During this past year, Landscape Architects have been bombarded with many new and innovative hardscape products for their design arsenal. Manufacturers feature new colors, shapes, finishes, textures, and processes which create paving stones and retaining wall products that can fulfill almost any design requirement. The year 2002 will continue to provide a broad range of new and exciting products, each of which will have been inspired by the needs and requirements of the Landscape Architect and developed by the Manufacturer to fulfil these needs. The inspirational and innovative relationship that has been formed between Manufacturers and Landscape Architects will continue to be the catalyst for the development of new and exciting products.

Developing and designing with new hardscape products requires a commitment from both the Manufacturer and the Landscape Architect. The Manufacturer when developing and introducing a new product is obligated to thoroughly test and insure that it meets all appropriate ASTM standards and to insure that all pertinent information and specifications are documented and disseminated. The Landscape Architect is obligated to study and fully understand the proper design criteria's for the utilizations of each new product and to insure that an accurate and detailed specification is written and followed.

An approved final design represents the Landscape Architect's vision, creativity and skillful integration of design parameters. The final design is turned over to a qualified Landscape Contractor who is taxed with the ultimate responsibility of executing the Landscape Architect's plan and vision. The Landscape Architect again, enters into a working relationship with the Landscape Contractor to insure that the final plan is properly constructed and that the Landscape Architect's vision is realized. Just as the Landscape Architect has made the commitment to study and fully understand proper design criteria's of new products, the Landscape Contractor must also make a commitment to fully understand and comply with all construction requirements for new products.

Over the years I have been privileged to visit many beautiful and remarkable landscape projects which were executed with the utmost precision and skill, but my travels also included some completed projects that were problematic and examples of final designs that were not executed to the Landscape Architect's expectations. We can enjoy our successes, but must learn from our mistakes.

If you were to examine any problematic or improperly executed landscape design you might find fault in product, design or execution. Regardless to where the blame is to be directed, the ultimate and most important consideration is how to prevent a reoccurrence of these problems and to insure future successful projects. Future success becomes the responsibility of the Manufacturer, the Landscape Architect and the Landscape Contractor.

With the many new hardscape products that Manufacturers are providing to the landscape industry, the Manufacturers must provide all pertinent information regarding performance, design, construction, test data and any special considerations. Manufacturers recognize that their products are only as good as the Contractor that installs them and with this understanding, many Manufacturers provide training to their Contractors. The more committed and advanced Manufacturers have even developed training programs, which upon completion award Authorized or Certified Contractor status. Many Manufacturers also require continuing education for their Authorized of Certified Contractors to insure up-to-date knowledge on their new products.

The Landscape Architect is introduced to many new hardscape products each year and is obligated to have a full understanding of each new product. The decision of whether to use a product and where it's use is appropriate is on the shoulders of the Landscape Architect. When a decision is made and a particular product is integrated into the landscape design, the Landscape Architect must insure that a very accurate and specific specification is written. Advanced Manufactures will provide specification data and even AutoCad hatch pattern libraries to the Landscape Architect for his specifications and final design.

A qualified Landscape Contractor is capable of executing the Landscape Architect's project design. The Contractor has an obligation to insure that the design is followed explicitly and that proper building techniques are utilized. Like the Landscape Architect, the Contractor is obligated to have a full understanding of each product that is to be installed. The Contractor should establish a line of communication with the Landscape Architect to insure that all phases of construction conform with the design. Advanced Landscape Contractors will take the initiative to attain the Manufacturer's status of an Authorized or Certified Contractor and participate in continuing product education.

The year 2002 will continue to provide new and advanced landscape products, and from these products will culminate new and advanced knowledge and applications. They say that "necessity is the mother of invention" and the hardscape products that have been and continue to be developed truly exemplify this saying.