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Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design: 50 Simple Gardening Ideas for Adding Style & Personality to Your Outdoor Space (Creative Homeowner) Sustainable Gardening, Using Containers, and More
Get all the inspiration you need to plan and design your first garden! Gardeners are generally always looking for inspiration. In the forward this helpful gardening book, P. Allen Smith states, "Helen has outlined 50 ways to add style to express one's personal creativity in the garden — when in fact her 50 will inspire at least 50 more ideas." Rather than force her own creative ideas on you, author, gardener, and horticulturalist Helen Yoest teaches you to recognize and act on your own creativity! Inside this book, easy-to-follow sections are divided into four basic priorities to consider when thinking about your Garden Basics, Garden Styles, Garden Elements, and Your Garden Environment. Chapters include how to create rhythm, scale, and balance along with curb appeal to shape your owns ideas, plus a chapter on creating a sustainable garden environment where plants and animals can live together. You'll also learn about the importance of selecting the perfect space and sketching out your plan first, how to use containers effectively, how to think about fragrance in your garden, and how to incorporate other features including water, walkways, and walls. Let your imagination go wild and create an amazing space that will give back season after season, with Planning & Designing Your First Garden ! "Helen isn't interested in impressing readers with how much she knows. Rather she's concerned with readers impressing themselves with how much they can accomplish once they believe they can."
—Steve Bender, senior writer for Southern Living magazine
—Steve Bender, senior writer for Southern Living magazine
- GenresGardeningNonfictionAdult
210 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2024
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 6, 2024
This book is filled with beautiful photos and inspiration. It gives a good overview of elements to consider when planning a garden from visual to colour theory. Beyond these basics each chapter then goes on to give ideas of other physical elements you can add from garden art to arbours, fountains and paths together with some hints on placement.
I was disappointed that there weren’t specifics about what to do, what types of plants look great together or provide some hands on plans. Instead this book encourages you to use your own imagination and creativity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was disappointed that there weren’t specifics about what to do, what types of plants look great together or provide some hands on plans. Instead this book encourages you to use your own imagination and creativity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2024
This is one of the most spectacular how-to books I have ever seen, with lush color photos, text that is both info-rich and poetic, and 50 amazing ideas for garden design. I'm buying this for my personal library and taking up gardening for the first time in my life. Two green thumbs up!
April 5, 2024
What a stunning book. The photography is absolutely amazing. The text is spot on, easy to read with many ideas and examples. It’s also feels familiar and not technical or wordy. It’s more like friendship text. She also encourages gardeners to think outside the box and not always play it safe when planting. This is the perfect book for beginning gardeners as well as seasoned gardeners. I love the different chapters and how small they are before moving to a different type of garden. Tips and tricks are plentiful. I will be delighted to share this book with fellow gardeners as a keeper in their own library
Thanks you #netgalley and #foxchapelpublishing for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.
Absolutely stunning
Thanks you #netgalley and #foxchapelpublishing for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.
Absolutely stunning
May 31, 2025
I received this DRC from NetGalley.
This is a good overview of elements to either add or take into consideration when planning a garden. Of course, you'd need to do your own research about what native plants are in your area, but I think this book does a good job of giving ideas for the other things you could add- gates, arbors, art, paths, etc., as well as some guidelines about placement. There aren't specifics about what to do, and instead encourages you to try things out and go with your own personal tastes. Not all of it is suitable for those of us with non-huge gardens, but is still a nice read for inspiration.
This is a good overview of elements to either add or take into consideration when planning a garden. Of course, you'd need to do your own research about what native plants are in your area, but I think this book does a good job of giving ideas for the other things you could add- gates, arbors, art, paths, etc., as well as some guidelines about placement. There aren't specifics about what to do, and instead encourages you to try things out and go with your own personal tastes. Not all of it is suitable for those of us with non-huge gardens, but is still a nice read for inspiration.
July 20, 2024
Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design by Helen Yoest
This title is a great resource for any gardener. It has bright and well recognizable photos, lots of how-to information on many different types of gardening and so much information that you can go back to time and time again, depending on what you’re looking for for your garden.
There are many chapters on subjects and themes that are unique such as the view from inside your house, hypertufa pots, container gardens and accenting your garden with art.
I think this will be a book I come back to time and time again.
#CreativeHomeowner #NetGalley
This title is a great resource for any gardener. It has bright and well recognizable photos, lots of how-to information on many different types of gardening and so much information that you can go back to time and time again, depending on what you’re looking for for your garden.
There are many chapters on subjects and themes that are unique such as the view from inside your house, hypertufa pots, container gardens and accenting your garden with art.
I think this will be a book I come back to time and time again.
#CreativeHomeowner #NetGalley
June 27, 2024
Amazing!! Particularly found the chapter on water-wise gardening interesting and compelling. Mrs. Yoest is awesome. :)
June 29, 2025
A truly beautiful book with so much care and thought. You can instantly tell this book was a labor of love — the layout, stunning pictures, text—it’s all so lovely. I enjoyed the easy reading and found myself jotting down tons of gardening ideas to incorporate into my own garden. I’ve only been gardening a few years, and this book makes gardening approachable and inspiring. If you need some new motivation and ideas, definitely pick up this book. I’d also highly recommend this book to experienced gardeners and total newbies.
I need a hard copy of this book! It’s definitely a favorite that needs to be on my cottage garden shelves. Can’t thank you enough for for sharing this stunning book with us, Helen Yoest!
I need a hard copy of this book! It’s definitely a favorite that needs to be on my cottage garden shelves. Can’t thank you enough for for sharing this stunning book with us, Helen Yoest!
April 30, 2024
This was a fun gardening book. It contained many different gardening ideas supported by beautiful full-color photos, tales of personal experience, tips, and related suggestions.
As the title suggests, this book is primarily geared toward beginners, but I would call it a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys gardening. I have read a lot of gardening books over the years and even a few on garden design, but I still learned things from this book that were new to me. For example, I learned more about a type of gardening I was unfamiliar with (moss gardening). I also learned a great formula for determining the size of foundation gardens.
But this book isn't just about ideas and inspiration. It's also a practical guide, especially useful for newbies or those planning to design or overhaul their gardens. It provides a list of 10 recommended pollinator plants, a helpful resource for anyone looking to attract beneficial insects to their garden.
Of course, a more in-depth book would be necessary for someone trying to maintain a garden, diagnose plant problems, etc. This book is not an encyclopedia or a complete reference. However, it is a good starting point for someone looking for garden ideas via text and photos.
Overall, this is a great book, and I would like to see more from this author and publisher.
Thank you Creative Homeowner for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
As the title suggests, this book is primarily geared toward beginners, but I would call it a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys gardening. I have read a lot of gardening books over the years and even a few on garden design, but I still learned things from this book that were new to me. For example, I learned more about a type of gardening I was unfamiliar with (moss gardening). I also learned a great formula for determining the size of foundation gardens.
But this book isn't just about ideas and inspiration. It's also a practical guide, especially useful for newbies or those planning to design or overhaul their gardens. It provides a list of 10 recommended pollinator plants, a helpful resource for anyone looking to attract beneficial insects to their garden.
Of course, a more in-depth book would be necessary for someone trying to maintain a garden, diagnose plant problems, etc. This book is not an encyclopedia or a complete reference. However, it is a good starting point for someone looking for garden ideas via text and photos.
Overall, this is a great book, and I would like to see more from this author and publisher.
Thank you Creative Homeowner for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 17, 2024
I was VERY excited to get my hands on a copy of this book because I am working on designing my own garden for 2025. This book was split into small sections and covers everything from planning and designing a garden to the different types of gardens, from formal to container. The photos are beautiful and there is a lot of inspiration along with instruction for those who want to use the book as a guide to creating a green space of their own. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
October 22, 2024
Beginners Guide to Garden Planning and Design is a fantastic resource guide. The plans and suggestions are well laid out and presented and the pictures are stunning. This book would make an excellent addition to any gardeners library.
April 1, 2025
This is a stunning, well-constructed, thoughtfully written book, and it's clear that the author poured her heart into it. Unfortunately, it's harmed by poor positioning—this book is incredible, but it's simply not at all what it's billed to be!
To get into that, though, let's first get into the structure of the book. The book is worth reading for the introduction alone, a brief meditation on what influences a person's gardening style. Yoest's perspective shared in that introduction is truly beautiful and will absolutely stick with me, and it very much colored my experience of the rest of the book. While often, introductions are hit-or-miss, this one comes across as a thesis statement for the content that follows—and that's helpful, because from there, we dive right in to content.
The rest of the book is divided into fifty short (several pages each, but all picture-heavy) sections focusing on considerations when developing one's gardening style. They are NOT, as the title or book description might suggest, a how-to guide, but rather a simple overview of various considerations or inspirations one might incorporate when planning a garden. This book does not appear to be intended to help readers develop a garden plan, but rather, to give readers ideas for their gardening STYLE—and in fact, "prepare a plan" is only one single several-page section (the third), and it suggests that readers consider hiring a professional designer. In short, if you came to this book for DIY guidance, you'll be quite disappointed.
That being said, the market is full of books just like the title describes. The fact that this book is something different is, in many ways, a plus—while an actual beginner's guide to planning and design would likely be a "use it once" sort of book, this is a book that gardeners can come back to again and again whenever they're in a rut and need to get inspired by their gardens again. And that's really quite beautiful!
THAT being said, I wouldn't consider this book beginner-friendly at all, and as previously mentioned, those looking for actual guidance on garden planning and design (as the title literally suggests!) will be sorely disappointed by this book. This book seems to be written with the expectation that readers have some sense of their garden skills and preferences, or at least some knowledge of garden terminology, and frankly, either way, it's not the sort of book a beginner gardener would find helpful to focus on anyway—if you're trying to get your garden going, trying to figure out how to balance movement, fragrance, and color, with no specific instructions about how to do so, will feel very overwhelming. If this were truly intended as a beginner-friendly guide, it seems to me that it would, at minimum, include some sort of tips or instructions.
Ultimately, I very much hope that this finds the right audience, because I believe they'll cherish this book. And if it finds the "wrong" audience (those who aren't quite ready for it), I hope they hold on to it and come back to it when they are! It's an incredible book.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the temporary eBook loan of this book! All opinions are, of course, my own.)
To get into that, though, let's first get into the structure of the book. The book is worth reading for the introduction alone, a brief meditation on what influences a person's gardening style. Yoest's perspective shared in that introduction is truly beautiful and will absolutely stick with me, and it very much colored my experience of the rest of the book. While often, introductions are hit-or-miss, this one comes across as a thesis statement for the content that follows—and that's helpful, because from there, we dive right in to content.
The rest of the book is divided into fifty short (several pages each, but all picture-heavy) sections focusing on considerations when developing one's gardening style. They are NOT, as the title or book description might suggest, a how-to guide, but rather a simple overview of various considerations or inspirations one might incorporate when planning a garden. This book does not appear to be intended to help readers develop a garden plan, but rather, to give readers ideas for their gardening STYLE—and in fact, "prepare a plan" is only one single several-page section (the third), and it suggests that readers consider hiring a professional designer. In short, if you came to this book for DIY guidance, you'll be quite disappointed.
That being said, the market is full of books just like the title describes. The fact that this book is something different is, in many ways, a plus—while an actual beginner's guide to planning and design would likely be a "use it once" sort of book, this is a book that gardeners can come back to again and again whenever they're in a rut and need to get inspired by their gardens again. And that's really quite beautiful!
THAT being said, I wouldn't consider this book beginner-friendly at all, and as previously mentioned, those looking for actual guidance on garden planning and design (as the title literally suggests!) will be sorely disappointed by this book. This book seems to be written with the expectation that readers have some sense of their garden skills and preferences, or at least some knowledge of garden terminology, and frankly, either way, it's not the sort of book a beginner gardener would find helpful to focus on anyway—if you're trying to get your garden going, trying to figure out how to balance movement, fragrance, and color, with no specific instructions about how to do so, will feel very overwhelming. If this were truly intended as a beginner-friendly guide, it seems to me that it would, at minimum, include some sort of tips or instructions.
Ultimately, I very much hope that this finds the right audience, because I believe they'll cherish this book. And if it finds the "wrong" audience (those who aren't quite ready for it), I hope they hold on to it and come back to it when they are! It's an incredible book.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the temporary eBook loan of this book! All opinions are, of course, my own.)
April 17, 2025
A Must-Have for Every Aspiring Gardener!
Helen Yoest, who spent a lifetime caring for the environment through gardening, has truly outdone herself with 'Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design' as someone who has always wanted to create a beautiful, functional garden but felt completely overwhelmed by the process, this book was exactly what I needed. Yoest breaks everything down into easy-to-follow steps, from choosing the right plants for your climate to understanding layout, soil, color and seasonal planning.
What I loved most is how approachable her writing is—she doesn't assume any prior knowledge, and yet she provides a wealth of professional insight. The book is full of gorgeous illustrations and practical tips that make you excited to get outside and start digging.
Whether you're working with a small balcony, a suburban backyard, or a more ambitious landscape, this guide gives you the tools and confidence to create something truly special. It's not just a gardening book—it's a companion for the journey.
Highly recommended for beginners and even experienced gardeners looking to revisit the basics with fresh eyes!
My NetGalley review
Helen Yoest, who spent a lifetime caring for the environment through gardening, has truly outdone herself with 'Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design' as someone who has always wanted to create a beautiful, functional garden but felt completely overwhelmed by the process, this book was exactly what I needed. Yoest breaks everything down into easy-to-follow steps, from choosing the right plants for your climate to understanding layout, soil, color and seasonal planning.
What I loved most is how approachable her writing is—she doesn't assume any prior knowledge, and yet she provides a wealth of professional insight. The book is full of gorgeous illustrations and practical tips that make you excited to get outside and start digging.
Whether you're working with a small balcony, a suburban backyard, or a more ambitious landscape, this guide gives you the tools and confidence to create something truly special. It's not just a gardening book—it's a companion for the journey.
Highly recommended for beginners and even experienced gardeners looking to revisit the basics with fresh eyes!
My NetGalley review
September 6, 2024
Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design by Helen Yoest is a beautifully laid out resource that offers a wealth of information and inspiration for anyone looking to enhance their outdoor space. Whether you're new to gardening or simply looking for fresh ideas, this book provides 50 simple yet impactful ways to add style and personality to your garden.
The stunning photographs throughout the book are a highlight, adding to the overall reading experience by sparking creativity and offering visual examples of the ideas discussed. The clear, well-organized content makes it easy to refer back to different sections, ensuring this is a resource you'll reach for repeatedly.
Overall, this is a beautiful guide filled with practical advice and inspiration, perfect for gardeners at any level. The combination of informative content and stunning imagery not only makes it a functional resource but also an enjoyable read, adding value to your gardening journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for gifting me the e-book ARC of Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design in exchange for my honest review.
The stunning photographs throughout the book are a highlight, adding to the overall reading experience by sparking creativity and offering visual examples of the ideas discussed. The clear, well-organized content makes it easy to refer back to different sections, ensuring this is a resource you'll reach for repeatedly.
Overall, this is a beautiful guide filled with practical advice and inspiration, perfect for gardeners at any level. The combination of informative content and stunning imagery not only makes it a functional resource but also an enjoyable read, adding value to your gardening journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for gifting me the e-book ARC of Beginner's Guide to Garden Planning and Design in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2025
This is such a helpful reference for novice gardeners like me. It goes over many basics of garden design, making a daunting project much less intimidating. The author discusses how important incorporating your own style is and explains what it means to garden with confidence. From the different styles of gardens, incorporating children and wildlife, energy conservation and water consumption, to paths and physical structures, this book gives an excellent overview to make you feel prepared to get started.
I have a large space that was damaged by a winter storm and needs to be redesigned. I believe the knowledge in this book will help me get started to build a beautiful and thriving environment. I enjoyed the pictures and information in the DRC that I was so kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley so much that I have already ordered a physical copy from my local bookstore to keep in my library and continue to reference as I design my outdoor space.
#CreativeHomeowner
Thank you to #NetGalley and #FoxChapelPublishing
I have a large space that was damaged by a winter storm and needs to be redesigned. I believe the knowledge in this book will help me get started to build a beautiful and thriving environment. I enjoyed the pictures and information in the DRC that I was so kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley so much that I have already ordered a physical copy from my local bookstore to keep in my library and continue to reference as I design my outdoor space.
#CreativeHomeowner
Thank you to #NetGalley and #FoxChapelPublishing
May 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.
I have been flower (and at times, vegetable) gardening for about 50 years. It is one of my passions.
I love planting seeds and plants, weeding, and reading about gardening. This book is filled with ideas, not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners. The lovely photos are very engaging and will certainly draw you in.
There is very little that this author does not attempt to cover. It includes: designing the garden, plants, pathways, rock gardens, controlling invading wildlife, water features, and so much more. This is a book to put on your library shelf and refer to often. I highly recommend it if you are starting to garden, well into gardening, or just feel like looking at pictures of beautiful garden settings. You won’t be disappointed.
I have been flower (and at times, vegetable) gardening for about 50 years. It is one of my passions.
I love planting seeds and plants, weeding, and reading about gardening. This book is filled with ideas, not only for beginners, but also for experienced gardeners. The lovely photos are very engaging and will certainly draw you in.
There is very little that this author does not attempt to cover. It includes: designing the garden, plants, pathways, rock gardens, controlling invading wildlife, water features, and so much more. This is a book to put on your library shelf and refer to often. I highly recommend it if you are starting to garden, well into gardening, or just feel like looking at pictures of beautiful garden settings. You won’t be disappointed.
June 1, 2024
Beautiful photos; many, many great ideas. Loved the writing that accompanied each section. (Very readable.) Each of the 50 chapters/topics/ideas was limited to a couple pages; but if the topic interests you, then dig deeper. As a Beginner's Guide, this book is perfect.
As a member of the North American Rock Garden Society (www.nargs.org), chapter 15 on Rock Gardening was superb! haha Thank you for the shout out!
Very inspirational!
I especially think that getting some advice from a professional is probably what I need most.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing - Creative Homeowner for approving my request to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Sept 18, 2024. 208 beautiful picture filled, idea filled pages.
As a member of the North American Rock Garden Society (www.nargs.org), chapter 15 on Rock Gardening was superb! haha Thank you for the shout out!
Very inspirational!
I especially think that getting some advice from a professional is probably what I need most.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing - Creative Homeowner for approving my request to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is Sept 18, 2024. 208 beautiful picture filled, idea filled pages.
June 29, 2024
Are you looking to bring flowers and plants into your garden but don't know where to start? Well, this book would be a great place to start.
I've read all types of garden books and even taken Master Gardners classes and I still learned a few new things in this book I loved how the author covered sounds. Not many garden books cover garden sounds and believe me the more native plants you bring in the more birds, bees, and other wildlife sounds you have in your garden, it beats traffic noise any day. A simple bird splashing in the bird bath is one of the most simple sounds that brings gardens to life.
This book covers a bit of everything even vegetable garden and has wonderful pictures that will get your creative juices going.
I've read all types of garden books and even taken Master Gardners classes and I still learned a few new things in this book I loved how the author covered sounds. Not many garden books cover garden sounds and believe me the more native plants you bring in the more birds, bees, and other wildlife sounds you have in your garden, it beats traffic noise any day. A simple bird splashing in the bird bath is one of the most simple sounds that brings gardens to life.
This book covers a bit of everything even vegetable garden and has wonderful pictures that will get your creative juices going.
December 27, 2024
Beginner’s Guide to Garden Planning and Design is a great resource for starting or updating your garden and landscaping. This book covers all aspects from the layout, what to plant, seating, edging, patch, the list goes on and on. It is a one stop shop to ideas and advice for your garden landscaping. With beautiful pictures and helpful advice, you will quickly find yourself inspired to create your idea of an perfect outdoor space. This book is definitely a reference to keep around for year to come as I update my garden and yard plans.
I received this book for review however the opinions are honesty and unbiased.
I received this book for review however the opinions are honesty and unbiased.
October 29, 2024
Even though I have been a gardener for over 50 years, I still found a great deal of interesting ideas and projects in this book. Very easy to read, beautifully photographed, educational, yet fun. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for a fair review, and have been so impressed with it that I have ordered a hard copy for myself and for a fellow gardening neighbor.
September 10, 2025
Described as a book with 50 ideas to inspire one for one's own garden. Based on that, I expected something different than what the book was. The 50 ideas were mostly descriptions of different types of gardens. It was an interesting read, and it somewhat helped me in designing my garden.
Thank you, Fox Chapel Publishing, for providing me with this book to review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, Fox Chapel Publishing, for providing me with this book to review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2025
This is a great book from those who don't know where to start. The author showcases the different types of gardens such as rock gardens, wildlife gardens and vegetable gardens. This book allows the reader to discover the type of gardening they're interested in and even discusses using color theory to plan the garden of your dreams.
January 14, 2025
Very helpful resource for anyone planning & designing a garden. Includes information on plant, site plan, structures and sustainability.
November 8, 2024
"Set a goal - enjoy the journey."
This is a terrific reference for those just getting started in gardening, and for experienced gardeners looking for some new ideas. The photos are gorgeous and plentiful. Here you will learn how to plan your dream garden be it formal or informal, and how to work your vision into the space you have available. Yoest offers tips on herb gardens, container gardens, and even moss and rock gardens.
Pick this book up for its practical advice, or for just perusing and dreaming.
Thanks to Fox Chapel Publishing and NetGalley for sharing.
This is a terrific reference for those just getting started in gardening, and for experienced gardeners looking for some new ideas. The photos are gorgeous and plentiful. Here you will learn how to plan your dream garden be it formal or informal, and how to work your vision into the space you have available. Yoest offers tips on herb gardens, container gardens, and even moss and rock gardens.
Pick this book up for its practical advice, or for just perusing and dreaming.
Thanks to Fox Chapel Publishing and NetGalley for sharing.
May 29, 2024
Excellent resource! Takes you from planning to execution and everything in between. It covers wildlife gardens, sounds, mailboxes and so much more! Lots of pictures.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews