The ABCs of CLPs

Red-Certified

Damage caused to gardens caused by seasonal storms and severe weather can often bring out service providers offering low cost options to fix what’s broken.

When choosing a garden services contractor, there are a lot of choices.  One way to ensure a quality outcome is to choose a certified provider.

When contractors reach out or make the rounds in your neighborhoods after a stretch of brutal weather events, ask to see their license, certification and/or their liability insurance before you ask them to do any work in your garden.

Credentials and certification levels matter.  The Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and national trade organizations such as PLANET (Professional Landcare Network), the Irrigation Association, and the tree care industry offer CEUs – continuing education coursework and schedule of rigorous examination to ensure that their professionals are up-to-date with technology, safety, equipment handling and best management practices in order to renew their licenses.

Licensing won’t guarantee success, but it indicates a level of disciplined investment and achieved status that can make all the difference.  In many cases, certification requires accountability to a code of ethics to ensure reliability of the work and thousands of hours of experience.

In Texas, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners regulates the practice of landscape architecture and the title “landscape architect” is a regulated term.

Here’s a quick list to help you understand the alphabet soup:

AICP CP – American Institute of Certified Planners Certified Planner

ASLA – American Society of Landscape Architects

IA CIC – Irrigation Association Certified Irrigation Contractor

IA CID – Irrigation Association Certified Irrigation Designer

IA CIT – Irrigation Association Certified Irrigation Technician

IA CLIA – Irrigation Association Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor

IA CLWM – Irrigation Association Certified Landscape Water Manger

ISA – International Society of Arborists

ISA CA – International Society of Arborists Certified Arborist

LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LICM—Landscape Industry Certified Manager

PLANET – Professional Landcare Network

RLA – Registered Landscape Architect

TCLP – Texas Certified Landscape Professional

TCIA – Tree Care Industry of America

TMCNP – Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional

TNLA – Texas Nursery Landscape Association

USGBC – U.S. Green Building Council

As Lambert Landscape Company starts another peak spring landscaping season, we recommit to our guiding principle that values our client relationships above all.  We know a successful relationship between us may last as long as the project, or may span as many years as it takes your garden to grow.

Our team of certified professionals will always be there.  To be your chief design officer, your building and renovation team, your garden’s day-to-day quality care partner, and overseer of landscape details large and small.

We will support your garden through the storms that hit today and be proactive for the storms that come tomorrow.

Whitney Dahlberg Myers in our Dallas office is the welcoming voice on the phone. Service requests, questions or inquiries can be directed to wmyers@lamberts.net  or 214-250-8350.

 

 

 

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