If you’ve got a really creative eye and your garden is the envy of the neighbourhood, why not expand upon this and create even better gardens for other people by studying garden design?  You’ll learn all the practical and theoretical elements and before you know it, people will be calling you the local garden design guru.  Here’s what you need to know about studying garden design.

What is Garden Design?

Garden design is the process of creating plans and specifications for the construction of a new garden.  It involves things such as the types of plants to be used and where they will go; hardscaping elements such as pathways, retaining walls, and so on; the placement and design of entertaining areas; the placement of practical elements such as clotheslines, and garden sheds; creating plans for the maintenance of the new garden; and ensuring that the new plan meets the client’s or your budgets.  The good thing about garden design is that you can learn the basics so that you can revamp your own backyard, or learn advanced techniques that allow you to create stunning landscapes in any situation and to indeed make a career from garden design.

If you choose to work in the field of garden design, you will be working closely with clients to help them realise their dream garden.  You will need to collaborate with your client throughout the design phase and make changes as needed until you come up with a design that is workable, fits within the client’s budget, and that meets the client’s needs and desires.  You can choose to work as a member of a garden design company or a landscaping company, or you can choose to start your own business if that is the path that you wish to take.

Study Options for Garden Design

If you are planning on learning more about garden design, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are several different study options available. These include short courses, certificates, diplomas, and even degrees, depending on the depth in which you want to study.  Keep in mind, however, that even short courses cover quite a range of topics and will give you a solid grounding in the principles of garden design.  Courses can be delivered in a number of ways. You can choose to attend a campus to study the course either full time or part time but if you require more flexibility, you may prefer to study via distance or online learning.  Distance learning or online learning allows you to study garden design in the comfort of your own home and at your own pace.  Full support is also provided so that you don’t have to worry about getting stuck anywhere along the way.

Questions to Consider

If you are considering learning garden design, whether it’s just to give you more tools for your own garden or as a career, there are some questions that you will need to answer to ensure that you choose the course that is right for you. These include:

• Is the course provided by a reputable organisation?
• What areas does the course cover?  Does the course cover the basics or is it more in depth?
• What is the cost of doing the course, and are any materials included in the course?
• Will the course allow me to get into a career in garden design if I so choose?
• Is the course qualification nationally recognised?