Plants are a major part of most gardens and fulfil many roles within them, providing colour, shade, scent, form, texture and much more. Choosing the right plants can be a challenge but this book provides a step-by-step guide for successful long-term planting, using design techniques and good horticultural practice. Planting Design Essentials helps you to interpret your vision, understand growing conditions and organize information in a clear and accessible way for all styles and types of planting. It also looks at creative maintenance for the future of the design, emphasizing the need for good techniques and best practice. . Select the right plants for your garden . Understand the basic principles of garden design and how they relate to planting . Care for your plants to ensure the garden matures beautifully . Written by two garden designers who share the same passion for good design and horticulture AUTHOR: Jill Anderson studied both horticulture and garden design before starting her own garden design company fifteen years ago. She enjoys designing contemporary gardens, writing about gardens and teaching. Jill has been awarded two prestigious RHS medals for her show gardens. Pamela Johnson MSGD has been designing gardens for fifteen years and is a registered member of the Society of Garden Designers. Her own garden has been open for charity for some twenty years. SELLING POINTS: . Choosing the right plants can be a challenge and this book provides a step-by-step guide to successful long-term planting . Both inspirational and practical, it helps you to interpret your vision and understanding growing conditions for all styles and types of planting . Looks at creative maintenance for the future of the design ILLUSTRATIONS: 158 colour photographs *