In a Nutshell
Skillshare’s The Beginner’s Garden provides a clear, step‑by‑step introduction to essential landscape design principles, perfect for creating beautiful and functional outdoor spaces.
Who is this Course For?
- Absolute beginners — no prior design experience required.
- DIY gardeners — looking to plan their gardens confidently.
- Aspiring landscape designers — exploring foundational design concepts.
- Sketch and plan enthusiasts — improving hand-drafting and conceptual planning skills.
What you will Learn
- Garden design objectives
- Three planes of garden space
- Form composition basics
- Design approaches
- Core design principles
- Drawing to scale
- Creating a conceptual plan
- Plotting survey and plan elements
About the Course
The Beginner’s Garden – The Fundamentals of Garden Design is an engaging course that introduces students to the art and science of landscape design. Robert Littlepage guides learners through the essential concepts of garden planning, emphasizing spatial thinking, design principles, and functional layouts.
Students explore topics such as Three Planes of Enclosure, Form Composition, and Unity, Order, and Rhythm, which teach how outdoor spaces interact and create harmony. The course also emphasizes conceptual drafting, enabling students to develop clear garden plans that can translate to any real-world project.
The hands-on project encourages learners to apply their knowledge by designing a conceptual plan for an actual property, integrating objectives, scale, and design elements. This approach ensures that students not only understand the principles but also gain practical design experience.
The course’s focus on core design fundamentals and creative visualization equips beginners with the confidence to plan gardens that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
The Instructor
Robert Littlepage – A landscape architect with over 35 years of experience in garden design and education. He specializes in teaching foundational design skills and conceptual planning.
Conclusion
This course is an excellent introduction to garden design, offering clear guidance, practical exercises, and inspiring instruction. It is ideal for beginners and anyone seeking a structured approach to planning beautiful and harmonious outdoor spaces.
The Art of Starting a Beautiful Garden
