| Michelle Are you looking for someone to design your landscape or just maintain it? A landscape designer generally knows our plant palette and can help you create an outdoor environment that will fit your lifestyle. Some will draw up plans while others will create the design and handle installation. Landscape designers offer various landscape design services. Although a degree, license or certification is not required, those who use this title often possess knowledge, education, training and/or experience in landscape design. A Landscape Architect in training will often refer to them self as a Landscape Designer. Check in the yellow pages of the phone book under landscape or ask your local private nursery. Nurseries have designers that are patrons and generally will have names that they can give you. If you are looking for someone to maintain your landscape, check with the nurseries and irrigation stores (Turf Irrigation, Horizon, Ewing, Sprinkler World). They should be able to provide names of maintenance contractors as well. Having said all this, the landscape industry is booming in the Phoenix area. Anyone with a pickup can call themselves a landscaper - no special training is required. Your landscape is a huge investment so selecting someone to care for you investment is a big decision. Ask for credentials and references. Look for certifications such as a Certified Landscape Contractor or Certified Landscape Professional, Smartscape Certification or Desert Landscaper Certification. I believe the Desert Botanical Garden keeps a list of individuals that have completed their training (Desert Landscaper). Call them at 480-941-1225. The Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA) can be reached at 6619 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250, 480 296-2064, http://www.azlca.com A licensed landscape installation and maintenance contractor will be registered with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, 800 W. Washington, Sixth Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602) 542-1525 or (888) 271-9286, http://www.rc.state.az.us Testing and certification required, Insurance required. Lastly, educate yourself to protect your investment. You wouldn't purchase a car without doing a little checking on product history, reliability, efficiency, etc. Check with independent sources like the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension office in Phoenix. They have lots of free information on plants that you can access from your home computer. The link is below. Ask for the new FREE booklet, Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert. It's available from your local city water conservation office and has over 200 low water use plants that are colorful, fragrant, provide shade, attract hummingbirds and butterflies to create a beautiful, lush landscape. http://www.amwua.org | 
