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Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land. This includes acts carried out to improve the aesthetic appearance of (a piece of land) by changing its contours, adding ornamental features and plantings. Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including: •Living elements, such as flora or fauna •Gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape •Natural elements such as landforms, terrain shape and elevation, or bodies of water. •Human elements such as structures, buildings, fences or other material objects created and/or installed by humans •Abstract elements such as the weather and lighting conditions. Landscaping is both a science and an art, and requires good observation and design skills. A good landscaper understands the elements of nature and construction, and blends them accordingly. In order for human activity to be considered landscaping, it must be directed toward modifying the physical features of the land itself, including the cultivation and/or manipulation of plants or other flora. Landscaping is a profession which involves manipulating the natural environment in an area to make it look a certain way. This profession often relies heavily on gardening, but landscaping also involves the installation of walls and other features, the construction of buildings, and the consideration of an area as a whole. There are a variety of reasons to practice landscaping, ranging from a desire to make an area look attractive to a push to make an area functional for recreation. Typically, landscaping is confined to a set area, such as the property surrounding a home, office building, museum, or similar structure. Usually a landscaper starts the project by sketching the building and its context, looking at how the natural environment looks, and studying limitations such as neighboring buildings, poor soil quality, and so forth. Once the landscaper has a map of the area to be landscaped, he or she can start to think about design. Landscaping often starts with laying out pathways, and building up from there to create a lush environment which may include fountains, pools, benches, stone retaining walls, and other features. Once the basic groundwork has been laid, the landscaper can start adding shrubs, trees, plants, and so forth to create a desired look. Landscaping may also be themed, as in the case of a traditional a native plant garden, or a low-water garden. Good landscaping flows seamlessly with the natural environment, rather than fighting it. Landscaping also requires extensive maintenance to ensure that it continues to look good through years of use. Once an area has been landscaped, it may be turned over to a gardener or maintenance crew who can keep the individual aspects of the landscaping in good shape, while the landscaper moves on to another project.
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