When I was in high school, I participated in “career day” with the rest of my class, shadowing a person who had the career I hoped to have in the future…
the career I chose? landscape architect.
You are reading: Best landscape design books
I learned a lot from my daytime observation. That day, the seed that sprouted into my love of gardening was planted.
Although I am not a landscape architect today, I still have an affinity with the profession and consume books on the subject as often as possible.
here is a list of my favorite landscaping books, landscape design books and more. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
1. the grass is gone!
author: pam penick
If anyone knows me, they know I’m not a fan of American grass. in fact, I will never have one in my garden.
pam’s book is a fantastic guide to turning your lawn into a beautiful landscape that requires less care and uses less water. she covers different types of grass, drought-tolerant plants, and even touches of artificial grass (if you want to go that route).
grass gone! is a practical guide on how to beautify your garden and eliminate resource consuming grass. highly recommended.
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2. edible landscaping
author: rosalind creasy
Now, this is an idea I can get behind. Instead of just learning landscaping techniques, Rosalind talks about how to landscaping with plants you can eat too.
It’s a double whammy: not only do you beautify your garden, but you can also eat it! reduces your impact on the environment in more ways than one.
His book helps you understand how you can add edible plants to your landscape, even if it’s just a few here and there. Rosalind is an absolute expert in her field, with dozens of years of experience. The book includes an encyclopedia of groceries, which she may also consider a book within a book.
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3. the living landscape
author: rick darke
One of the main reasons people don’t get rid of their gardens is that the garden still functions as an open space for children to play and events to take place.
Rick’s book shows you exactly how to get the best of both worlds: beautiful landscaping that’s less reliant on grass, and outdoor space that can still be used by kids and adults alike.
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With lots of amazing illustrations and a solid framework on how to achieve this landscape for your own home, Rick’s book is a must read for landscapers and homeowners alike.
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4. taylor’s master guide to landscaping
author: rita buchanan
Landscape design is no easy task. If gardening is difficult for people, landscape design can seem like an absolute nightmare. there are so many different things to pay attention to that it seems maddening, even if you have years of growing experience.
Rita’s book demystifies the landscape trade and even shows you how to hire landscapers and assess their experience. if you decide to do it yourself, it shows you how to choose plants, design beautiful spaces, and create privacy with hedges and fences.
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5. landscaping step by step
author: best houses and gardens
This is an updated version of a classic tome of better homes and gardens. It has more than 700 photographs of gardens and more than 100 projects presented step by step.
As a beginner to landscape design, there may be no better book to get. you can’t go wrong following the step-by-step guides, and there’s plenty of inspiration sprinkled throughout the book.
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6. paradise planned
robert a. meter. stern
This book is more for history buffs and landscape lovers than for those who want a practical guide to landscape design. however, it’s still a fascinating read.
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covers the history of the suburban garden, from the 19th century to the present day, when suburban redevelopment became a hot topic for gardeners and urban planners alike.
If you want an in-depth understanding of how lawn and garden culture developed in the suburbs, look no further.
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7. landscape architecture: an introduction
author: robert holden
This book is a true introduction to the field of landscape architecture. it is written for people seeking a career in the field, and as such is one of the most in-depth books you can find on the subject.
goes beyond hobbyist landscape architecture topics and delves into design principles, digital design techniques, and even how to manage a landscape over time.
If you have a serious interest in the field of landscape architecture, reading this book will help you understand just how deep and fascinating the field really is.
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8. natural architecture now
author: francesca tatarella
This book is a different take on landscape architecture and shows people using natural “ingredients” to build houses and other creations. while it may not be landscaping directly, it shows another twist on the field: how to use natural products to create shelter.
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9. hellstrip gardening
author: evelyn hadden and joshua mcullough
If you grew up in the suburbs, you know what the “strip from hell” is: the little piece of land between the sidewalk and the street.
Having grown up in the suburbs, I always felt these spaces were totally underutilized. With hellstrip gardening, we finally have a guide on how to beautify and reclaim these spaces as your own.
There are plenty of photos and how-to guides that will give you more than enough inspiration to get started on a “hell track” near you.
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10. the plant cookbook
author: baylor chapman
Who says landscape design has to be outdoors? Although this book doesn’t quite qualify, it’s still a great resource on plant design. there are over 100 projects that show you how to create beautiful plant arrangements.
I say plant because this is not a flower arrangement book. it’s more about creating natural groups of plants that look beautiful and add a touch of nature to an otherwise boring room.
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11. design with nature
author: ian l. load
designing with nature is a classic tome. is over 25 years old and has stood the test of time. many professionals in the sector consider it one of the classics.
gives you a comprehensive view of how we as humans interact and design around (or with) nature. touching technology, science and philosophy, you get a complete picture of how we can (and should) interact with our environment.
choose this book if you want a complete understanding of landscape design and its implications in our society.
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12. landscape graphics
author: grant reid
If you really want to become a landscape architect, this book shows you what you need to know about the graphic techniques used in the field.
It ranges from simple topics like drawing to more complex techniques like full diagrams. you can follow the exercises and work on your skills.
This book is ideal for aspiring or professional landscape architects.
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13. principles of ecological landscape design
author: travis beck
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Today, people not only want a landscape to be beautiful, but also sustainable. that’s a tough proposition unless you have the basics of landscape design.
This book by Travis Beck discusses the basics of how landscapes work from an ecological perspective and then applies those concepts to landscape design. the underlying theory of the book is that to design successfully, we must first understand the landscape itself.
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14. the social life of small urban spaces
author: william h. why
If you’ve ever taken a class in environmental design, urban planning, or a variety of other fields, chances are you’ve already seen this book.
transformed the way we think about planning public areas. if you want a technical and historical look at landscape design and urban planning, this book is a goldmine.
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15. the plantation design manual
author: nick robinson
Like the social life of small urban spaces, this book is another classic in the field of landscape architecture. looks at the field through aesthetic, ecological and biological lenses to provide the most nuanced vision possible.
focuses heavily on a system-based approach to landscape architecture, highlighting the importance of understanding system ecology before designing a landscape.
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16. digital drawing for landscape architecture
author: bradley cantrell and wes michaels
As a landscape architect, learning to draw digitally is a multiplier of your effectiveness. not only can you design faster, but your designs are much more flexible and can be modified in new and unique ways.
This book teaches you almost all of the digital drawing techniques you will use in your career as a landscape architect. it’s written like a workbook, packed with hands-on tutorials for you to work through.
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17. landscape design: a cultural and architectural history
author: elizabeth barlow rogers
This book looks at how humans have shaped the environment. Unlike other books, it goes back to prehistory and delves into the structures and environmental changes we made as a species thousands of years ago.
Of course, it also covers current events and is packed with images and explanations of the ways in which we, as human beings, have taken control of our environment.
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18. landscape architectural graphic standards
author: leonard j. hopper
Set to become the new “bible” of landscaping, this book is an introduction to design in relation to landscape architecture. is based on architectural graphic standards, which is a 70+ year old book that has stood the test of time.
Choose this if you want a basic education in the countryside.
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19. garden and landscape architecture lexicon
author: meto j. vroom
Think of this book as a glossary gone mad. the author, meto j. vroom, not only wins awards for the most unique name I’ve ever seen, but for the way you approach this book.
Inside are over 250 landscaping terms, objects and concepts. he defines them all and discusses how they connect to each other. this is a tremendously important book if you want to speak “the same language” as other landscapers.
terms matter, and when everyone agrees on the definition, communication is much easier too.
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20. reimagining california grass
For those of you (like me) who live in climates with little water, you may want to try xeriscaping. reimagining california grass is one of the best books out there if you’re looking to get rid of grass and create a visually appealing landscape that doesn’t hog water.
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last updated on 2022-09-04/affiliate links/amazon product advertising api images
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