Beginner’s Guide to Garden Planning and Design

Gardener and horticulturalist Yoest’s (Good Berry Bad Berry) book (originally self-published) is a cross of narrative nonfiction and encyclopedia of gardening wisdom, with a reservoir of potentially wallet-impacting ideas. The chapters are short and include sidebars for a deeper dive into each chapter’s subject matter. There are also pictures throughout the book, but not every concept or topic has an image that shows it. The author mentions her own gardens, but there are only a few photos of them. Whatever questions readers might have about gardening or about pulling off their visions, Yoest likely has an answer. She encourages readers and offers valuable advice for preparing and planning an outdoor space; for example, think through what the garden will be used for before picking a style. She also gives solutions to pesky garden problems and reminds readers that a fully mature garden takes time. There is a helpful index.