LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOUNDATIONS COURSE

Learn How to Design a Landscape from the Ground Up

Learn the principles of residential landscape design through site analysis, spatial planning, hardscape design, planting, and material selection.

Build a foundation you can apply to professional projects or your own outdoor space.
100% Online
Self Paced
Lifetime Access
Beginner-Friendly

WHY DESIGN FOUNDATIONS MATTER

A Beautiful Landscape Starts with More Than Good Ideas

You can collect inspiring images, select beautiful plants, and imagine the perfect outdoor space. But turning those ideas into a cohesive landscape requires understanding how the site, spaces, materials, and planting work together.

  Designing Without Understanding the Site

Overlooking sunlight, existing conditions, and environmental factors can lead to decisions that don't work for the property.

  Struggling to Organize Outdoor Spaces

Without a clear process, connecting patios, pathways, planting areas, and outdoor living spaces becomes guesswork.

  Making Design Decisions Without a Clear Direction

Choosing plants and materials before establishing the overall design can result in disconnected outdoor spaces.

THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROCESS

Learn the Process Behind Thoughtful Landscape Design

Instead of approaching landscape design as a collection of individual decisions, learn a structured process for understanding a property, organizing outdoor spaces, and developing a cohesive residential landscape.

01

ANALYZE

Understand the property, its conditions, and how the outdoor space will be used.

02

ORGANIZE

Develop a design program and establish relationships between outdoor spaces.

03

DESIGN

Apply hardscape, planting, and material principles to develop the landscape.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Four Essential Elements of Residential Landscape Design

Learn how to evaluate a property, organize outdoor spaces, and make informed decisions about hardscape, planting, and materials.
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01 — Site Analysis

Understand how sunlight, wind, existing conditions, and environmental factors influence landscape design.

02 — Spatial Planning

Learn to organize outdoor spaces, establish circulation, and develop functional landscape layouts.

03 — Hardscape & Planting

Understand how patios, pathways, outdoor living spaces, and planting work together.

04 — Materials & Finishes

Learn to select materials, understand color relationships, and create cohesive residential landscapes.
WHO THE COURSE IS FOR

One Foundation. Different Design Goals.

  Aspiring & Entry-Level Landscape Designers

Develop a structured understanding of residential landscape design, from site analysis and spatial planning to planting and material selection. Build the foundation needed to approach future projects with confidence.

  Homeowners & DIY Designers

Learn how to evaluate your property, organize outdoor spaces, and make informed decisions about plants, materials, and layout before undertaking your own landscape project.
YOUR LEARNING OUTCOMES

Build the Skills to Approach Landscape Design with Confidence

Evaluate existing site conditions and identify design opportunities.

Establish priorities and organize functional outdoor spaces.

Develop preliminary landscape concepts using relationship diagrams.

Plan patios, pathways, and outdoor living areas.

Apply planting principles and evaluate plant requirements.

Select hardscape materials and finishes that support your design.

INSIDE THE COURSE

Your Complete Landscape Design Foundations Curriculum

01 — Getting Started with Landscape Design

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 — Site Analysis & 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 & Spatial Planning

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 & Outdoor Living Design

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 — Landscape Materials & Finishes

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.
ABOUT LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOUNDATIONS

Learn Landscape Design Without Returning to School

Landscape Design Foundations is an online beginner landscape design course that introduces the principles and processes used to create thoughtful residential outdoor spaces.

Whether you're an aspiring landscape designer or a homeowner planning your own property, you'll learn how to approach landscape design through site analysis, spatial organization, hardscape planning, planting principles, and material selection.

Rather than starting with complicated software, the course focuses on understanding the design decisions that shape a successful landscape.

100% Online · Self-Paced · Lifetime Access
YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Learn from Professional Landscape Design Experience

I'm Jordan Felber, founder of The Landscape Library. My background includes landscape design, architecture, and professional experience with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in New York.

I created Landscape Design Foundations to make the principles behind residential landscape design more accessible—whether you're beginning a design career or developing ideas for your own outdoor space.

The course focuses on understanding why design decisions are made, giving you a practical foundation to build upon.
PREVIEW THE TRAINING

Watch a Free Landscape Design Lesson

See how planting composition, layering, and design principles influence the appearance and function of residential landscapes.

Preview an actual lesson from Landscape Design Foundations before enrolling.
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ENROLLMENT

Learn How to Design a Landscape from the Ground Up

Six landscape design modules
Step-by-step video lessons
Included course resources
Self-paced online training
 Lifetime course access
Certificate of completion
One-Time Payment

$117

Secure Checkout
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions About the Course?

START WITH THE FOUNDATIONS

Learn the Principles Behind Better Landscape Design

100% Online · Self-Paced · Lifetime Access

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