What is the primary purpose of landscape horticulture?

The primary purpose of landscape horticulture centers on enhancing both the aesthetic beauty and the functional use of outdoor spaces. This field encompasses a wide range of activities, including the design, installation, and maintenance of gardens, parks, and other landscape settings to create environments that are visually appealing, ecologically sound, and suitable for human use.

By focusing on the arrangement of plants, structures, and other elements, landscape horticulture aims to create spaces that not only please the eye but also serve practical purposes, such as providing recreational areas, improving air quality, and supporting wildlife. This multidimensional approach considers the interaction between plants and people, emphasizing the importance of landscapes that contribute positively to the environment and the quality of life for individuals within those spaces.

The other options, while they represent important aspects of horticulture and agriculture, do not encapsulate the primary focus of landscape horticulture. Improving soil fertility, developing new plant varieties, and increasing agricultural crop yield are all significant in their respective fields but are not the main objectives of landscape horticulture as a discipline.