Planting

About this book

This book examines gardens through a designer's eyes and helps the reader plan planting schemes and offers advice on the best plants for every situation. Case studies throughout look at real examples of inspiring planting schemes in detail from around the world, going behind the scenes to discover how and why they work.

Contents

Introduction Chapter 1 INFLUENCES Diarmuid Gavin and Terence Conran in conversation: Chapter 2 CONTEXT Plant provenance Locality Climate considerations Chapter 3 PURPOSE Biodiversity/wildlife Benefits of wildlife Edible gardens Family gardens Nocturnal gardens Chapter 4 STRUCTURE The bones of the garden The framework Bed and borders shapes, paths/arches; Pergolas and alleys; climbing plants on walls and fences; screens and hedges; ground-cover plants; lawns Textures Flower power: Containers on walls Chapter 5 COLOUR Hot colours Cool colours Using tonal colours Eye-catching colour combinations Colour-themed gardens Chapter 6 SEASON Spring colour Summer colour Autumn and winter colour Gardens for year-round interest Chapter 7 STYLES Historical context Formal gardens: Traditional and modern styles for large and small gardens Minimalism Zen gardens Informal and 'wild' gardens Sitting areas: natural arches and pergolas Naturalistic features: Wildflower areas, ponds, paths, steps Prairie style planting Exotic gardens Chapter 8 CONDITIONS Urban gardens: Water and bog gardens: styles, sizes Dry/coastal gardens: Gravel/sandy gardens Shade gardensfrom time to time Woodland gardens Chapter 9 PRACTICAL Basic equipment What to look for; when to buy; where to buy Soil types Planting Pruning and propagation Container gardening Maintenance Plant directory Index Acknowledgements

Customer Reviews

Biography

Terence Conran is widely recognised as one of the world's great designers and restaurateurs. In 1964 he founded the chain of Habitat stores in a bid to bring good, affordable modern design to the general public. Among his many business interests Terence also established Conran & Partners, an architecture and design practice renowned for its diverse and intelligent modern design solutions. Terence discovered a passion for gardening as a child during the war. Since then he has designed medal-winning gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which explored his passion for stylish al fresco dining, and has written several gardening books including The Essential Garden Book on which he was co-author with designer Dan Pearson. Terence has been closely involved with the creation of his own gardens in England and France and admits to being his happiest when the vegetable garden at his home in Berkshire comes to life again in the spring. Diarmuid Gavin has spent his colourful 20-year career successfully challenging the traditional conventions of garden design and gardening. His innovative designs, for which he draws inspiration from diverse sources such as Star Trek, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, invariably provoke passionate debate and have won him several medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. As well as co-presenting popular television shows such as Home Front in the Garden and Gardens Through Time, Diarmuid has contributed to The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Irish Times and written many books on garden design including Outer Spaces and Design Your Garden. He lectures regularly on garden design and the development of the modern garden and runs his own garden design and build business based in Dublin and London with clients both in the UK and abroad.