Garden Builder: Plans and Instructions for 35 Projects You Can Make

by Joann Moser

Garden Builder is a treasure trove of yard, patio, and garden projects you can build yourself!

Perfect for any gardener or outdoor enthusiast with a few basic DIY skills, it is packed with 35 complete project plans, each one featuring finished photos of the project along with cut lists and shopping lists, a construction diagram, and step-by-step instructions (complete with photos) show exactly how to build every project.

Most projects are made from durable exterior-rated wood and can be created with basic carpentry skills. But several of these highly desirable garden accessories are made with materials like concrete, metal, and wire.

Garden Builder is positively loaded with projects, a few you can look forward to building
Trellises
Raised beds
Harvest boxes
Garden benches
Planters
Garden art
Simply follow the clear and comprehensive instructions, and you'll have a garden that's rich in design elements, useful aids, and practical furnishings.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moser did a nice job laying out each project step-by-step, including photographs, measurement hints and other tips. I was hoping for more utilitarian projects, however - things like cold frames, actual greenhouses, etc. There were a couple things in this book that I plan to try out (like the rain barrel stands, harvest crates, and greenhouse shelves), but overall these are more decorative projects and not really up my alley.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to read a 54-day digital ARC of this book through NetGalley. I'm glad I was able to preview it because it's not a book that would make a good fit for me or my garden. That said, it would be a good book for some.

PROS:
It has tons of step-by-step, full color photographs.
Each project includes all materials listed and detailed instructions.
There are a variety of projects (planters, bird and squirrel feeders, decorative lawn ornaments, etc.).

CONS:
None of the projects use recycled, reclaimed or found materials.
There are no price estimates at all, even ranges. I have no idea if things like the copper trellis are in any way affordable for me since I don't price copper pipes and joints often. Even a wild guess would be so helpful like "estimated cost: $50-100" or "projected cost: $250."
The projects are very utilitarian and have a certain look (nothing is painted, stained or otherwise made whimsical or colorful).
You need some pretty good carpentry skills for most of the projects.

Few projects in this book are for an actual garden, especially a large one. I actually laughed at the strawberry vault. It's a little wooden raised bed with chicken wire around it to keep birds and rabbits (and kids, apparently) from getting to the strawberries. My own strawberry bed is as big as our driveway, and is interspersed with asparagus and all kinds of wild plants that have proven their use and are allowed to stay. This cute little box would be perfect in our neighbor's perfectly manicured yard, but not in my exuberant back yard jungle.

I would have loved to see some projects made with trimmed branches (Tree Craft is a great book for that kind of project), grapevines, old window frames, pallets or even wood scraps. We tend to reuse and repurpose more than go buy new, especially with the cost of that much lumber or piping.

This could be a great book for older kids who are learning woodworking and would like some projects (especially with a parent's help). I did like a few of the more artistic projects, like the garden globe made by putting dragon tears and purchased mirror pieces at the bottom of a globe light and pouring cement in. Once it's dry, you break the globe and have a cement ball with a flat top of decorative glass. I was drawn to some of the other artistic elements like the cement and rebar cattails, but I really would prefer if they had been tinted or in some way made a little more colorful and fun. Those who like a more natural look would probably be happy with rebar and gray concrete.

Either way, there are some interesting projects and ideas but you will need to invest a fair amount of money and time for most of them.

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provides finished photos and maker instruction for 35 projects. This part of the book is well done. As a matter of personal taste the projects themselves didn't appeal to me very much. They're often more decorative than useful and use expensive materials like copper pipe and good timber. I'm not at all interested in decorative concrete. Perhaps if you had leftover ready from a project in progress, but I'd probably just pour some extra concrete footings instead. The scale of the garden projects is generally quite small although I suppose one could modify that. The tiered drying rack (p.66) is an idea worth using, but again not at this scale and perhaps modified to keep insects off. I think I expected more cold frames, greenhouse, shed or chicken coop ideas. (There aren't any.) I like to see upcycling especially for creative trellises and seed-starting protective designs.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of photographs and very clear step-by-step instructions on building 35 garden projects, both decorative and functional, relies heavily on decent woodworking skills. The photos of the items in use are strangely sanitized and kinda look out of place in the garden due to their newness - I guess more a problem of the way the photos were styled. No project in the book tempted me to recreate them but there was some inspiration to be had: concrete gazing balls, bottle trees, garden obelisks, collapsible grow box/seed started.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very impressed with the detail and instruction on building the garden ideas presented in this book. They are varied so that most anyone can find an idea they would want to incorporate into their own garden/yard. Not only will you see full color photos of each step of the building process, the author also gives clear instruction on types of wood, true measurements of lumber, and tips to make the assembly easy enough for most anyone to complete. A win! win! of a book!

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well put together book outlining many creative garden projects, from wood racks to planters to bat boxes and a really cool drying rack for herbs, etc. A bit more than utilitarian projects.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing really useful, just a few decorative projects.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas and projects for the garden and around the house.
Clear and concise steps with photos to guide.
Have added some of these to my project list.

[Christine Sopko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a couple of side ideas for the outdoors. I liked the water barrel tower, tiered drying racks, and faux rock cairn (but I'd use real rocks).

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book on building gardens. Many different ideas for any sized space. Great pictures too!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this , I voluntarily chose to review.