Free eBook: 24 1/2 Garden Design Ideas

One of the best ways to improve your design ability is to critique other gardens. You are better able to see both the good and bad of the design when you look at a landscape which you’re not intimately familiar with. I learn a lot by wondering the neighborhood and looking at front yard gardens. At each one I ask myself some important questions.

• What do I like about the design?
• What don’t I like about the design?
• Is it functional?
• How much work is required to maintain it?
• Were plantings done correctly?
• Does it contain some design elements I could use?

In this eBook I show you how I critique gardens and how I use this information to make my design better.

24 1/2 Garden Design Ideas

Imagine standing in front of a yard containing nothing but grass. Now you have to answer the question, how do I make the space functional and appealing? For most of us, including myself, this is not easy. It is hard to visualize a finished garden when all you have is grass or some old tired flower beds.

It is much easier to answer the question while standing in someone else’s garden. By going through this process you are training yourself to think about design aspects. You are learning how to design and when it comes time to work on your own garden you will have an easier time answering the questions.

To create this book I went for a walk in the neighborhood, took pictures of front yards, and then analyzed them. On the following pages I will critique each yard and look at a number of aspects to determine the good and bad in each garden. Follow along with me and you will learn a lot about garden design.

It is not important that you agree with my comments. Design is a very personal thing and each of us has our own likes and dislikes. If you disagree with me, that is a good thing. You and I are different. We will never make the same design decisions, nor should we.

If this book helps you better understand your own wants and needs in the garden I will consider it a success.