Mission & History

About Us

The mission of APLD is to advance the profession of landscape design and to promote our members as qualified and dedicated professionals.

Our Mission

The Association of Professional Landscape Designers is dedicated to advancing the profession of landscape design and to promoting the recognition of landscape designers as qualified and dedicated professionals. Members receive a myriad of benefits and opportunities that support that core mission. Through volunteer efforts by those who are committed to its growth, APLD includes members throughout the United States who support multiple state chapters as well as individual international members.

APLD encourages all members to adhere to a code of professional standards, to actively participate in continuing education and to be current with state-of-the-art developments and trends throughout the field. The association also offers its members a Certified Professional Landscape Designer (CPLD) program based on built projects that provides professional recognition to those designers who can pass a rigorous peer review program. It offers consumers access to trained designers who can help them achieve the landscapes they truly desire.

Standards of Practice

APLD members attest to adhering to the organizational Standards of Practice for the profession.

JOIN TODAY

Enhance your network and grow your knowledge in landscape design by joining the APLD community. Professionals from all over the world use their affiliation with APLD to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

2016 Economic Impact Report

APLD Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

APLD recognizes and embraces the importance of being diverse, equitable and inclusive. We encourage our members and the landscape design community to participate in activities and education that will continually improve our efforts in this realm. Diversity, equity and inclusion should permeate all aspects of our relationships including professional colleagues, clients, vendors, and any others with whom members come into contact.

APLD defines diversity, equity and inclusion as:

Diversity

All the many ways people define themselves including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, education, physical appearance, varying abilities, socioeconomic status, ideas, perspectives and values.

Equity

Ensuring resources are accessible to all landscape design professionals of varying abilities, backgrounds, status, or other characteristics.

Inclusion

Creating an environment that embraces differences and welcomes, respects, supports, and values all people, while understanding our own unconscious bias and accepting the roots of our opinions and perspectives.

APLD stands for being diverse, equitable and inclusive in all aspects of our profession and in our daily lives. We will accomplish this with an ongoing commitment to action, new ideas, and continual improvement.