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Small Garden Design
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What's Included

Learn to draw to scale with precision

Maximise space with design techniques

Exclusive case studies from Butter’s portfolio

Take a personal tour of Butter’s own breathtaking garden

Small Garden Design
25 lessons | 4 hours
Small gardens don’t have to mean compromise. Renowned garden designer Butter Wakefield is a master of transforming tiny spaces into beautiful, character-filled retreats. In this exclusive online course, she reveals the techniques she uses to design gardens that are as practical as they are beautiful. Through three case studies, including her own garden, Butter takes you through every stage of the design process from planning to plant selection, layout, and final touches. You’ll learn how to work with materials, maximise space, and create a sanctuary bursting with life, whether you’re working with a courtyard, terrace, or the smallest of city gardens.
“
I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve learnt over the years and help you love and enjoy the process of creating a garden no matter how small the space is
— Butter Wakefield
Billed annually
One time purchase

Lesson Plan
25 LESSONS / 4 HOURS
Meet Butter
Butter welcomes you to the course and introduces the 3 case studies across the course: her own personal garden, a courtyard garden in North London, and Rita Konig’s garden.
Introducing the design process
Butter guides you around her west-facing garden and explains some of the key features of the garden design process.
Aspect & drawing to scale
In this lesson, you'll learn how to create a scale drawing of your garden and how to plot the key structural features of your house.
Laying out your existing garden
In this lesson Butter will teach you to make the most of your sightlines and why the width of your garden borders is so important.
Building a brief
Butter explains how she builds a brief with a client and guides you through a set of questions so you can create your own garden brief.
Materiality & surfaces
In this video, Butter shows you how she uses mirrors, trellis and stone to create texture and tone in her design projects.
Laying out furniture & pots
In this lesson Butter will teach you to make the most of your sightlines and why the width of your garden borders is so important.
Working with boundaries & trees
If you live in a city, you might have some buildings around your boundary that you want to block from view. In this lesson, Butter explains how to use trees to block views and create a sense of privacy.
Planting design - creating structure
Here, Butter guides you through the process of creating structural planting using shrubs, climbers and clipped shapes.
Planting design - shrubs & mid-level interest
Butter guides you through planting design in this video, and shows you how to utilise early flowering and winter flowering shrubs, as well as perennials and delicate grasses.
Planting design - Butter's favourite bulbs
In this lesson, Butter introduces you to some of her favourite bulbs and discusses the best aspects for different types of perennials.
Using water
Water is a vital part of any garden, so in this video Butter explains why you should include a water feature in your space, whatever its size.
Using light
Investing in high-quality lighting can make dark winter nights much cosier. In this video, Butter guides you through some of her favourite lighting schemes.
A wild city garden - part 1
It’s May in Butter’s garden as she guides you through the planting in her borders and reveals her wildflower meadow in full bloom.
A wild city garden - part 2
Back in Butter’s garden, she introduces you to the concept of zoning different spaces, explains why you should make space for biodiversity and why you should work with seasonality.
A perfectly designed terrace
In this lesson, Butter explains how to add interest to your garden by framing doorways, introducing vertical aspects and making space for wildness.
Redesigning a London garden
In this video, Butter introduces you to the garden of her client, Rita Konig. She also shows you how she uses mood boards in the design process and works with her clients to select plants.
Using moodboards
In this lesson, Butter shows you how she uses mood boards in the design process and works with her clients to select plants.
Rita Konig's garden walkthrough
Butter and Rita take a look around her finished garden and discuss why they made some of the design and planting choices that they did.
Planning a courtyard garden - part 1
Butter guides you through her designs for a charming courtyard garden in London and explains how she made use of what was already in the space.
Planning a courtyard garden - part 2
Butter shows you how to sketch out elevations so you can get a sense of scale in your own small garden design.
Designing a tiny garden
In this video, Butter takes on the challenge of designing a very small inner courtyard garden and explains how access issues made the job even harder.
The finished courtyard garden - part 1
Butter walks you through the finished courtyard garden and explains how she worked with the client, Jack Davidson, to choose some of its key design features.
The finished courtyard garden - part 2
Butter explains how lanterns and well-placed pots help Jack’s courtyard garden to really shine.
A brilliantly designed tiny garden - the results
Butter guides us through the inner courtyard garden and explains how she made the most of every corner to create a lush and verdant space.
Hear from our community of creative learners
I LOVE IT
“I have been loving the gardening courses so much…I couldn’t decide which one to get…so bought a subscription for the year. I love how each one has a different design (in terms of type and color) - so they truly feel like different experiences. So happy I signed up!”
JESSICA, US
It really is great value
“So much insight into a wonderful range of creative, interiors and gardening options. It is really great value. I've most enjoyed learning about paint with Edward Bulmer - and the practical aspects and insights in Rita's courses have also been so useful. ”
JENNA, GB
Tremendous, priceless information
“I am loving the courses. I am getting pearls here! It makes me think in a totally different way and look up loads of new things. It is all comfortable to watch and I cannot tell you how much joy it is bringing me. ”
FRANKIE, GB
The greatest creative minds
“These courses are akin to sitting across the table with some of the greatest creative minds. This is hard won wisdom generously passed out.”
LJ, US
Very thorough courses
“Very thorough courses. Much better than some other "masterclass" type of websites. You get very actionable lessons. I learned a lot and took multiple courses. The floristry course especially was a favourite.”
TROVE, US
What a gem platform!
“I am so impressed. All of a sudden all ideas coming to my head and somehow I am a lot braver when it comes to planning my sitting room. There is so much to choose from. Everyone will find a course for themselves!”
B.P, GB
Really great creative courses!
“So many varied courses, great selection of talented instructors, great organisation of lessons within each course.”
CAMILLA, DK
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