All of us think of modifying the natural environment at some point of time to suit our needs and tastes. This is because although nature is beautiful, it tends to run wild if it is not harnessed. Landscaping is one way of harnessing nature. In fact, it's an activity that modifies both natural and manmade elements on a piece of land.

Landscaping is both creative and serious business, and landscape architects, designers, managers, and scientists are professionals with specialized education and license. Landscaping involves planning, designing, and managing various objects and structures on land. This includes natural elements like flora and fauna, landforms, water bodies, and weather. It also covers manmade objects like buildings and structures.

Ever wondered how that lovely golf course into being or that awesome bridge was built? Be sure that landscape architects had worked for months, planning on paper and implementing the plan on land and water, respectively. Public structures and infrastructure like parks, highways, railway tracks, pedestrian schemes, town squares, dams, and reservoirs are examples of landscaping. Designing the site for school, college and residential buildings is also a part of landscaping. Landscape professionals also help in reclaiming landscapes, such as, mines, designing off shore developments, managing forests, and conserving historical sites. On a smaller scale, they help in designing patios and gardens for homes.

Apart from landscape architects or engineers, landscaping professionals can be categorized into designers, managers, planners, and scientists. Designers deal with the design of green areas and planting, while managers focus on the development and care of landscapes. Scientists are involved in site surveys and ecological evaluations. They are consulted to determine the impact landscaping in a particular area will have on the ecology of that area. Planners are concerned with the location and function of urban and rural areas of land. They plan new structures, assess existing landscapes, and prepare landscape management policies. Some of them specialize in law, while others specialize in history. Landscape professionals can specialize in roads, energy, forests, agriculture, rivers, archeology, and so on.

With ecological concerns on the rise, energy-efficient landscaping is gaining increasing popularity. This involves measures to conserve energy, for example, by planting trees to provide a natural shade or planning shrubs against a wall to act as a windbreak.

Imagine a world where nature was allowed to run its course, and you will realize the immense importance of landscaping. This activity not only makes a space more attractive, but increases its utility.