Landscape Architects Technical Committee

Clear defensible space, then get help and insights from licensed professionals Our California lifestyle is impacted by our Mediterranean climate: cool, wet winters that lead to hot, dry summers. But those winters aren’t as wet as we’d like, leading to drier summers and increased fire dangers throughout the state, wherever…

A new study correlates increased numbers of street trees to reduced antidepressant prescriptions, emphasizing the positive role even the smallest and simplest amounts of urban greenspace can play in our mental health. Experts from Germany’s Leipzig University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research analyzed health data from almost…

New research is the first of its kind to draw a direct link between people living near green spaces and those individuals having lower smoking rates. A joint study by University of Plymouth, University of Exeter, and University of Vienna researchers used data gathered through the annual Health Survey for…

Find out about their many benefits and contact licensed professionals for assistance They provide shade, shelter, and beauty: Trees enhance our lives and communities in so many ways that it’s difficult to calculate their true value for ourselves and our world. However, there’s a way you can find out how…

Want to incorporate them into your home or yard? Contact a licensed professional They were elemental in the midcentury modern design movement, but they’re making a major comeback in the new millennium: breeze blocks, the pierced cement blocks that circulate air, soften light, and offer structural security and patterned privacy.…

Study: Engaging with surroundings while out and about makes a positive difference A just-published study by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), finds that engaging with surroundings while on walks, instead of focusing on thoughts, made a positive difference in study participants’ well-being. As outlined in the journal Emotion,…

Get to know this growing profession Landscape architecture is all around us. And the visionary work of these licensed professionals results in usable, beautiful, ecologically responsible, natural areas that enhance our communities and, ultimately, our own quality of life. A COMMUNITY-DEFINING CAREER As described by the American Society of Landscape…

New study shines light on spaces’ benefits to city dwellers Think about the last time you went to a park: Why did you go there, what did you enjoy, and what purpose did your visit serve? Today as always, parks make life better: According to the National Recreation and Park…

Reduce pain and stress in your own at-home sanctuary Imagine a peaceful place you wish you could be right now—a sandy beach; a breezy mountaintop; a blue-green lakeside. Unfortunately, with pandemic stay-at-home needs combined with record vacation cancellations and related recreation-area closures, you may not be able to get to…

Ideas for all ages make your yard more family-friendly Anytime’s an ideal time to get kids and teens outside, and the National Association of Landscape Professionals has ideas to engage all ages in backyard improvements your whole family will enjoy: Littlest helpers—Small hands can help welcome wildlife to your yard…