Designer Manoj Malde's book breaks own the process of designing a garden.
Aimed at anyone with an outdoor space, the former fashion designer begins by asking what we need from our garden. He asks whether the plot is for children, elderly parents or entertaining and considers budgets and other basics. Using small plants is his top tip to save money.
The usual site and soil survey, hard and soft materials, screens, boundaries, lighting, water and sustainability basics are examined. Landscaper Gareth Wilson and garden design tutor Rosemary Alexander are among those he thanks for igniting his work.
Much use of orange, turquoise and other bright colours set the book apart from the shades of green used by many garden designers. Bohemian rhapsody is one theme, while tropical jungle. Marrakech, and African safari are others. Mood boards and colour harmony wheels are nods to his fashion days.
Now a TV favourite, he designed Beneath a Mexican Sky for Chelsea 2017 as a defining career moment and showed his planting ethos of bringing a garden to life with plants.
Styling the garden is where Manoj's expertise shines through. Moroccan and contemporary materials, colours and furnishings are created on a mood board then brought to life by pulling it together with 'finer details' such as firepits, sculptures or laser-cut panels.
Combining colours and textures is where Malde lets loose. In this book the author restrains his creative urges to write a valuable guide to find out what you really want from your garden.
