Basic Principles of Landscape Design

A practical, hands-on manual that walks you through pruning, renovating an overgrown yard, designing a new landscape, and keeping it healthy year after year. Written by a respected gardening educator, it turns common yard problems into clear, doable projects.

Cass Turnbull

A concise primer that blends art and science to explain how color, line, form, texture, and scale shape a successful landscape. A solid starting point for anyone learning to plan outdoor spaces from scratch.

Montana State University

A short, approachable lesson covering the living and non-living components of a landscape and how good design brings them together. A gentle entry point for absolute beginners.

ACS Distance Education

A thorough guide to good practice covering site survey and analysis, master planning, designing with plants, tree protection, and hard landscape details. Rich with illustrations that make professional design methods easy to follow.

South Somerset District Council

A professional design guide that lays out the full landscape design process, from analysis to planting and maintenance standards. Detailed diagrams and benchmarks make it a strong reference for ambitious projects.

Whole Building Design Guide