Your House, Your Garden: A Foolproof Approach to Garden Design

by Gordon Hayward, Richard Felber (Photographer)

A breakthrough in inspiring yet practical do-it-yourself garden and landscape design, including dozens of detailed plans. Finally, homeowners can tackle new garden designs and fix old ones with the confidence and know-how to succeed. Professional garden designer Gordon Hayward provides the tools by demonstrating the guiding principles behind his own designs: take clues from the style, materials, and proportions of existing features, particularly your house, but also garages and outbuildings, property lines, streets, walls, and walkways. Look closely at these features, and they will suggest good design.

Over sixty color photographs and over one hundred detailed watercolor sketches of Hayward's plans for his clients show how to read the clues and then design gardens that relate to their surroundings and unify entire properties. Many tricks of the trade are given, including how to make inviting, sheltering entry gardens; screen unsightly features and utilities; and reclaim narrow, shady side yards. Surefire methods for designing front, side, and backyard gardens are explained. 200 color photographs and drawings

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Justin]

nice references... could have focused more on cottage style gardens... many of the concepts were oriented towards formal design. enjoyed the tips for hiding and screening various propane tanks, septic lids, etc.

[Francine Apollo]

Beautiful photos and sketches. This book has examples of gardens for multiple house styles and tips for problem areas. The author has lots of suggestions and I found it helpful as I try to create a new garden.

Recommended.

[Kathleen]

As a Landscape Designer I'd heard of him often, seminars, lectures etc. but somehow the book wasn't anywhere near as good as I'd hoped.

I'm certain I would have enjoyed the book more if I didn't spend so much time wrestling with the layout. Mr. Hayward goes into great detail about landscaping concepts on a particular project & would generally end up referring to related photos or figures that were often many pages ahead. The going back & forth got really old after awhile...not to mention,extremely frustrating. I think any reader generally appreciates seeing the photos being referred to on the page they are explained.

My other negative about this book was that so much detail seemed to be spent on specific projects that it seemed the author was more preoccupied at times with his clients project & describing things that often weren't even in the photographs or seriously helpful to a designer wanting to learn more. A more preferable approach in my opinion would have been to not fuss about specific client details but glean from the projects the essence or core principles applied & present them in clear & concise fashion.

After reading the entire book slowly & carefully, I would honeslty have to admit I'd hoped to find a vast wealth of practical & easily adaptable gems. Instead I only came away with very limited amount of useful information.

I have not read any of Mr. Hayward's other books..so I may check them out in the library first before buying...perhaps they might be far superior to this one. I still hold to my opinion that he's a brilliant designer...however that doesn't necessariy make him a great writer!

A book I found to be much better is The Landscape Design Answer Book by Jane Bath...

[Redfawn]

What I learned:
- Make your house the focus of the garden and use the proportions of your house to design your landscape.
- The east side of the house will only be used in the morning. The west and the south sides are best for use by guests and your family since there will be more light in these areas when guests typically visit. The north bit of the house often goes unused and it is wise to plant it so that it looks as natural as possible.
- Think of the entrance to the house as being a space that transports yourself and your visitors from the outside world to your home.
- Really consider how to use pathways to invite yourself and your guests to explore the garden.

[Candy]

I learned about photo-tropic plants, and realized that through dumb luck I have most of my photo-tropic plants in the correct location! I also have my arbor and gates properly located. Amazing.

What I didn't like about this book is the math required to get things in the right place. Ugh! Math is not my thing. I guess I will continue to muddle along just using my eyes and instinct.