This paper assesses how the integration of generative AI (GenAI) image tools impact landscape design processes and outcomes compared to traditional design methods with the goal of providing insight into GenAI’s role as a design tool, its strengths and limitations, and its effectiveness in earlystage landscape architecture workflows. It describes a within-subjects crossover study of undergraduate landscape architecture students where they completed equivalent design tasks in two treatment groups utilizing either traditional design methods or GenAI-integrated design methods, self-reported their experience, and then assessed the quality of their designs using third party experts. The findings suggest that GenAI can help designers develop novel design concepts, and that it does not significantly alter quality of design outcomes when the designer is significantly in-the-loop with the GenAI workflow. Participants also generally reported positively on the impact of GenAI use on creative process. However, highest rates of GenAI use were correlated with lower evaluations, suggesting outcomes are improved by design maturity and GenAI use rather than GenAI as a blunt tool. The work contributes to a growing discussion on how AI can be integrated into design education and professional practice and helps elucidate previous findings on GenAI’s value as both a creative and technical tool.