Designing a garden from scratch can be a challenge – and it’s often difficult to know where to start. Even redesigning an existing garden, a part of the garden or just one flower bed can prove tricky. And, at the end of the day, we garden because we love it. But be honest, aren’t there times when you just can’t face dragging out the hose? Well I guarantee that these garden design books will help you add the wow factor to your garden, giving you that little jolt of inspiration we sometimes need. These publications are just a few of our favourites and they’ll help to give your garden a fresh, new look with practical, comprehensive guides that include everything from choosing a style, drawing up plans to selecting the best plants and features. All of them are fully illustrated, and they range from classical Italian and English country cottage to modern and minimal. They are a great starting point and will help you to select the right look for your garden.

Futurescapes: Designers for Tomorrow’s Outdoor Spaces
by Tim Richardson

Format: Hardcover – Released 22/08/11

Hands down our favourite book of 2011 and also a worth entry into the top 10 at number 2… Futurescapes is a major resource aimed at practitioners, enthusiasts and students in the realms of landscape, architecture, urban planning and design that profiles the fifty most exciting and innovative landscape and garden designers working today. From China and Australia to the USA and Europe, these individuals and studios span the whole spectrum of contemporary practice on landscape and garden design, from the most ecologically minded garden designers to those working at the boundary of art, design and nature. Like its successful predecessor, Avant Gardeners, this lively volume contains inspiration for everyone from amateur gardeners to urban policy-makers, from plant enthusiasts to landscape designers. The first decade of the 21st century has seen an explosion in interest in landscape and garden design, as people realise the benefits of green spaces. This book is full of stunning photos showcasing the latest designs and trends for outdoor spaces from around the world. The book features 50 of the most innovative green spaces, from urban parks to roof-gardens, school yards to former railways, sculpture parks and private gardens. It also illustrates that stunning green spaces can be created anywhere, given a little imagination, commitment and of course money. There is something for everyone, whether you’re a keen gardener, a city planner or a design aficionado. Tim Richardson is a well respected authority on landscape design. He has written widely on the subject and is the gardens editor at Country Life. To sum it up, Futurescapes is a major resource aimed at practitioners, enthusiasts and students in the realms of landscape, architecture, urban planning and design that profiles the fifty most exciting and innovative landscape and garden designers working today. From China and Australia to the USA and Europe, these individuals and studios span the whole spectrum of contemporary practice on landscape and garden design, from the most ecologically minded garden designers to those working at the boundary of art, design and nature. And like its successful precedessor, Avant Gardeners, this lively volume contains inspiration for everyone from amateur gardeners to urban policy-makers, from plant enthusiasts to landscape designers.

RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design
by Chris Young & Dorling Kindersley

Format: Hardcover – Released 01/05/09

This list would simply not be complete without the RHS… And this book is a must for those who want to learn the basics of garden design or use the principles of garden design in their own garden. Lazy Susan has always found this book to be attractive, easily read and pretty useful. To put it simply, its a comprehensive garden bible that offers fresh and unusual ideas. It will help you plan, build and plant your perfect garden with the experts at the RHS. From how to draw a layout to explaining the best places to use lighting effects, discover how to create the garden you’ve always wanted with the RHS. Guiding you through the whole creative and gardening process, learn to visualise your ideas, choose a style, develop plans, plot, build, landscape, select the right plants, and apply the finishing touches to make your garden the ideal reflection of your tastes and creativity. A look at ‘inspirational gardens’ will give you lots of ideas for things to create. Whether you want to plan a major project or focus on a particular area, this is the complete guide: don’t design without it. The gardens are real and current, with fabulous photos and some pretty sound advice. It is a worthy purchase for the novice gardener and professional garden designers alike. To combine all the elements of garden design in one book is a tall order. Many of the topics could be (and have been) turned into whole books in themselves but this publication has managed to distil the information into a manageable and useful format. It looks good, is easy to read and understand and will provide a great starting point for any potential designer, professional or otherwise.

John Brookes Garden Design
by John Brookes

Format: Hardcover – Released 05/04/01

In this expanded updated version of his classic book John Brookes adresses the latest trends in garden design as well as surveying new materials and techniques. He also shows you how to use the computer as a design tool and features new or extended sections on key styles such as Minimalist Mediterranean Urban and Japanese and Oriental. What does not change in this new edition is John Brookes’ inspirational approach to design. Drawing on his world-famous garden design course and his lecture tours that have taken him from Key Gardens and Europe to the USA Austalia South Africa South America and Japan he combines clever and stylish design options with detailed information and practical advice. Garden Design has become the essential coursebook for thousands of students as well as a favourite sourcebook of ideas for countless garden owners worldwide – amateurs and professionals alike. John Brookes has often been described as the world’s most influential garden designer both because of gardens he has created for clients and his books on garden design have been multi-million sellers ever since his ground-breaking classic ‘Room Outside’ was published in 1969. He is Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers, has made several appearances on BBC’s Gardener’s World and runs the Clock House School of Garden Design in the UK in addition to his world-renowned lecturing and workshop tours. John Brookes lives in Denmans, Southern England.

Outdoors: The Garden Design Book for the Twenty-First Century
by Diarmuid Gavin and Sir Terence Conran

Format: Hardcover – Released 01/11/07

In a unique partnership Sir Terence Conran and high-profile garden designer Diarmuid Gavin have collaborated to create Outdoors, a book that brings the principles of high quality, imaginative and innovative garden design to every garden owner. Outdoors covers a range of garden uses, from relaxation to entertainment. Readers are encouraged to look beyond the garden gate to consider garden styles worldwide. The book provides practical information on how to fulfil the requirements for each garden type and as well as presenting classic solutions, the authors provide imaginative, inspirational and up to date alternatives work includes practical advice on how to design your own garden and15 case studies throughout the book, personally chosen by the authors, demonstrate how innovative design can be translated to the garden whether on a grand scale or in the creative detailing that sets one garden apart from another. This exciting book, redefines garden design for the21st century and shows the best and most stimulating examples from around the world. Whether you live in the town or country and regardless of the size of your garden, Outdoors will be an invaluable source of information and inspiration.

The Essential Garden Design Workbook
by Rosemary Alexander

Format: Paperback – Released 01/05/09

The Essential Garden Design Workbook guides the reader through every stage of planning a garden – how to survey a site, how to choose landscaping materials, and how to develop planting schemes. This fully revised and updated second edition features new U.S. case studies and new photographs. Valuable tips on green gardening are new to this edition, and include how to harvest rainwater, how to design a green roof, tips on sustainable planting, and a guide to composting. Tailor-made for hands-on gardeners, the workbook approach is accessible, practical, and can be used to create a garden from scratch and to redesign an existing garden. Gardeners will find easy ways to measure large spaces, estimate the height of a tree, and find the right proportions for a deck. They’ll also find tips on space, light, and color. This title includes hundreds of easy-to-follow line drawings and diagrams. Rosemary Alexander, one of the pioneering figures in the world of garden design, has devoted a lifetime to her profession, running an established garden design business as well as the English Gardening School, where she directs the Garden-Design Diploma Course and takes a keen interest in the progress of the school’s Distance Learning students. She takes pride in her students five of them were awarded medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2002 and credits her many years of teaching and her personal experiences in creating gardens as her inspiration for writing. Rosemary has worked on gardens throughout the world, and was tenant of the National Trust property, Stoneacre, in Kent, where she created a romantic Old World garden. According to Rosemary, “As more people realize that working with nature to create a garden can be a therapeutic antidote to our stressful lives, garden design will become even more popular … ” Rosemary’s passion for plants and gardening began in her early twenties when she created her first garden in Scotland. It was at this time that she trained as a landscape designer.

Small Garden Design Bible
by Tim Newbury

Format: Hardcover – Released 15/04/04

No matter what your taste or how tiny your outside space this practical and inspirational book will have a garden for you. With 40 fabulous garden designs to copy – or mix and match several elements to suit your own particular area – Tim Newbury shares his wealth of expertise to show how you can transform your small garden with the minimum of fuss, time and effort. Designs range from the practical ‘Small Space Dining’ and ‘Crops in Pots’ to the exotic ‘Tropical Paradise’ and urban ‘City Chic’, and each contains expert advice, detailed planting plans and step-by-step weekend projects. And with every type of small space covered, from an unpromising patio to a tiny balcony, there is something here for everyone! Tim Newbury is the bestselling author of several titles, including ‘Garden Design Bible’, ‘The Ultimate Garden Designer’ and ‘Planting by Numbers’. He has won four gold medals for garden design at the Chelsea Flower Show and runs his own successful garden design business.

A Handbook for Garden Designers
by Rosemary Alexander with Karena Batstone

Format: Paperback – Released 01/05/05

The second book by Rosemary to make our coveted (sic) top ten, this excellent handbook is a comprehensive, practical guide to garden design. From carrying out the initial survey to presenting a finished design to the client, it provides the expertise necessary to create gardens of all kinds and all sizes. Including over a hundred plans, drawings, diagrams and photographs this book is packed with practical advice, tips and techniques as well as detailed guidance on producing professional plans and graphics. All in all, this is a practical guide to all aspects of garden design. Offering a professional approach to garden design, the Handbook for Garden Designers follows the complete design process, from initial survey, draughting and planning, through to the successful completion of your plans. Providing the expertise necessary to tackle gardens of all kinds and sizes, the book includes over 100 plans, drawings, diagrams and pictures and is packed with practical advice, tips and techniques. Garden design involves everything from considering the soil and seasons, to supervising the construction of a garden and advising on future maintenance. This book will ensure that any budding designer, whether designing for themselves or a client, can successfully handle any design brief.

The Book of Garden Plans
by Andrew Wilson

Format: Hardcover – Released 19/02/04

This is basically a sourcebook of approximately 200 easy-to-follow detailed structural plans of private gardens for gardeners to copy or reinterpret for their own gardens. The main features of all the plans can be easily adapted to different size gardens and climatic regions. Because good design is the key to a successful garden, this book has collected together some of the best of today’s structural garden plans, providing practical solutions for sites of varying size and shape in both town and country. After an introduction that explains the basics of garden design, the book features about 200 structural garden plans divided into thematic chapters. The plans include those for problem sites, such as small, narrow, shaded, or sloping gardens, as well as key garden features such as steps, decking, boundaries, water features, lighting, and ornaments, and key planting. The book also includes a glossary of terms and techniques, as well as a directory of the designers’ contact details. As good design is the key to a successful garden, this book has collected together some of the best of today’s structural garden plans, providing practical solutions for sites of varying size and shape in both town and country. After an introduction that explains the basics of garden design, the text features over 150 structural garden plans divided into thematic chapters. The plans include those for problem sites, such as small, narrow, shaded or sloping gardens, as well as key garden features such as steps, decking, boundaries, water features, lighting, ornaments, together with key planting. The book also includes a glossary of terms and techniques, as well as a directory of the designers’ contact details.

Andrew Wilson is a founding Director of The London School of Garden Design and an award winning garden designer, lecturer and writer. He specialises in creating contemporary gardens in London and the South East of the UK, but has also taught garden design and landscape architecture in a variety of universities and private colleges. Andrew also lectures internationally and is a former Vice Principal of the Inchbald School of Design, London and is also currently an external examiner for Plumpton College, University of Brighton, Foundation Degree, Garden Design. He writes a regular column for Gardens Illustrated and contributes to the RHS journal The Garden alongside a series of books, the most recent of which are Influential Gardeners, The Book of Garden Plans and the Book of Plans for Small Gardens all with Mitchell Beazley. He is also the founding editor of The Garden Design Journal. He has recently completed a major section in the new RHS garden design book and is currently working on books on colour and planting design. Andrew is Chief Assessor for the RHS for show gardens and has been assessing and judging for over 12 years, mainly at Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows. He is a fellow and former Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers, the UK’s professional body for garden design… So you could say he has the right qualifications to write a garden design book.

Best Garden Design: Practical Inspiration from the RHS Chelsea
by Chris Young & Alan Titchmarsh

Format: Hardcover – Released 22/06/10

Another entry from the RHS, but this time in conjunction with the housewives favourite, Mr Titchmarsh… For almost a century, the RHS’s Chelsea Flower Show has been the botanical ticket of the year in Great Britain. Landscape designer Young (deputy ed., The Garden magazine) culls the best ideas from the last five years’ worth of entries, arranges them by categories such as entrance paths or sustainability, and then deconstructs them for home gardeners. He includes sections on types of plantings, e.g., perennials, herbs, kitchen gardens, and old roses, but the emphasis is on design via such factors as topiary, decking, garden art, and lighting. There are some great ideas for home gardeners here, but the book works best as a source of inspiration rather than a hands-on guide to the nuts and bolts of landscape design, for which Vanessa Gardner Nagel’s Understanding Garden Design or Judith Adam’s Landscape Planning are preferable. A showcase of the best ideas, trends, styles and techniques from the stars of the world-famous Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show. To Lazy Susan, Best Garden Design has been an inspirational sourcebook that identifies the most attractive, practical and portable ideas from hundreds of gardeners and designers and analyses how those ideas can work in any ‘real’ garden. We really liked the interviews with gold medal-winning designers, who outlined their individual design styles. Each design is then examined on a smaller scale to focus on the details and finishing touches that complete a design and help transform everyday gardens into true showstoppers. The author gives gardeners the very best medal-worthy gardening advice from the Royal Horticultural Society and addresses virtually every aspect of creating a garden worthy of the Chelsea Flower Show itself.

Room outside: A new approach to garden design
by John Brookes

Format: Hardcover – Released 01/05/07

This is a thoroughly revised and beautifully illustrated edition of the book that first made garden design accessible to everyone. In “Room Outside” John Brookes invented the highly practical concept of the garden, however large or small, as a usable extension of the home. That was nearly forty years ago and, while the range of products and materials has increased dramatically, the role the garden can play has not changed at all. Indeed, as a retreat from the hectic world of work and as an overflow to family life, our outdoor space has become incredibly important and “Room Outside” is even more relevant to 21st century living. John Brookes deals systematically with the creation of a contemporary garden whatever its size, from a tiny roof terrace to a substantial suburban plot. He sets the scene by exploring what we can learn from the evolution of garden design and use, and then asks the vital questions: ‘What do you want?’ and ‘What have you got?’ Then he brings together all the practical aspects of successful garden making, from basic planning, ground shaping and drainage, to enclosure, hard and soft ground surfacing, and maintenance and improvement. Chapters on planting and cultivation give advice on plant selection and transplanting semi-mature trees for instant effect, as well as modern interpretations of wilder plantings that work in small spaces. Substantial coverage of special features ranges from formal and informal water, herb and vegetable gardens, to children’s play areas that are attractive as well as fun. “Room Outside” is a book full of ideas, with a final chapter on garden furniture, lighting, containers and ornament that completes its comprehensive coverage. Now with 300 full-colour photographs as well as 250 diagrams and garden plans, “Room Outside” tells you everything you need to know to create a garden for use and enjoyment as an extension to 21st century living.

Lazy Susan is a small family business that specialise exclusively in wicker, rattan and metal garden furniture, specifically cast aluminium. Visit www.lazysusanfurniture.co.uk to find out more and view our complete product range.

Tags: Books, Design, Favourite, Garden, Gardening, List, Outdoor, Patio, Reading, Top 10