The Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) has announced its 2005 Landscape Design Awards program, offering landscape designers from across the country the opportunity to be recognized nationwide for their outstanding designs. Winners will be recognized at the 2005 APLD conference in Salt Lake City. Deadline for entering the competition is March 15, 2005.

There are four categories in the residential area and three categories in the non-residential area.

Residential categories are:

• Projects priced at less than $25,000 to install/design
• Projects priced at between $25,000 and $75,000 to install/design
• Projects priced at between $75,000 and $150,000 to install/design
• Projects priced at over $150,000 to install/design

Non-residential categories are:

• Projects priced at between $40,000 and $150,000 to install/design
• Projects priced at over $150,000 to install/design

Each entry will be judged on the following criteria:

• Effectiveness of presentation
• Functionality of design elements (What are they?)
• Suitability of plant material (color, textures, variety, suitability to site and design context)
• Relationship to site (context)
• Environmental responsibility (erosion, excess fertilization)
• Effective integration of plans and hardscapes
• Originality and creativity
• Design’s affect on maintenance, current and future
• Overall impression
• All projects must have been installed within the past seven years

The two Best of Show winners will receive one full conference registration to the APLD summer conference. All winners will receive an award to display, a certificate for their client and publicity in trade journals. The winners will be promoted in the APLD newsletter, Web site and online publications.

Judges will be comprised of accomplished/leading landscape designers, architects and representatives from various areas of the green industry, including educators and garden writers. Judging will occur in May and June, with winners notified upon completion of the judging.

For more details on submission requirements, visit the APLD Website at www.apld.org.