Garden designer Ryan McEnaney shares his insights and tips for unlike types of gardeners .

Kindra Clineff

In his bookField Guide to Outside Style , Ryan McEnaney categorizes the personality types of gardeners , going deep into each personality , discover each aesthetic , and offering ideas on how to execute them . The book has been a hit with “ people who are just start out and have an idea of what their ambition garden or outdoor outer space might look like but are n’t sure where to begin , ” McEnaney says .

landscape front garden

Credit:Kindra Clineff

Here the garden interior designer and book generator shares his perceptiveness and tips on finding your international manner , based on your garden personality .

Ryan McEnaneyis the marketing and communicating manager forBailey Nurseriesin Minneapolis , Minnesota .

From Hollywood to Garden Design

Before Ryan McEnaney made gardening his vocation , he spent his days handle publicity for famed clientele , including Jude Law , Ridley Scott , and Ryan Murphy . He then get together his fellowship ’s awarding - deliver the goods 118 - year - old nursery known for plant innovation such as theEndless Summer hydrangea . McEnaney is charge with raise each plant to star status . The company introduced ‘ Berry White ’ , a diva of a hydrangea , ‘ Standing Ovation ’ serviceberry , and a slating of other   gorgeous plant .

“ I am a fifth - contemporaries family phallus so I start working at the nursery growing up , ” enounce McEnaney . “ It ’s been a womb-to-tomb passionateness . ” His passion for helping the great unwashed transform their yards into the garden of their dream inspired him to writeField guidebook to Outside Style . It is pack with his insights and relatable peak aimed at novice gardener . It detail McEnaney ’s process fordesigning landscapesfor friends and phratry , as well as his own garden .

Tracy Walsh

garden from Field Guide to Outside Style by Ryan McEnaney

Credit:Tracy Walsh

Garden Design for Everyone

It can be confusing and intimidating to start landscaping your yard . “ That ’s really where the foundation of the book came from , to avail that somebody , ” says McEnaney . “ I wrote it as what I would have needed 10 years ago when I come into the business , to take some of that intimidation away and make it really fun and accessible . ” McEnaney also say that passkey gardeners have approached him saying they learned something new from his volume aboutlandscaping styleand precaution .

Adam Woodruff

Which Garden Personality Are You?

In his book , McEnaney features three different type of garden personality :

Edmund Barr

Style Inspiration

For McEnaney , brainchild can come from a broad range of author .

The estimation of well - know horticulturists such as Michael Dirr , Kelly Norris , and Piet Oudolf , who concentre heavily on the ecology and phenology of private industrial plant , were an important inspiration for McEnaney when doing enquiry for his Bible .

Inspiration from fashion and artistry to conceptualize and execute his landscape gardening ideas is another important seed . For example , seeing player Dan Levy wearing a kilt suit made him realize he likes nerve in design . When talking about aspiration , McEnaney encourages readers to think outside the boxful and pull from personal taste to start planning their landscape .

prairie garden from Field Guide to Outside Style by Ryan McEnaney

Credit:Adam Woodruff

“ Take a stair back and think , ‘ What do I really like about the buildings I see , the furniture I bribe , the wearing apparel I see citizenry wear out on a crimson carpet versus what I put on every mean solar day ? ’ utilize that as inspiration to jumpstart your idea of what you want to translate into your landscape . ”

— Ryan McEnaney

In his garden , McEnaney design to sum up floating concrete steps with lighting underneath to his “ really liberal side ” in the backyard , which leads to the main part of his lawn . Like the Tommy persona , McEnaney is drawn to sportsmanlike , sharp lines , and like the Kelly persona , he also likes dumb , textural planting . Next to the steps , he be after onadding ornamental grassesto soften the line .

backyard garden

Credit:Edmund Barr

“ Having that [ planting ] and the juxtaposition of that really sharp architectural concrete that has some ignition underneath each step , it looks like the concrete is sort of float down the hill . I love that sharp difference of opinion between the lushness of nature and the intensity of that hardscaping . ”

While it ’s important to focus on the details of fulfill your dash , McEnaney point out that you should n’t lose sight of the liberal picture .

“ At the end of the Clarence Day , this is a very personal thing and it ’s easy to get caught up in being nervous about nibble the correct plant . Is it the right color ? Is it the right size ? All of that is valid , but you ’ve got to have fun along the way You ’re getting to make something that is beautiful and long - lasting , and that should be a really exciting experience . ”