Go to Hachette Book Group home

Search

Site Preferences

Show prices in:

By clicking “Accept,” you agree to the use of cookies and similar technologies on your device as set forth in our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy. Please note that certain cookies are essential for this website to function properly and do not require user consent to be deployed.

The Gravel Garden

Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs

The Gravel Garden Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Jeff Epping

By Teresa Woodard

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Jun 2, 2026
Page Count
320 pages
Publisher
Timber Press
ISBN-13
9781643264844

Price

$18.99

Price

$24.99 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. ebook $18.99 $24.99 CAD
  2. Hardcover $50.00 $63.00 CAD

Buy from Other Retailers:

Gravel gardening is a drought-defying, low-maintenance gardening technique in which deep-rooted, drought tolerant perennials are planted in a 6-inch layer of gravel that suppresses weeds and conserves water. In The Gravel Garden, longtime horticulturist Jeff Epping explores the art of gravel gardening as a naturalistic approach with huge promise for the future of ecological landscaping. Alongside 20 gorgeously photographed gardens in both the US and Europe, including Epping's own home gravel garden in Wisconsin, the book offers insights from leading naturalistic designers such as Roy Diblik and Cassian Schmidt, as well as practical techniques for various scales and applications, from intimate home settings to expansive public and commercial spaces. Gardeners at any scale will be inspired to create their own beautiful garden with the resilience necessary to stand up to our changing climate.
 

Genre:

  • "The Gravel Garden is the definitive guide to a planting method that turns stress into strategy and scarcity into strength. With clarity and vision, Jeff Epping and Teresa Woodward reveal how drought, gravel, and restraint can yield plantings of startling durability and grace—a model for the resilient landscapes our time demands."
    Thomas Rainer, author of Planting in a Post-Wild World
  • “The results of the principles, practices, and love of plants from The Gravel Garden reaches far beyond the process of making gravel gardens; Epping highlights the future of planting itself, not driven by what we want plants to do and how we expect them to perform, but by understanding and coming to know who plants are. This book is a wonderful expression of the diversity of people sincere about creating smart planting composition, while always considering health and beauty.”
    Roy Diblik, garden designer and author of The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
  • “This book is a game changer for anyone who is skeptical about the aesthetic value of a gravel garden, with visually stunning, inspirational photographs beautifully combined with a clear and concise message about how to plan and create a gravel garden yourself.  Whether you’re designing private or public plantings, large gardens, or tiny yards, everyone will benefit from reading this exceptional book, a must-read for both those new to gardening and those with many years’ experience.”
    Annie Guilfoyle, award-winning designer and co-creator of Garden Masterclass
  • “As a mode of planting, gravel gardens have always been future-facing and practical. In service to those ideas, Jeff Epping and Teresa Woodard leave no pebble unturned, showcasing a diverse collection of innovative and inspiring landscapes as seen through the lens of consummate photographer Bob Stefko. The Gravel Garden makes a compelling case for an exquisite ecological future.”
    Kelly D. Norris, author of Your Natural Garden and New Naturalism

You May Also Like

Garden to the Max
Garden to the Max $40.00 $50.00 CAD
Gardenista: The Low-Impact Garden
Gardenista: The Low-Impact Garden $40.00 $51.00 CAD
Designing the Lush Dry Garden
Designing the Lush Dry Garden $40.00 $51.00 CAD
Secret Garden Wall Calendar 2026
Secret Garden Wall Calendar 2026 $16.99 $22.99 CAD
My Garden
My Garden $40.00 $51.00 CAD

Jeff Epping

About the Author

Jeff Epping’s passion for plants and gardening is reflected in his 35-year career as an award-winning horticulturist and garden designer. During his 28 years as Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, he transformed a lawn-laden landscape into a nationally acclaimed public garden, known for its artistic and innovative, plant-driven designs and ecologically sound gardening techniques. Alongside that role, he also ran his own design and consulting business for 25 years and continues to do so today, specializing in eco-conscious designs for projects ranging from small home gardens to expansive business campuses. Jeff generously shared his expertise through hundreds of classes, workshops, tours, and lectures. His insightful writing has been featured in leading gardening publications like Fine Gardening and Better Homes and Gardens, and his work has been recognized by The New York Times and The Washington Post, among others. 

Learn more about this author

Teresa Woodard

About the Author

An award-winning garden writer, Teresa brings a background in magazine writing and gardening experience. She is author of Garden to the Max and co-author of American Roots, and the forthcoming Grow A Chaos Garden. During her 16-year writing career, she has written and produced garden content for regional and national publications including Better Homes & Gardens and Country Gardens and currently serves as contributing garden editor at Midwest Living magazine and content creator for digital garden media. She has won Gold and Silver Media Awards from GardenComm. Outside of work, she gardens at her home near Columbus, Ohio, volunteers at an urban garden teaching youth about growing food and advises America in Bloom communities across the country.

Learn more about this author