Landscape Design

Whether you are pursuing the entire course series to earn a Certificate of Merit, or just interested in beautifying your property, landscape design courses are available to everyone.

Previous knowledge of plant material is strongly recommended and is required for some courses.

To earn the Certificate of Merit in Landscape Design, the student must satisfactorily complete the core courses, receiving a minimum grade of 70% in each course. Core course grades will be based on assignments, class projects, and participation. Elective courses will be graded on a pass/non-pass basis. To receive credit toward a Certificate, students must complete an assignment. Find out more.

Small class size ensures low student-teacher ratios. Please register early.

Upcoming Classes

A garden bed with herbs and flowers blooming.
Kitchen Garden Design

Fully online. Learn how to design a successful kitchen garden, starting with an overview of your landscape, all the way to transferring the design from paper to soil.

Elective Course

January 8–February 5, 2025
Introduction to Graphic Communications

Fully online. Learn the standard tools and practices used to represent the landscape in this informative online series. Sold out. Join the waitlist.

Core Course

January 14–February 11, 2025
A glass conservatory at dusk at Longwood Gardens.
Longwood's Glass Houses: A Century of Floral Sun Parlors

Fully online. Learn about these marvels of the garden world from Longwood P.S. du Pont Colvin Randall, who has studied the Gardens’ history for 50 years.

Monday, January 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A glass conservatory, with peaked roof lines, at Longwood Gardens.
Longwood Reimagined Lecture Series: From Dream to Reality

Follow the project’s beginnings to its grand debut alongside partners and co-founders of multidisciplinary design practice WEISS/MANFREDI Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi; principals of award-winning landscape architecture practice Reed Hilderbrand Doug Reed and Kristin Frederickson; and Longwood President and Chief Executive Officer Paul B. Redman.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 6:30 pm
A person drawing on white paper with a black pen.
The Business of Garden Design

Fully online. Define your landscape design business idea and develop a workable framework to reach towards success. 

Elective course.

February 3-24, 2025
Landscape Design 1 Online

Fully online. Learn about design processes, traditional landscape graphics, and sustainable landscapes. Sold out. Join the waitlist.

Core Course.

February 19–April 9, 2025
a garden bed with low dark foliage and pink flowers, mid-height orange-red foliage, and tall green large-leaf plants
Planting Design

Fully online. Create beautiful planting designs with balance, repetition, and cohesiveness.

Core Course

March 6–May 1, 2025
Sketching for Designers

Fully online. Develop a foundation in field sketching techniques, including line, tone, and color. Sold out. Join the waitlist.

Core Course

March 6–April 3, 2025
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