Andrew Wilson is a founding Director of The London School of Garden Design and an award winning garden designer, lecturer and writer. He is Chief Assessor for the RHS for show gardens and has been assessing and judging for over 12 years, mainly at Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows. He writes a regular column for Gardens Illustrated and has contributed to a series of books, including Influential Gardeners, The Book of Garden Plans and The Book of Plans for Small Gardens (all Mitchell Beazley). He is also the founding editor of The Garden Design Journal and regularly contributes to the RHS journal The Garden.

• INTRODUCTION BASICS 15 ways to... reveal your plot's potential; Getting to know the plot; Measuring the plot; Understanding your soil; Orientation and microclimate; Identifying plants and materials; Imprinting your style; Setting your agenda; Case study: A rooftop retreat. DESIGN 15 ways to... make an instant impact; Small garden: great opportunity; Principles of design; Layout and geometry; Space, volume and structure; Boundaries and screens; Mass and void, colour and texture; Colour in your garden; Texture in your garden; Applying the principles: roof gardens, basements, terraces, alleys, entrances; Functional and spacial needs; Case study: Screening the views. STYLES 15 ways to... find your style; Formal; Modernist; Arts and crafts; Japanese; Cottage; Urban; Mediterranean; Conceptualist; Eco; Exotic; Case study: Creating a style. MATERIALS 15 ways to... exploit materials; Choosing your materials: Function and decoration; Paving slabs, concrete, brick, setts, block paving, cobbles, decking, gravel; Simple rules of construction and drainage bullet points; Changes of level: steps and slopes; Impact of construction; Decorating with materials; Case study: Mastering materials. BOUNDARIES 15 ways to... buff up your of boundaries; Setting the boundaries; Boundary materials: fences, walls; Planting and boundaries; Case study: Hardworking boundaries. STRUCTURES 15 ways to... use garden structures; Storage solutions; Garden offices and conservatories; Green roofs and raised beds; Case study: Creating privacy and depth. WATER 15 ways to... enjoy water; Water features for every garden; Case study: Wild about water. PLANTING 15 ways to... improve your planting design; Planting habitats, Planting styles: Cottage, formal, modernist, Mediterranean, Japanese, English, foliage, naturalistic, productive, minilaist, conceptualist, sustainable; Long-term and short-term thinking, Putting plants together; Plant profiles; Specimen and design statements; Planting for reduced maintenance; Case study: Planting for privacy. UPKEEP 15 ways to... simplify your gardening; Seasonal jobs and regular maintenance; Simple propagation; Compost and fertilisers; Rubbish and recycling; Case study: The low-maintenance garden. INDEX AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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