outdoorliving was developed by a collaboration of experts from B&Q and the world's leading publisher of illustrated books, Thames & Hudson. It follows our award-winning You can Do It The complete B&Q step-by-step book of home improvement. These two books are part of the expanding B&Q library of home improvement publications. Together they form a partnership providing inspiration and advice indoors and out.

introduction

the outdoor room

Seeking inspiration

Greener gardens

Gardens for all

Safe and sound

design

an outdoor room for you

Gardens for getting together

Gardens for getting away

Finding your garden style

The low-maintenance garden

be your own garden designer

How tO think like a designer

Designing with plants

Planting in colour

Designing hard tandscaping

Starting with what you have

Climate and conditions

Light and aspect

making plans

Surveying a site and drawing a plan

Budget and practicalities

create

create the look

cottage garden

New beds and borders, stepping stones,

planting a dry-stone wall

city oasis garden

Paths and paving, pergola corner seat,

timber arch, trellis fencing

socialising garden

Patio water feature deck, pool,

summerhouse

family ga rden

Woooen Lawn edging, willow screening,

trellis panel play area sandpit, childrens

growing patch summerhouse

contemplation garden

PergoLa waLKway, gravel path, renoered bench,

sunken deck with water feature

exotic garden

Spa, brick planters, raised deck

with angled steps

front garden

Sub-base, block-paved drive, drainage

channel, slab paving, orick plinth, Lighting

quick and easy gardens

Balcony, conservatory

garden

what is gardening

garden tools

your earth

Know your soil

Soil improver, mulch and fertitiser

Making your own compost

Preparing the ground

Drainage in the garden

Planting your garden

……

plant chooser enjoy

 The inspiration for this book came to me while relaxing on my new deck. It overlooks a modest play area that we built for our kids and a thicket of trees where we dream of creating a contemplation garden.

 My name is David Roth. I am the Marketing Director of B&Q. My own family garden informs the core message of this book: just outside the door many of us have a space full of untapped potential - a space to create, design,grow and enjoy. Especially enjoy.

 outdoorLiving presents all the knowledge andinspiration you need to make your outdoor space trulypart of your living space. Whatever your home - countrycottage, suburban semi, city fiat - and whatever yourpassion - plants, partying, peace and quiet - we showyou how to create the perfect outdoor room for you.……

 But that's not all. We also explain the process of garden design - from first inspiration all the way to scale drawing. We take the mystery out of gardening in a chapter that explains everything from lawn care to planting trees. We include a catalogue of recommended garden plants - widely available, easy to grow, all with something special to offer. And we show you how to enhance the comfort and style of your outdoor space,so that it will become an ever greater part of your life.