Although similarly named, a landscape architect and landscape designer complete a very different scope of work. A landscape architect holds a formal license and can create a plan for your entire outdoor area, including structural modifications or additions. A landscape designer, however, focuses predominantly on the layout of plants, shrubs, and trees, and has a background in horticulture and a basic understanding of design principles. Similarly, a landscaping company understands the horticultural implications of a landscape, but they do not provide the same scope of work as a landscape architect and carry out the physical labor of creating plant-based- and hardscape-based landscapes.