Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
Welcome to your one-stop shop for Beginner Garden Design Online Courses, your digital haven for cultivating green dreams! Whether you're an aspiring garden designer, a beginner or a seasoned gardener looking to elevate your skills, this is your go-to destination for garden design courses.
If you want to train as a garden designer, online garden design courses are the way to take your first step toward your dream job! Learning how to design a garden doesn't need to involve the risk of studying for a design degree that takes years or thousands of pounds on other never-ending weekend courses. Garden Ninjas online gardening e-courses teach you everything you need to know about garden design and gardening from the comfort of your home.
Lee Burkhill / Garden Ninja's online garden design courses take you from absolute beginner to competent intermediate in just a matter of hours.
£29
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans: In this online gardening course, I'll walk you through 30 fantastic garden designs, explaining the logic behind the layout, the plant choices, and take-home tips for applying them in your own garden.
Weekend Garden Makeover: A Crash Course in Design for Beginners
Learn how to transform and design your own garden with Lee Burkhills crash course in garden design. Over 5 hours Lee will teach you how to design your own dream garden. Featuring practical design examples, planting ideas and video guides. Learn how to design your garden in one weekend!
Garden Design for Beginners: Create Your Dream Garden in Just 4 Weeks
Garden Design for Beginners Online Course: If you want to make the career jump to becoming a garden designer or to learn how to design your own garden, this is the beginner course for you. Join me, Lee Burkhill, an award-winning garden designer, as I train you in the art of beautiful garden design.
Lee Burkhill, the award-winning Garden Ninja from BBC1's Garden Rescue, offers a number of immersive gardening online courses to help set you up for success. So whether you're tentatively dipping your toes into the world of gardening courses or you want to be the next award-winning designer, these e-courses in design and horticulture are for you!
Each online gardening course features the following benefits for students:
Study Online Anywhere
Video Lessons
Quizzes
Case Studies
Taught by Award Winning Lee Burkhill
Certificate upon Completion
What are the best Garden Design Courses?
Choosing the right Garden Design Course for you can be tricky. You can get stuck spending years training and spending a small fortune to feel no further on still. However, I will take all the confusion out of where to start by explaining why I believe starting online is the best way to learn how to design gardens.
Leaning garden design online allows you to start off designing at your own pace. There is no need to take a year out of your life attending face-to-face courses to work out if this is a hobby or career for you. Choosing an Online Garden Design Course, like the ones here, allows you to gradually build up your knowledge and confidence without any financial risk.
The best thing about online garden design courses is you can take them on your own time. Allowing all of the new knowledge, horticulture, botany and design principles to sink in. They also enable you to learn design in stages and try them out in your own gardens. By having an online garden design resource, you can refer back to the lessons and case studies to check your knowledge.
Emma Gilmartin
2025-01-28
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Had a speedy reply with lots of information on the question I asked in the forum on Stawberries. Thank you for being so helpful and friendly
Peter Kiernan
2024-12-06
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The one hour consultation was absolutely ideal. It gave us everything that we were hoping for. As well as being very friendly, Lee gave us a range of excellent ideas and advice which will be invaluable to us as we plan and implement our new garden. He also gave us the confidence that we could take on the project rather than asking someone else to design and build it for us. He explains things clearly and simply, allowing us to absorb the lessons he has learned as a garden designer tailoring his advice to our situation and garden.
We cannot speak highly enough about our experience with Lee.
Joannah Mitchell
2024-10-21
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A very informative hour long discussion with Lee. Lots of ideas which I can't wait to implement. I'm excited now about improving my new garden, I can see beyond the hard landscaping I have recently moved to. Thank you Lee 😊
Ellis Delmonte
2024-09-26
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Excellent tips and tricks for garden care throughout the year.
Sharon Harper
2024-09-13
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Really.clear and helpful advice. Lee is always upbeat and encouraging
HILARY FLOWER
2024-08-23
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I always find Lee very helpful and very thorough when I watch him giving any gardening advice; a brilliant young man with great winning garden designs.
Andrea Spataro
2024-08-19
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booked a hour consultation to brainstorm some garden ideas and the result was phenomenal! Lee is extremely knowledgeable and provide specific recommendations base don your needs and final goals. Also, he was available with any follow up questions (even silly ones) that I had, treated with professionalism and a practical angle. A shame he does not live in London otherwise it would have been my easy go-to!
Jim Simmonds
2024-08-16
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Love Lee's style, help and the fact he is always happy to share his knowledge - not many 'experts' do that. Love the videos tutorials too
Kath George
2024-06-21
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Having looked at Lee's website I decided a one hour consultation would be good to try. What a brilliant service! Lee was lovely, putting me at ease within the first five minutes. We went through my long list and Lee came up with some great ideas. He also emailed me notes and sketches from the session. A lovely person, with lots of practical ideas and knowledge. I would reccommend trying this to anyone.
Aussie_Truth
2024-06-10
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Great advice
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How to choose the best Online Garden Design Course
I attended many face-to-face, year-long courses before I began, and while I learnt a lot over the years, they felt drawn out and very expensive. If you're on a budget, already working full time, or are pushed for time, then learning garden design online is the best solution.
When looking to train as a new garden designer, I would recommend looking at whether the online gardening course features the following:
Can you study at any time, or are the classes timed or scheduled?
Is there a time limit for how long you can access the gardening course?
Are there assignments or quizzes to grade your knowledge?
Does the course contain real-life garden design examples?
Can you connect with a community of other students on the course?
Can you receive feedback in the form of peer review or a forum to discuss garden design topics?
I've designed this course based on my experience as a garden designer to teach you everything you need to know to get started. Building your confidence and allowing you to succeed as a garden designer!
Priced at £199, it is an affordable way to learn garden design at your own pace.
Benefits of Garden Design Online Courses
The benefit of studying gardening qualifications and skills online is that it is much more cost-effective than practical college courses. Garden courses online can help if you're trying to train as a gardener or garden designer whilst working or on a tight budget.
1. Flexible Learning Schedule
Online garden design courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace, allowing you to balance your passion for garden design with other commitments, whether work, family, or personal pursuits. You can pick up and put down the course according to your schedule. You are in control!
2. Accessible Anywhere, Anytime
Break free from geographical constraints! With online courses, you can access valuable garden design knowledge from the comfort of your home or even while on the go, fitting seamlessly into your lifestyle. Never miss a class again!
3. Expert Guidance from Anywhere in the World
Enroll in courses taught by garden design experts like Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja, and professionals from around the world. Benefit from their insights, experiences, and industry know-how without being limited by your location.
4. Cost-Effective Learning
Online courses often eliminate the need for travel expenses and physical course materials, making them a cost-effective option for individuals looking to enhance their garden design skills without breaking the bank, with courses costing a fraction of those in-person educational gardening courses.
Online gardening courses cost in the region of a few hundred rather than thousands of pounds. Allowing you to test the water with your garden training or education.
5. Diverse Course Offerings
Explore a diverse range of garden design courses tailored to different skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Whether you're interested in residential landscaping, sustainable gardening, or specific design principles, there's a course to suit your needs, even if it's a course to redesign your own garden without the expense of a garden designer.
6. Interactive Multimedia Content
Immerse yourself in dynamic and engaging learning materials, including video lectures, interactive quizzes, and visually appealing design examples. Online garden design courses leverage multimedia to enhance your learning experience. Join Garden Ninja with his video seminars and lessons to bring the subject matter of garden design to life!
7. Community Collaboration
Connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts, Garden Ninjas, and professionals through Lee's online gardening forums and discussion groups that are associated with the courses. Share ideas, seek advice, and build a supportive network of like-minded individuals passionate about garden design.
8. Lifetime Access to Resources
Enjoy ongoing access to course materials, updates, and resources even after completing the course. This ensures you can revisit and reinforce your learning whenever you need a refresher or want to explore advanced topics. Lee Burkhill constantly updates his online gardening course materials to bring you the latest garden design course syllabuses to train you to become a fantastic designer.
How much do online Garden Design courses cost?
The cost of online garden design courses in the UK can vary widely depending on factors such as the course level, the institution or platform offering the course, the duration, and the depth of content. Generally, prices can range from around £50 to over £1000 or more.
Here are some approximate price ranges for online garden design courses in UK sterling:
Short courses or workshops: These can range from £50 to £300, offering basic concepts and introductory skills.
Intermediate-level courses: These might range from £300 to £800, offering more comprehensive instruction and possibly certification.
Advanced or professional-level courses: These could cost from £800 to £1500 or more, providing in-depth training, possibly with mentorship or practical components.
My Garden Design for Beginners online course starts at £199 and takes you from knowing zero to being able to design your own garden over 20 hours of online tuition.
When compared to £6000 upwards for an in-person class or university study, it is a great way to start your journey into Garden Design without the risks or pitfalls of taking out loans to do so.
How long does it take to become a garden designer?
Becoming a garden designer is a journey that can vary widely in length, depending on your background, dedication, and the path you choose. For some, it begins with a passion for plants and landscapes, leading to formal education such as a degree in horticulture or landscape design, which typically takes around two to four years. However, many successful garden designers have also forged their careers through practical experience, self-study, and short courses.
At Garden Ninja, we believe that hands-on learning and expert guidance accelerate this process.
My online garden design courses are designed to fit around your life, allowing you to gain essential skills at your own pace. With engaging video lessons, interactive quizzes, and no time limit on study, you can become a confident garden designer ready to transform spaces in as little as a few months, depending on your commitment and enthusiasm.
So, whether starting from scratch or honing your existing skills, your journey to becoming a garden designer can be as unique and flexible as you are!
Do you need a university degree to become a garden designer?
No, you do not necessarily need a degree to become a garden designer. While having a degree in landscape architecture, horticulture, or a related field can certainly be beneficial and provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, it is not always a requirement for entering the field of garden design.
Many successful garden designers have gained expertise through a combination of self-study, practical experience, apprenticeships, workshops, and short courses focused specifically on garden design principles, plant knowledge, landscape design, and related subjects.
Some key factors that can contribute to a successful career in garden design include:
i) Creativity
Garden design often involves artistic expression and the ability to envision and create beautiful outdoor spaces.
ii) Plant Knowledge
Understanding plants, their growth habits, environmental requirements, and how they complement each other is crucial in garden design. This is where your experience as a gardener or trainee horticulturalist comes in. You can build up your own plant portfolio for designs by visiting national gardens and researching plants in books and online. Based on practice and experience, you can apply each planting plan to the right garden.
My garden design courses teach you how to use logic to create your planting plan, even with little experience!
iii) Design Skills
Knowledge of design principles such as balance, proportion, scale, rhythm, and colour theory is essential for creating aesthetically pleasing gardens. This is where an online garden design course is vital to teach you these skills so you can flourish as a new garden designer.
iii) Technical Proficiency
Familiarity with design software, drafting skills, and an understanding of construction techniques can be valuable assets in garden design. However, you can always partner up with a landscaper for the more technical parts of garden design, so don't let this put you off!
As for drawing up garden design, practice really makes perfect. I teach you some top tips and tricks for starting your artistic journey to becoming a wonderful garden designer.
iv) Client Communication
Effective communication skills are important for understanding clients' needs and preferences and translating them into successful garden designs. This is one of the most important steps in being a capable, confident and successful garden designer, as you need to clearly interpret the client's requirements and then deliver a design based on their needs and wants. All whilst providing your expertise to guide them if their requests are not going to create a suitable garden design for them.
While a degree can provide a structured education and formal credentials, many garden designers have built successful careers through practical experience, talent, and continuous learning. Ultimately, what matters most is a passion for design, a commitment to excellence, and a willingness to continually improve and adapt to new trends and technologies in the field.
How much can you earn as a Garden Designer?
Garden design is a highly rewarding and creative occupation, and no two days or designs are the same. However, when it comes to earnings, what you can expect to earn varies significantly depending on experience and clientele. Glassdoor lists the average salary of a Garden Designer as between £27k-£43k per year working full time.
If you become an award-winning designer, your salary can increase significantly, but the cost of entering show gardens and other accreditation groups can be costly, too. Working for a large consultancy as an employed designer can help reduce the risk of being underpaid, and achieving other accreditations can help boost your salary.
Is Garden Design a good career?
Training to become a garden designer is a fantastic experience and can be a very rewarding career in terms of personal achievement. My honest advice is that becoming a Garden Designer will not make you a millionaire. It is not the most lucrative career, and don't let social media or the media show you otherwise! Most people undertake garden design careers alongside other garden maintenance or consultancy work. This is the best way to ensure year-round income.
Garden design is a passion that opens up many other doors for a portfolio career, such as writing or guest speaking on design or plants.
Remember, most people only engage with a Garden Designer when the sun is shining and during spring and summer. Opening up your services, such as winter design packages or year-round garden maintenance, will help you expand your income.