The home landscaper: 55 professional landscapes you can do

In my area of the country, a professional landscape design is very expensive. I consider this book a bargain, even if I have to purchase an additional plan. Each plan comes with a Regionalized Plant & Materials List that is customized for your area of the country, so with some modifications to accomodate your lot, you can have a beautiful professional landscape design for a fraction of the regular cost.Even if you don't want to puchase a plan, this book is helpful. It describes the basics of an artistic landscaping design: Space, Line, Form, Texture, Color, Pattern, Balance, Dominance, Contrast, Scale and Porportion, and Rhythm. Also covered is how to choose plants and materials in order to provide a cohesive, well designed landscape. But most of all, the plans are beautiful and adaptable to various styles of homes and lot-sizes. Reading this book you may inspire and guide you to create your own landscape design. Plus, if you plan to hire a designer, this book may help you evaluate the designer. I have had two "landscape designers" advise me to build a low fieldstone wall in my front yard. After reading this book, I realize that a rough-textured wall is not appropriate for my formal-looking house.Do not buy this book if you are looking for a lot of detailed plant information. If you are interested in good landscape design, this book is an excellent resource.

This book features designs for front and back yards and is very much oriented to a typical suburban lot. It shows which garden might go with a particular house style and is clear and easy to read. There is no detailed plant info and if you want to follow a particular design you must send away for the plan (which costs $--but less than hiring a designer...). Some of the designs are a little dated but many are very fresh and interesting, especially the backyard designs. It's a good book to have if you're starting with a bare lot and brainstorming for ideas.