Creating Small Formal Gardens (ISBN 1850298319)

Small Formal Gardens a Winner:
At first I thought this book would be too sophisticated for a non-professional such as myself - I was wrong! There are many great ideas which I plan to use this summer in my own garden. The author illustrates many garden plans, I have decided to borrow plans from several of them. He also explains tips on how to use symmetry, how to create illusions using height and space, etc. He also explains the history of formal gardens which I found interesting. Another useful feature of this book is the listing of suggested plants for formal gardens and their light requirements. This is the first book I have ever ordered which I picked up and read immediately.

Good for Many Skill Levels:
This is an excellent how to for formal gardens. It has a good balance of well done pictures, text and diagrams. Whether you are trying to create a simple herb garden or large complicated parterres and mazes, this book breaks it down without dumbing it down. The photos and text cover semi-formal styles, like English border gardens, cottage gardens and small backyard spaces. There are good images of knot gardens done in different types of plants and on different scales. There are a number of rose garden styles and herb garden styles. It also covers adding water features, like reflecting pools and ponds into a formal setting. Additionally it has shrub gardens and how to sculpt them. There is a good chapter of illustrated diagrams. It has 18 basic layouts. Each one with relatively detailed instructions on how to create the desired effect. Including suggestion on how to layer the plantings for visual effect. How to mow the lawn to achieve patterns. Suggestions of brick walkway designs. Alternative hedge trimming patterns. And what plants to use. It also suggests what the annual maintenance is for each different style of garden. Which gives you a great idea of what you're getting yourself into! After the layouts there is an index of recommended deciduous shrubs and trees, evergreen shrubs and trees, fruiting and flowering trees, foliage plants, etc....it gives zones and light requirements. And it indicates what each plant would be best suited to. Plant names are all in Latin. The index isn't extensive, it only covers 4 pages, but it does give easily attainable plants. The last pages of the book give illustrations of shaping hedges (with clever ways of keeping them perfectly flat), laying out a perfect knot garden, creating different topiaries, and how to espalier fruit trees. I love this book, and use it often to show my customers different ideas for their spaces.