Garden Planning

by John Brookes (Editor)

The complete practical guide to every aspect of planning a garden, from choosing a style to preparing plans and creating a new look.

Garden styles
A fully illustrated survey of garden styles, from classical Italian to American suburban, country cottage to small-space urban, to inspire a new look for your garden.

Planning the garden
Practical advice on measuring sites, drawing up plans, designing the planting, and adding special features to your garden.

Choosing plants
A comprehensive plant guide, arranged by features such as shape, color and height, enables you to choose the plants to complement your design.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

About the author

John Andrew Brookes MBE was a garden and landscape designer. He started designing gardens and landscapes in the late 1950s and designed thousands of gardens. He also taught and lectured about horticulture, landscape and interior design.

Beginning as a Modernist and working with Dame Sylvia Crowe, Brenda Colvin, Geoffrey Jellicoe and other notable architects and landscape architects, Brookes came of age in the dawn of garden and landscape design for the middle classes in Britain and in the heyday of 1960s London.

Brookes was influenced by painters such as Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholsen, and brought abstract and modernist principles to garden design.[2] He espoused the concept that a garden's design should be based first and foremost on the needs of its occupants, taking it out of the realm of the grand garden traditions which were labour-intensive, expensive, and high maintenance. He is the author of over two dozen books, including Room Outside and John Brookes, Master Class, that have been translated into several languages and has taught and lectured in venues around the globe, including Iran, Argentina, Japan, Russia, and the US.

In 2004 Brookes was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his for contributions to Garden Design and Services to Horticulture.

[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_...]

Reviews

[Joy Miraglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a solid little guidebook for planning a garden design. I’ve already had some experience in this area, so I can tell where it’s lacking. It was written in the 90s, so some things are very outdated and not eco friendly. For instance, the use of peat, and invasive species are particularly troubling. But the sections that talk about shape and form and how to space plantings are quite useful on their own.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy little book! I especially appreciated the part on how different garden designs will attract (or not attract) the eye when dealing with dramatic backgrounds. Also liked the little index at the end that gives the reader a little sampler of plants to choose from for particular needs. More design theory than a lot of similar garden books, very helpful.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a few ideas for the backyard jungle (as I like to call it), but as I was reading I was struck by how books like this have been replaced by Pinterest and the internet in general. I doubt I will ever pick this one up again.

[Ruric Amhari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a cut down, paperback and more transportable version of JB's larger hardback garden design books! handy to take into the garden with you.

[Joan Yost]

The ideas in this book are good, but be aware that it is written from the perspective of British gardening, so the focus is on enclosed gardens in cool-temperate areas.