dk books

Customer Review:

Review by: Becky, 23 March 2009

'This book is absolutely suptuous. It''s an ideal book to dip into at any point but you may want to do more than just dip...it''s glossy pages and beautiful photographs meant that I couldn''t stop looking until I''d been through every single page.
I have some limited experience of vegetable gardening but have no idea when it comes to garden design and ''non productive'' plants. Or I didn''t have until I read this book. The possibilities are endless and no-one is forgotten: from beautiful traditional cottage gardens, to steamy Mediterranean gardens, and from family gardens to urban gardens in limited spaces.
The most impressive part of the book for me though was the idea of building a sustainable garden. In the chapter on materials there is also a checklist considering among other things durability and impact on the environment as well as cost. This really is a design book for the 21st Century!
It''s hard to know where to begin to explain the imense amount of topics covered in this book. Case studies take you through ideas for adapting, introducing or keeping various features in established gardens, there''s advice on security, boundaries, fitting in with the neighbours, privacy, planning... the list is endless!
I love the use of colour and there are colour wheels explaining how to make the most of using colour in the garden -it''s all so informative and easy to follow.
Once you''ve planned, designed and sourced material and plants for your heavenly new garden, there is advice on how to maintain it.
All this from the experts at the RHS and backed by DK means I have on my shelf a source of information that I can really trust. This book truly is inspirational. Buy it for yourself or as a brilliant gift - the stunning photography alone is guaranteed to bring a little sunshine into a plant lovers life.'

Customer Review:

Review by: Suzie Blythe, 23 March 2009

'This is the perfect book for anyone planning to change the shape or style of their garden. You can start with the picture gallery of ways to create moods and looks.
Then you can decide on the colours and hardware. Choose what you want, then use the information in this book to put them into practice. Whether you are an absolute novice at gardening, or an expert, there is something in this book for you. If you have a new garden to shape, or want to make small changes to an existing plot, this book will guide you through the planning and planting.
There are step by step instructions, with lots of pictures to guide you through every process. It is not just planning the planting, you have the basics of Decking, Paths, Pergolas and Patios. As you would expect from the RHS, the plant information is second to none. So you can choose plants by height, spread and colour. Decide on the effect that you want, how much time you want to spend in the garden, then off you go. It certainly helped us design the garden for our lifestyle. '

Customer Review:

Review by: Claire, 23 March 2009

'I live in a new-build house in a country setting, a garden that would suit both my house and my environment, a kitchen garden that was easy to maintain, a wildlife-friendly garden, something that was relatively easy to maintain but also colourful and scented. I wanted something that could marry all these ideas together and still look good. In short, I wanted so many things I had absolutely no idea where to start - and this from a novice gardener! I''d shuffle out into the garden, sigh, and go back inside. The task didn''t just seem daunting, it seemed impossible. I was resigned to the idea of paying someone to help me sort it out when I saw this book and knew immediately that I had to have it. Even though this book is crammed with big beautiful photos of stunning gardens it is by no means just a ''coffee-table book''. I had expected this to be a simple book full of plans I could copy but it is so much more than that. The proverb, ''Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.'' seems oddly relevant here (and yes, you''ll learn about fish ponds!). You could just copy one of the gardens presented in the book but after reading this you''ll know how to design a beautiful garden yourself. More importantly, you''ll know exactly what can and can''t work in your garden. The wonderful thing about this book is that it starts from the beginning, it assumes no prior knowledge but it isn''t in the least bit patronising. You''ll learn how to draw a plan of your garden properly, measure gradients, check your soil type and find out what your drainage is like. You''ll also learn about colour schemes, textures, materials, features, lighting, boundaries and a plethora of other things too numerous to note.
Whether you''re working from a blank canvas as I am, or you''re simply looking to change or enhance what you already have there''s a vast amount of information to suit your needs. ''Before and after'' case-studies are presented and it gives a much deeper understanding of dealing with problems than an ''after'' picture alone would.
The amount of information on different garden types is staggering. Whether you want your garden to be formal, sustainable, or a child-friendly garden you''ll find information and photographs to fire up your imagination. It''s quite easy to choose your favourite features and find ways to work the ideas into your own garden. I personally love the checkerboard statement piece (page 139) but wouldn''t want something so big in my garden. I''ve decided to do something similar smaller with edible plants. Not only will it be visually appealing, it''ll also fit into my kitchen garden really well. Another aspect of this book that I really liked is the information detailing the environmental impact, longevity and cost of materials. If you want a slab patio, deck, pergola, raised bed or a pond you''ll learn how to make them. When a job can be difficult for novices there''s a note to let you know.
I cannot thank the RHS enough for creating this book, I went from complete despair to excitedly scribbling plans, making lists and I''ve made more trips out into the garden this past week than I have in months. I''ve even had visitors who saw it on my bookshelf asking to borrow it. I have about a hundred books and none of them have been clamoured over like this one has! It just goes to show how much need there is for a book like this, everyone wants a beautiful garden but few people know how to create one. '

Customer Review:

Review by: Ian Ward, 20 March 2009

'A truly inspirational book! sets out in laymans terms all you need to know to redesign sections or all of your garden. I found the sections on building garden structures extremely useful as I am in the process of laying new paths and planting a hedge and the illustated guide made it much easier.
The list of suppliers was paticularly useful as often you see items in books and have no idea where to get them!
Without a doubt a great book for beginners and more experienced gardeners alike....if the fantastic illustrations don''t inspire you to revamp your garden nothing will!!'

Customer Review:

Review by: Alison, 16 March 2009

'Another instant classic from the RHS to compliment the series. This is a wonderful and inspirational book for design professionals and amateurs alike.
The section on measuring out the existing garden using triangulation and other methods is extremely clear and understandable,and often avoided in other design books.
There are a many new photographs including some from the Chelsea flower show and I was particularly pleased to see the section on materials with a list of suppliers as this can be a daunting area for gardeners.
The section on styles was particularly well illustrated, with plant listings, suggested gardens to visit, and examples of authentic designed gardens rather than computer images.
Overall a lovely eye-catching book, that reminds us of everything to consider when designing a garden. Whether you want to completely change the look and feel of your garden with hard and soft landscaping or you just want to try out new plants in a small area. A must have for those who love gardening and those who just enjoy relaxing in them!'