1989
APLD Founded

1990
APLD Certification is introduced

1992
First APLD Advocacy action
for Right to Practice

1997
APLD’s first website goes live

2001
Washington state members
form the first state chapter

2002
APLD introduces its landscape
design awards program

2007
APLD’s annual International
Landscape Design Conference
focuses on sustainability

2009
APLD Celebrates its
20th Anniversary

2014
APLD Celebrates its
25th Anniversary

Present
We Define Landscape Design

Our Mission

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

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. The association’s day-to-day management is headquartered in Harrisburg, PA.

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 certification 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.

Read About the History of APLD

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.

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