Whether you are an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, this book contains everything you need to know about designing and maintaining your garden. It covers all the key skills, from planning to planting, and includes ideas for more adventurous projects such as building a pond. The book begins with simple design ideas and advice about planning your garden, with straightforward instructions. The sections that follow are packed with useful advice, including how to improve your soil and how to achieve a perfect, weed-free lawn. The book then builds on this basic knowledge to suggest more spectacular ideas for gardens. The final sections cover the skills you will need to keep your garden in tip-top shape and includes an at-a-glance checklist of tasks to do throughout the year. This is the essential reference guide for new gardeners and those who want to extend their gardening expertise - learn a wealth of essential gardening skills and techniques, from assessing your garden and planning the design to preparing the soil and maintaining perfect beds and borders. Each technique is clearly explained with step-by-step pictures taking you through every stage. There are special sections on building rock and water gardens, with advice on creating ponds, bog gardens and water features, and a comprehensive seasonal checklist highlights the essential tasks to achieve throughout the year.