Forty-eight percent of the survey participants said they had an average amount of plant materials knowledge.

"Some firms or designers, including those surveyed, specialize only in urban or regional planning, GIS and land studies, industrial development, marketing, and recreation facilities, which preclude much plant knowledge," Brzuszek acknowledged. "However, the majority of our respondents were in the residential market, which may exhibit better plant knowledge than other planning professionals."

A majority of survey respondents had a favorable opinion of their own plant knowledge, but 71 percent thought new landscape architecture graduates did not. Seventy three percent said they agreed the landscape architecture profession has distanced itself from plant materials compared to previous years.

Brzuszek said firms providing planting and planting management plans need employees with sufficient plant knowledge, or at least someone in their office who specializes in plants.

"Although a broad realm of resources and continuing educational courses are available, the professionals we surveyed felt that experience is still the best teacher for new graduates in the field," Brzuszek added.

^{1. Perceptions of the Importance of Plant Material Knowledge by Practicing Landscape Architects in the Southeastern United States. Robert Brzuszek, Richard Harkess and Eric Stortz. HortTechnology February 2011 21:126-130.}