How to Design a Garden

This revised and updated 2026 edition brings together the sharp wit and the straight-talking wisdom of the man widely credited as the inventor of the modern garden.

John Brookes MBE revolutionized garden design, with a new design philosophy and methodology that was rooted in the notion that gardens are about the people who live in them. Recognizing the demands of the contemporary lifestyle, he broke with previous labour-intensive garden design traditions and the emphasis on showcasing plants. Instead he promoted using gardens as extensions of the home.

John taught and lectured around the world and, thanks to his energetic writing, teaching and media appearances, he became regarded as the 'king' and 'godfather' of garden and landscape design. How to Design a Garden is an informative and ultimately practical collection of his thoughts and advice selected from countless writings and lectures given to students, professionals and the public around the world.

In addition to his teaching on how to design a garden, the book has two key themes - environmental sustainability and a focus on the local vernacular. In this revised and updated edition, a new directory of 50 essential plants shows how far ahead John was of his time and to what a great extent his teaching remains relevant to garden-makers today.