Room Outside: A New Approach to Garden Design - Hardcover

Brookes Chairman Of The Society Of Garden Designers, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1870673522 ISBN 13: 9781870673525

Publisher: Garden Art Press, 2007

Synopsis

This is a thoroughly revised and beautifully illustrated edition of the book that first made garden design accessible to everyone. In "Room Outside" John Brookes invented the highly practical concept of the garden, however large or small, as a usable extension of the home. That was nearly forty years ago and, while the range of products and materials has increased dramatically, the role the garden can play has not changed at all. Indeed, as a retreat from the hectic world of work and as an overflow to family life, our outdoor space has become incredibly important and "Room Outside" is even more relevant to 21st century living. John Brookes deals systematically with the creation of a contemporary garden whatever its size, from a tiny roof terrace to a substantial suburban plot. He sets the scene by exploring what we can learn from the evolution of garden design and use, and then asks the vital questions: 'What do you want?' and 'What have you got?' Then he brings together all the practical aspects of successful garden making, from basic planning, ground shaping and drainage, to enclosure, hard and soft ground surfacing, and maintenance and improvement. Chapters on planting and cultivation give advice on plant selection and transplanting semi-mature trees for instant effect, as well as modern interpretations of wilder plantings that work in small spaces. Substantial coverage of special features ranges from formal and informal water, herb and vegetable gardens, to children's play areas that are attractive as well as fun. "Room Outside" is a book full of ideas, with a final chapter on garden furniture, lighting, containers and ornament that completes its comprehensive coverage. Now with 300 full-colour photographs as well as 250 diagrams and garden plans, "Room Outside" tells you everything you need to know to create a garden for use and enjoyment as an extension to 21st century living.

About this title

About the Author

John Brookes MBE has influenced contemporary garden design worldwide more than anybody in his field. He has designed over a thousand gardens in Europe, Australia, Asia and North and South America, one of the best known being the English Walled Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He has been Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers as well as running his own school of garden design at his celebrated home in Sussex, where he practises what he teaches and uses the paved terrace outside his kitchen year round. At Denmans he also pioneered natural gardening with trees, shrubs, perennials and self-sown annuals in gravel to achieve a relaxed but very carefully planned effect that requires little maintenance. He is an inspiring teacher and lecturer and the author of a host of best-selling books, including The Small Garden and John Brookes Garden Design.

Edition details

• Publisher: Garden Art Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1870673522
• ISBN 13: 9781870673525
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304