In this final article on outdoor lighting, we will look at a real scheme.  In the first article we looked at the different outside lights,  such as uplighting, downlight, path lighting moonlighting   In the second article on garden lights we covered the different fittings and the choice of lamps.  [...] The post Outdoor Lighting: How to Design a Garden Lighting Scheme Pt. III appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Outside lights are fundamental to any successful landscape scheme.  In this 3 part article, we’ll discuss the different outside light fittings as well as their quality and durability. The different lamps available, as well as how, what and where to place outside lights for maximum effect. The [...] The post Outside Lights: How to Design a Garden Lighting Scheme appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Why Banning the Eraser will Make you a Better Designer In this garden design tutorial, I ban my students from using an eraser! Instead, I encourage them to make mistakes which can then lead to happy accidents.  I have often used the analogy of ‘writers block’ when it comes to designing.  Some [...] The post Garden Design Tutorial: Banning the Eraser appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Site Surveying: How to Measure A Garden and Plot it on Paper Before you can start designing a garden, you need to know how to measure a garden, then plot it on paper.  In order to do this, you will need to carry out a site survey. Your area measurement should be as accurate as possible, as mistakes [...] The post How to Measure A Garden appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

How Pinterest Ideas and inspiration is replacing traditional media.  And how we as designers can use it to help both us and our clients define their sense of style. I used to tell my design students to subscribe to various magazines for inspiration, primarily to help develop their sense of style.  [...] The post Pinterest Ideas: How to use it in Your Design Business appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

How and where to buy wholesale plants in the UK There is an enormous choice of wholesale plants in the UK.  From independent nurseries like Avensis Perennials, Babylon Plants, and Farnham Common Nurseries, to large wholesale/retail nurseries like Hillier or Evergreen.  For trade only consider nurseries [...] The post Wholesale Plants: A Buyers Guide appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Our Planting Design Diploma Book List is by no means definitive, but has been compiled as a reference to some of the best planting design books currently available.  Some are now out of print but still current, while others are still very much available.  They cover both domestic, as well as commercial [...] The post Our 10 Best Planting Design Books appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

John Brookes Landscape Designer passed away yesterday at his home, at Denmans Nr Fontwell West Sussex.  He was 84. This article was written as a result of an interview that took place back in 2008 but was never published.  It briefly documents John’s extraordinary career and why his work had such [...] The post John Brookes MBE 1933-2018 appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Outdoor steps are a design opportunity. On any site with significant level differences, the design of changes in level is important for appearance, convenience and safety. The size and shape of outdoor steps in new buildings is governed by the local Building Regulations. This control is mainly directed [...] The post Outdoor Steps: How to design a flight of outdoor steps appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more

Taking part in exhibitions as a garden designer - sense or nonsense? By former student Sabine Friedrich Should you take part in a garden design show? The answer is simple: yes, but ... ... only in cooperation with a landscaping company. But let's start with the 'yes, I would take part in an exhibition [...] The post Garden Design Shows appeared first on Oxford College of Garden Design ..read more