UW-Platteville student wins Landscape Illinois design competition

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story originally comes from the University of Wisconsin Platteville's website and be read in full there.

Lauren Carlson, a senior in Environmental Horticulture, took first place in the Landscape Illinois design competition, becoming the first UW-Platteville student to win the award. She was tasked with completely re-designing the landscape of a given property.

“I received a plot survey of the land, along with the customer’s wants and needs, and was granted creative freedom to develop the design,” Carlson shared.

Carlson's work included the creation of hardscapes such as patios, outdoor kitchens and porches, all while ensuring both aesthetic appeal and functional use. A key element of her designs was selecting the appropriate plants, for which she carefully considered factors such as plant size, soil type, light requirements, water needs, color and bloom time to choose the most suitable species and cultivars.