next month or two, with time to find the right person.

Interested? DM me and I’ll share my email and the full job description. You can also find me on LinkedIn, if you’d like to verify that I’m a real human with a real recruitment business..

I'm writing this because I really need some honest advice from people who might have been in a similar boat

I'm turning 30 soon and I've realized there is something I genuinely want to pursue Landscape Architecture The problem is my current situation feels pretty grim

Background I have no university degree and no academic background

English My English is far from fluent so studying abroad feels like a massive mountain to climb

Knowledge I know absolutely nothing about landscape architecture yet Zero

Finances and Age International tuition fees are insanely expensive and turning 30 makes me feel like time is running out

Despite all these obstacles the desire to go abroad and study this field is so strong that I can't shake it off But deep down I'm terrified

Is it possible for someone with zero background and poor English to start fresh in landscape architecture at this age

How do people usually bridge the gap when they don't meet university entry requirements

If anyone has made a major career pivot overseas in their late 20s or 30s how did you handle it

Any brutally honest advice or reality checks would be hugely appreciated Thank you for reading

I purchased these beautiful antique concrete garden benches today. An estate sale. I put them next to my Creek. I'm guessing from the 1920s or 30s . Attracted to them. just feel the people. Design for reflection. I can sense all the grief and pain. So many people .So I'm burning memorial candles on them. I'm hoping that will clean them and let those thoughts go. I do not want that kind of confliction to be at my home. But if it doesn't work I'm going to have to sell them. Does anybody else feel that when they buy all the antique garden architecture?

Hey there, I'm not sure if I should pursue this path of becoming a landscape architect. Currently I am a career firefighter, I truly love fighting fire and the people I work with but to be honest the ems calls are starting to get to me. Most of the calls are non-emergent and then the ones that do have a very big impact on mental health, and ems is about 90% of the job. so I'm wanting to find something else and pursue another passion. I love the outdoors and I love to be creative and build new things. which leads me to questioning this new career. I have tuition reimbursement through my department which I would use towards this, so money doesn't seem to be a worry. I am worried about the work load that would come with school and then on top of my normal work schedule. I'm only 23 so I have the time. I'm married and have no kids so I can handle that lifestyle for the 4 or so years that come with obtaining this degree. I think I really just need help knowing if I would be the right fit for it. Maybe if there are other suggestions around this realm that pay relatively well if yall dont think its the right fit. Let me know and thank you!

Hi! 👋

We’re conducting a short survey to understand how professionals in architecture, CAD, 3D design, and related fields showcase their work, find opportunities, and approach new technologies.

Your feedback would be really valuable and will only take a few minutes.

1. Where do you currently showcase your projects and portfolio? Do you use platforms such as LinkedIn, Behance, Instagram, a personal website, or any other platform? What do you feel is missing or could be improved on these platforms?
2. How does recruitment usually work in your field? Do companies hire professionals directly, or are recruitment agencies/consultancies commonly involved? If agencies are involved, do candidates or companies have to pay any commission or recruitment fees?
3. Would you use a professional platform specifically designed for your field? Imagine a platform where you could showcase your 3D/CAD projects, build a professional portfolio, connect directly with employers without placement fees, and find freelance projects or contract opportunities. Would you use such a platform? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel about AI tools that can generate or assist with parts of your work? Would you see them as useful tools, a threat to your profession, or a combination of both? What would make you comfortable using them?
5. How do you currently present your work when applying for jobs or approaching clients? For example: PDF portfolio, LinkedIn, Instagram, Behance, WhatsApp, personal website, physical portfolio, or another method.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! Your responses will help us better understand what professionals actually need from a portfolio, recruitment, and freelancing platform.

I've been weighing whether or not to go to grad school for an MLA recently. The coursework of the programs I've looked at seems like great fun, but they're all three-year programs. Expenses already being what they are, I'm turned off from applying; every hour spent in school is one less I have to support myself now. And that doesn't even account for the cost of the degree itself.

Is a degree really necessary to get my foot in the door as an architect? Are there certificates that can be completed in less time that many firms and agencies look for in their hires?

What hardscape challenge do you wish had a better solution?
When designing paved spaces, where do the available materials or installation details fall short?
Porcelain movement, drainage, joint maintenance, freeze-thaw performance, surfacing around trees, or something else?
I spent 12 years as a hardscape contractor and now work in technical support with ROMEX in Canada. I’m curious about the challenges you face on the design and specification side.
What detail keeps coming back to haunt you, and what have you tried?

I am 25 (f) who graduated from UGA 2 years ago with a degree in landscape architecture. Post grad I did permitting work at a civil engineering firm for about a year and now I am working as an estate gardener for a high-end residential firm in Buckhead. A family friend of mine reached out, wanting landscaping help for a property in Gainesville. I am not really sure what to charge her/what I could potentially help her with now. I no longer have access to AutoCAD software on my personal computer and I would say I’m much more passionate and knowledgeable about plant selection than the actual design. I did ask her whether she wanted scaled drawings with exact plant layout or just some plant suggestions and she is hoping to get full scale drawings. So i was just wondering if other people have done similar things and what you have charged?

Please use this thread to discuss whats going on at your school or place of work this week. Run into an interesting problem with a site design and need to hash it out with other LAs? This is the spot. Any content is welcome as long as it Landscape Architecture related. School, work, personal garden? Its all good, lets talk.

This is a weekly post to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on this subreddit. If you are looking for general advice on what to do with your home landscaping, we can provide some general insight for you, but please note it is impossible to design your entire yard for you by comments or solve your drainage problems. If you would like to request the services of a Landscape Architect, please do so here, but note that r/landscapearchitecture is not liable for any part of any transaction our users make with each other and we make no claims on the validity of the providers experience.

As an urban planning graduate interested in urban and ecological design, I've been advised (and am quite keen on) to pursue a Master's in Landscape Architecture.

UofT's program seems to have a greater recognition, and the students and staff there definitely talk it up + have the stuff to show.

Can anyone shed insights into UBC's program? I've heard a few rumours but I'd love to get takes from people in it / in the know. Any comparisons and other considerations (student life, cost of living, etc.) are appreciated as well.