Is there a difference between Landscape Architecture & Landscape Garden Design?

Well well, isn’t this an interesting subject!! and being on the course 'Landscape Garden Design' (100 times better than the LA - only kidding!) I am pretty certain that I have a different view to this than most of the other students on the Digital Media module.

I'll start by saying what most people think - which is that Landscape Garden Design is for designing small back gardens and Landscape Architect is for design massive open spaces.. Ok so that’s to the extremes, and if that was true who does the middle bits like the green spaces around new housing estates and primary schools. So basically when does the landscape get to a point where it to big for a Garden designer or to small for an Architect? Personally after the many debates I have had with numerous of people (architects/LGD’s/Lectures and people outside of the College) I have come to conclusion that maybe there is differences and id like to think there was, however I doubt in the near future we come to any conclusion about what they are!

One of many debates over the subject with the LGD's & LA's, The Globe.

However I will try to explain those few points that have been brought up throughout the discussions/debates..

Point 1 - the scale of different projects of the landscape.
Point 2 - the fact Architects study a degree in architecture and LGD’s study a degree in Landscape & Garden Design.
Point 3 - The amount of money each will earn when qualified.
Point 4 - Plants and Horticultural knowledge also come into play when discussing the differences.
Point 5 - The difference between who designs private land and public land - Architects/public and LGD’s/private.
Point 6 - Urban design.
Point 7 - How do Architects and Landscape Architects relate?
Point 8 - The Landscape Institute & The Society of Garden Designers.

So really to put it in a very broad sense it’s the stereotypical view of each profession. And the fact of the matter is LA’s look down the noses at LGD’s the same way Architects look down there noses at LA’s.. This being such a shame and I feel very passionate about this matter all areas of design are very important in society has a whole and another thing society needs is for people to work together! Therefore instead of having this divide between us I really think we such all work together.. In fact over the past few months I have really enjoyed thinking about Landscape Architecture it’s a very vast subject and very interesting.. I hope in the future they do become more one subject than an area with such a vast gap between then!

So in conculsion is there a difference between the two? YES - but i cant answer what it is! :)