How to Design a Garden

Look at a range of garden styles and survey your garden, then use your knowledge to create a new design plan for your garden. Modules: assessing your needs – intended uses, budget, maintenance requirements; choosing a style – formal, informal, traditional and modern; the site survey – measuring size, shape, soil type, aspect and assessing the effects of sun and shade; design aspects – looking at shapes, harmony, balance and proportion; hard landscaping – walls, fences, paving and decking; designing with plants – height, form, texture, colour, year round interest.

For keen amateurs and landscapers with some plant knowledge who wish to learn some new skills.

Merrist Wood has a strong tradition of excellence in garden design. The College offers students a well-equipped design studio and a library containing an immense collection of horticultural and design books.
Within the College grounds an ongoing programme of model gardens is under construction, which supplements the unrivalled plant collection on the 280-hectare estate.