Like most gardeners I look back at my first plot and wish I had done it differently. Armed with the knowledge I’ve gained since then, I would have chosen different plants and, above all, a better garden design. Putting things in the wrong place and not making the most of the space you have is a common mistake among new gardeners and one that I fell into.
The newly republished Garden Design Bible could help you avoid such pitfalls. Written by Tim Newbury, a Chelsea gold medallist with his own landscape design business, it offers what he describes as 40 “off the peg designs” to help you get the most out of your garden.
These designs cover a wide range of styles from those that are plant-driven, such as a scented garden, or one with jungle-like foliage, to others that are determined by situation, including a seaside garden and exposed plot. There are plans suitable for low maintenance, others aimed for family spaces, minimalist, contemporary, cottage and formal.
Each section covers key elements that make it ideal for its purpose: a family garden has, for example, a no-risk water feature. There’s also a planting plan and list of suitable plants. Each garden design can be adapted and a ‘mix and match’ list at the back makes suggestions for alternative routes.
Step-by-step instructions on DIY projects include how to make a post-and-rope screen, construct a formal pond, or build a seat. Lighting, creating privacy, minimising water loss in container-grown plants and what to use for ‘grassless’ lawns are also covered in clear, easy-to-read language.
Unlike many design books, this is not packed with glossy photographs and designed for a spot on the coffee table. There are lots of pictures but they are used mainly to show individual features within a design or suggested plants. The main design is depicted instead by a watercolour illustration to give an idea of how the 2D planting plan would look if carried out.
In the same vein, it’s not full of cultivation advice – look elsewhere for how to prune roses or when to sow annuals – and there’s little on soil type or the size of plants. However, as a source of ideas from corner beds to trees for pots, it’s ideal and will certainly help newcomers avoid those design traps.
• Garden Design Bible by Tim Newbury is published by Hamlyn priced at £16.99.
• Review copy from The Suffolk Anthology
• For more book reviews, see here