In the book "U. S. Landscape Ordinances", Prof Abbey indicates that various "types of ordinances enable the professions of landscape architecture, horticulture and urban forestry." Codes such as landscape ordinances, tree preservation ordinances and land alteration codes must be carefully understood in order to design landscapes in many cities across this country.

A new compact disk educational program has been completed and is ready for public use. This is a first ever program on the subject of landscape codes and tree ordinances. The program with its many examples, appendices, and exhibits covers three broad themes. They include a section entitled 'how we build.' This part of the program illustrates problems that are created that can be solved by landscape and trees laws. . A second theme, 'how to build' tells what landscape codes and tree laws are, how they are written and how these tools working with other city building codes and laws can create green communities. A final theme explores the 'visual structure of landscape law' as found in communities that have adopted landscape codes.