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There are lots of ways and it depends if you want to be rigidly accurate or not, and how big the area is. I often have to do mitigation planting plans with a requires x’ o.c. If they are little areas, I’ll sometimes draw the plant symbol to equal that spacing (ie., 3′ in diameter for 3′ O.C.), then I just copy them so that they are just barely…[Read more]

To: Jorden Lockman,
Sections C and E (graphic exams)Diagnostic Vignettes (Practice Exams) $50(*6): $300Application Fee: $100Registration Fee $75(*3): $225Section C* (passed on second) $270 & $360.00: $630Section E $360.00 (passed on first): $360Total Estimated Hotels (I stayed in cheaper hotes than those where the exams were held): (*3 trips)…[Read more]

I started messing around with the path array command and found that you can control pretty accurately the spacing of plants. You can also tell it how many rows you want and everything. You can also hover over it when the command is done and add/ subtract plants in a row. And change the spacing. It’s pretty cool. Still need to check out land F/x!…[Read more]

Trust me. CLARB created this mess knowing what they were doing and what feedback they would receive. I have tried to respectfully be heard by CLARB, my Board, and ASLA. Non of these organizations will hear my case. Every person that hears my story is sickened by the unprofessional manner which CLARB has handled the situation.
The problem is that…[Read more]

Hi everyone,
I found your link to this BBC page on grass free lawns, it’s very interesting and currently Sheffield University has done similar types of planting strategies. I love the increase biodiversity within garden; my bird boxes are regularly full of Tree Bees every year.
The project is more of a sensory garden area than a lawn; which is n…[Read more]

I’ve only seen a couple of vaguely usable techniques.
One was to place the Cross hatch in the area, then explode the hatch and use the intersections as snap points for the blocks.
The other was to offset the polyline inward, and use those concentric polylines with the Measure command.
But both of these run the risk of wildly overlapping plants –…[Read more]

I would suggest calling/emailing some local Landscape Architects or getting in touch with the local ASLA group. Then asking if you can visit their office to look at projects, possibly work shadow for part of a day, see what the day to day work is like, office culture, pay rates to expect, job security, travel demands, etc. You may learn some…[Read more]

Brian,  I’ve been using the “cloud” function in AutoCAD for years to outline a plant grouping, and then taking the area that AutoCAD will give you for that cloud, divide by the square of the plant spacing for that particular type of plant and label the “cloud” with the plant abbreviation and quantity.  I started this in frustration with gr…[Read more]

Buy LandFX

Brian,

What scale will you be plotting at?

Hi Matthew,
Great question!  Assuming you are using AutoCAD?  I primarily used the array command to layout plant material.  Another tool to consider is the measure command (me) which allows you to set blocks along any line.  Check out the tutorial below (measure command starts around 4:30):

If you are trying to fill an area with plants, the…[Read more]

Hey Mark
My only response to this would be to go with what you most enjoy. One thing you realise after being in the profession for a couple of years is that its not all “unicorns and rainbows” and there is definately a boring side to the profession (just my opinion). Every LA probably wishes that they had gotten into a firm that specialized in…[Read more]

Hey Lauren
I can only tell you of my experience: I started off as a landscape gardener and found a course in landscape design at the local horticultural college. Enjoyed that course so much that i looked into “a next step” which was a degree in LA so i went for it.
 
University was an awesome time in my life, being a little older i knuckled down…[Read more]

I do see how this in “real life” scenarios makes sense.  I ask for organization purposes.  I am new to the profession. (2 weeks in) and was just wondering if there is a faster and efficient way to do this.  But I do understand your point.  Thank you!

Hello all,
I was wandering if there is an easier way to place plants in a given (irregular) area, and have them spaced evenly apart. For example i have a given plant material that needs to be 15″ on center.  I usually set an array path and let it follow each outside edge but this still is imperfect and requires alot of adjusting to get the plants…[Read more]

My employers were more often straining to find work than overworking us, so sometimes late pay was the condition. I also should have said I worked on campus projects, (not whole master plans) and the best projects came up while working for multi-disciplinary firms, not small solely-LA offices. But in that “big” realm expect to be one of the first…[Read more]

I have details, date, written documentation from CLARB and my state Board, undeniable facts, that are scary. The salaries are true. But there is more… These people rotate business like the revolving door at the Saint Regis. I need more support. If you believe in transparency and accountability for non-profit organizations, please tell others.…[Read more]

A realistic entry-mid level LA is a lot of overtime, some sleepless nights, burning out, and some feeling of being a worthless tool. Oh and several years of eating rice and beans because you have to pay off your student loan debt.
Good luck.

I had a book of inspirational gardens I kept by my side my first year of college at a school of liberal arts that I had to stay in while arranging for a transfer (because I became aware of the field my senior year in high school, too late to go where I should have in the first place). I also dreamed of designing public gardens.

In looking back…[Read more]

Sections C,D&E alone cost me roughly $5000. I passed some on the first try. Never passed D. CLARB took my money and my credit. Told me there are 99 people in my exact same position. That’s an estimated $495,000 dollars. Doesn’t even include people who only passed one Section.