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 focused guide to the core elements and principles of landscape design: line, form, color, texture, proportion, order, repetition, and unity. Ideal for grasping how plants and hardscape combine into a balanced, attractive yard.

Gail Hansen

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 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