Landscape Design Courses Online

Learn the skills you need to become a Professional Landscaper at home, at your own pace with Penn Foster.

There are certain skills you need to begin a career as a Professional Landscaper. The Penn Foster Professional Landscaper Program helps you learn them quickly and conveniently. You’ll learn about:

• Plant health, soil, and fertilizers
• Servicing garden tractors and other tools used in landscaping
• Creating landscaping designs using shrubs and ground covers
• Specialty landscaping, starting and operating your own landscaping business

And you’ll learn it all at home with no classroom needed! This Penn Foster distance learning program is like having your own personal landscaping school.

Why complete a training program in Professional Landscaping? With the right credentials, you can:

• Work for an established landscaping firm or start your own business.
• Complete your training in as little as six months from today, or take longer if you wish.

Self-employed landscaping professionals enjoy the career freedom and independence that come with business ownership.

We’ll send you FREE information – with absolutely no obligation! Find out more about Penn Foster's complete Professional Landscaper training that includes:

• All the books, lessons, and learning aids you need.
• “Landscape Tools Use and Safety” video.
• Tree and shrub identification books.
• 3D Home Design Suite Deluxe Software.
• Toll-free instructional support.
• Access to Student Services by website, phone, and mail

* Source: "Occupational Outlook Handbook," a publication of the U.S. Department of Labor.
** Growth figures represent a ten-year period ending 2012. Source: "National Industry-Occupation Employment Matrix," a publication of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Landscape Design
Would you like to have the design skills to lay out landscaping for others and for yourself? In Ashworth University’s convenient distance learning course we’ll teach you how to select, maintain and grow different types of shrubs and flowers 

Learn the landscape industry and what designers do. You’ll learn the tools of the trade including techniques and materials, lighting and shadowing and much more. This is a comprehensive, detailed course that is a must for someone serious about becoming a landscaper.  

Landscape design skills are in-demand at plant nurseries, gardening shops or even a home based landscape business.

Distance education lets you study in the comfort of home at your own pace. Frequent course updates assure you’ll learn the latest skills and techniques. The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency for distance learning schools.

A - General Engineering
B – General Building
C-2 Insulation and Acoustical
C-4 Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting
C-5 Framing and Rough Carpentry
C-6 Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry
C-7 Low Voltage Systems
C-8 Concrete
C-9 Drywall
C-10 Electrical
C-11 Elevator
C-12 Earthwork and Paving
C-13 Fencing
C-15 Flooring and Floor Covering
C-16 Fire Protection
C-17 Glazing
C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
C-21 Building Moving and Demolition
C-23 Ornamental Metal
C-27 Landscaping
C-28 Lock and Security Equipment
C-29 Masonry
C-31 Construction Zone Traffic Control
C-32 Parking and Highway Improvement
C-33 Painting and Decorating
C-34 Pipeline
C-35 Lathing and Plastering
C-36 Plumbing
C-38 Refrigeration
C-39 Roofing
C-42 Sanitation System
C-43 Sheet Metal
C-45 Electrical Sign
C-46 Solar
C-47 General Manufactured Housing
C-50 Reinforcing Steel
C-51 Structural Steel
C-53 Swimming Pool
C-54 Ceramic and Mosaic Tile
C-55 Water Conditioning
C-57 Well Drilling
C-60 Welding
ASB Asbestos Abatement Certification
HAZ Hazardous Substances Removal Certification
Law Law and Business 

What Do Landscape Design and Architects Do?

Landscape architects work for many types of organizations—from real estate development firms starting new projects to municipalities constructing airports or parks—and they often are involved with the development of a site from its conception. Working with architects, surveyors, and engineers, landscape architects help determine the best arrangement of roads and buildings. They also collaborate with environmental scientists, foresters, and other professionals to find the best way to conserve or restore natural resources. Once these decisions are made, landscape architects create detailed plans indicating new topography, vegetation, walkways, and other landscaping details, such as fountains and decorative features.

Landscape architects first consider the nature and purpose of the project and the funds available. They analyze the natural elements of the site, such as the climate, soil, slope of the land, drainage, and vegetation; observe where sunlight falls on the site at different times of the day and examine the site from various angles; and assess the effect of existing buildings, roads, walkways, and utilities on the project.

Many landscape architects also use video simulation to help clients envision the proposed ideas and plans. For larger scale site planning, landscape architects also use geographic information systems technology, a computer mapping system.

Architects consult with other professionals, such as civil engineers, hydrologists, or architects, involved in the project. Once the design is complete, they prepare a proposal for the client. They produce detailed plans of the site, including written reports, sketches, models, photographs, land-use studies, and cost estimates, and submit them for approval by the client and by regulatory agencies. When the plans are approved, landscape architects prepare working drawings showing all existing and proposed features. They also outline in detail the methods of construction and draw up a list of necessary materials. Landscape architects then mainly monitor the implementation of their design, with general contractors or landscape contractors usually directing the actual construction of the site and installation of plantings.

Some landscape architects work on a variety of projects. Others specialize in a particular area, such as residential development, street and highway beautification, waterfront improvement projects, parks and playgrounds, or shopping centers. Still others work in regional planning and resource management; feasibility, environmental impact, and cost studies; or site construction. Increasingly, landscape architects are becoming involved with projects in environmental remediation, such as preservation and restoration of wetlands or abatement of storm water run-off in new developments. Historic landscape preservation and restoration is another important area where landscape architects are increasingly playing an important role.