Landscape Design Foundations Course

Master the Principles That Drive Effective Landscape Design

A professional foundations course centered on site, function, spatial logic, and design principles—the underlying framework behind every successful residential landscape.
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100%
Online & Self-Paced
Lifetime
Access to Course Trainings & Templates
Certificate
On Completion

Without Design Foundations, Outdoor Spaces Lack Connection

Site conditions are observed, but environmental factors are not consistently translated into design decisions.
Spatial layouts are developed without a clear relationship between program, circulation, and use.
Design choices lack a purposeful logic tied to function, climate, and material performance.
Design intent becomes difficult to communicate to clients without an underlying structure guiding decisions.

Principles That Guide Residential Landscape Design

This course introduces the core principles used to guide site analysis, spatial organization, and functional planning in residential landscape design.
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Site Analysis

Understand how sun, wind, and shade shape outdoor layouts and material selections.

Spatial Organization

Develop landscape ideas quickly by drawing outdoor spaces rooted in functional design.

Outdoor Design

Plan outdoor spaces with interior connections for logical and purposeful-driven design.

Material Selection

Select plants and hardscape materials that thrive in your region for longstanding landscapes.
Instructor

About Jordan Felber

Jordan Felber is the founder of The Landscape Library and an independent designer working across architecture and landscape design. Prior to launching The Landscape Library, he worked at Bjarke Ingels Group in New York City, contributing to projects across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Jordan holds degrees in horticulture, landscape design, and architecture. His work bridges environmental analysis, spatial design, and practical construction considerations. Through The Landscape Library Academy, he focuses on teaching foundational design principles and professional workflows that help landscape practitioners design with clarity—before tools, drawings, or software execution.

A Simple, Landscape Focused Learning Path

Step 1

Enroll 

Get instant access to all modules and start learning today.
Step 2

Learn

You’ll master the fundamentals through practical, residential examples.
Step 3

Apply

Walk into client meetings with clarity, confidence, and a real design framework.

Landscape Design Foundations Course

  • 100% Online
  • Lifetime Access
  • Beginner-Friendly
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What You'll Gain

A clear set of design foundations that guide how residential landscapes are analyzed, organized, and developed.

Who This Is For

This course is for landscape professionals who work with residential projects and want a clear design foundation before advancing into tools or software.
  • Self-taught designers
  • Design-build professionals
  • Landscape contractors
  • Career-transitioning professionals
  • Students with focus on residential
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01 — Course Introduction

Course Overview

An overview of the course structure, learning objectives, and how environmental analysis and functional design principles guide the full residential landscape design process.

Tools and Materials

An introduction to essential tools, references, and resources used to document sites, analyze conditions, and develop clear, principle-driven design concepts.
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02 — Documenting Existing Conditions

Site Analysis Using Aerials

Learn how to use aerial imagery to evaluate context, boundaries, orientation, and surrounding conditions that influence residential landscape design decisions.

Site Documentation Checklist

A repeatable checklist for capturing critical site data, helping ensure nothing is overlooked during field visits or preliminary site analysis.

Documenting Existing Residences

Methods for recording existing homes, site features, materials, and constraints that directly inform layout, circulation, and spatial planning.

Documenting New Construction Sites

How to interpret surveys, plans, and field conditions when documenting sites under construction or prior to home completion.

Sun Path Analysis

Understand how seasonal sun patterns affect comfort, planting placement, outdoor use, and the long-term performance of residential landscapes.

Wind and Exposure Analysis

Analyze prevailing winds and exposure to inform screening, planting strategies, and the placement of outdoor living spaces.
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03 — Design Programming & Concept

Defining Program and Priorities

Learn how to translate client needs, lifestyle, and site constraints into a clear design program that guides all subsequent design decisions.

Key Design Questions

Identify the essential questions designers must answer to create functional, site-responsive, and well-organized residential landscapes.

Residential Landscape Typologies

An overview of common residential landscape typologies and how they influence layout, circulation, and design intent.

Bubble and Relationship Diagrams

Use diagrams to organize spaces, define adjacencies, and establish circulation before developing detailed plans or drawings.
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04 — Hardscape Design Fundamentals

Role of Hardscape Design

Understand how hardscapes structure movement, define outdoor rooms, manage grade changes, and support functional outdoor living.

Permits and Site Constraints

Learn how zoning, setbacks, drainage requirements, and local regulations influence residential landscape design decisions.

Patio Planning and Layout

Plan patios based on scale, furniture placement, circulation, and their relationship to interior spaces and site conditions.

Integrating Existing Site Conditions

Design hardscapes that respond to existing grades, drainage patterns, trees, and site features rather than working against them.

Outdoor Kitchen Placement

Determine appropriate locations for outdoor kitchens based on access, use patterns, utilities, and proximity to the home.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Elements

Review essential components and considerations that support safe, functional, and well-integrated outdoor kitchen designs.

Circulation and Walkway Design

Design intuitive circulation systems that clearly connect outdoor spaces while responding to site constraints and user movement.
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05 — Planting Design Principles

Climate and Hardiness Zones

Understand how climate data and hardiness zones inform plant selection, placement, and long-term landscape performance.

Plant Types and Functions

Learn how trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and accent plants serve structural, spatial, and functional roles in residential landscapes.

Understanding Plant Requirements

Assess light, soil, water, and spacing needs to support healthy, sustainable planting designs.

Sourcing Appropriate Plant Material

Identify criteria and sources for selecting plant material that performs well and aligns with design intent.

Planting Composition and Layering

Organize planting layers using massing, repetition, and texture to create cohesive, resilient, and visually balanced landscapes.
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06 — Materials and Finish Selection

Color Theory for Landscapes

Apply fundamental color principles to plants and materials to create harmony, contrast, and visual clarity in outdoor spaces.

Hardscape Material Selection

Evaluate hardscape materials based on durability, maintenance, aesthetics, and compatibility with site conditions.

Structural and Site Elements

Select fences, screens, walls, and site elements that support function, privacy, and overall design intent.

Mulch and Groundcover Selection

Choose mulches and groundcovers that support plant health, soil performance, and visual continuity across the site.

At The Landscape Library Academy, we believe you shouldn’t have to return to school to learn how to design landscapes.

The Landscape Design Foundations Course provides a complete structure for how professional designers approach residential landscapes. You will learn how environmental factors shape design decisions, how to organize outdoor programs, how to develop functional spatial layouts, and how to establish planting and material strategies that respond to site conditions. Rather than teaching you “what to draw,” the course teaches you why decisions are made—giving you a dependable framework that carries directly into AutoCAD, Rhino, and client presentations.
Landscape Design Foundations Course

Watch Free Course Preview

The lesson demonstrates how designers use massing, diversity, and texture to create layered, seasonal interesting plantings that thrive on your site. It reflects the principles-first approach used throughout the course—grounded in real residential landscapes and design logic rather than trends or guesswork.
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Module 5 / Lesson 5: Planting Composition & Layering Principles

Course FAQs

When does the course start?
The course has no set start date. You receive immediate access upon enrollment and can begin at any time.
How long do I have access?
You have lifetime access to the course materials, including future updates.
If I’m new to landscape design, can I still take it?
Yes. The course is designed to establish design foundations and does not require prior formal training.
What is The Landscape Library Academy?
The Landscape Library Academy is an online education platform focused on teaching landscape design principles, tools, and workflows for residential projects.

Gain Core Design Foundations Today — Start Applying Tomorrow

100% Online & Self-Paced   |   Lifetime Access   |   Beginner-Friendly

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