Table of Contents
Getting Started 06
Design
Understand Your Space 10
Introduction 12
Get to know your space 14
Map out your space 16
Get to know your soil 24
Assess your garden's climate 28
Think about your setting 32
Ask Adam 34
Design for People 36
Introduction 38
Who is your garden area for? 40
What is your garden area for? 46
How much time do you have? 50
Ask Adam 52
Find Your Style 54
Introduction 56
Finding the right materials 58
Terraces 60
Designing terraces 62
Paths and walkways 64
Designing paths and walkways 66
Steps and level changes 68
Boundaries 70
Furniture 72
Water features 74
Lighting 76
Features 78
Structures 80
Build a mood board 82
Ask Adam 84
Choose Your Plants 86
Introduction 88
Find your planting style 90
Think in layers 92
Upper and lower canopy of trees 94
Midlayer shrubs 96
Perennials 198
Bulbs 102
Climbers and wall shrubs 104
Annuals, biennials, and short-lived plants 106
Hedges 108
A Mixed Border 110
A Shady Border 114
A Hot, Dry Border 118
A Damp Border 122
Review your planting wish list 126
Ask Adam 128
Bring It All Together 130
Introduction 132
Step 1 Start the process 134
Step 2 Explore options 136
Step 3 Find the right balance 138
Step 4 Add some detail 140
Step 5 Finalize your plan 142
Step 6 Build your layers 144
Step 7 Plot your plants 146
Ask Adam 148
Build
Build Your Garden 152
Introduction 154
Basic tools for hard landscaping 156
Preparing the Site 158
Creating a Good Base 160
Lay a gravel path 162
Lay slab paving 166
Lay brick paving 168
Build a low brick wall 172
Build steps 176
Concreting Posts 182
Erect fencing 184
Build a plant support with rope swags 188
Build a raised bed 192
Build a water feature 194
Plant Your Garden 196
Introduction 198
Basic tools for soft landscaping 200
Preparing the ground for grass 202
Lay sod 204
Plant trees and shrubs 206
Plant perennials 208
Plant bulbs 210
Enjoy
Introduction 214
January 216
February 218
March 220
April 222
May 224
June 226
July 228
August 230
September 232
October 234
November 236
December 238
Useful information 240
Measurements and calculations 242
Glossary 248
Basic building materials 250
Index 252
Acknowledgments 255
About the author 256