Professional Garden Design Courses

Build, design, and run a garden design business with our guidance

Most garden design courses teach theory. We teach what actually gets built, sold, and paid for.

These programmes are based on real projects, real clients, and real commercial outcomes, from £20,000 gardens to £150,000+ transformations.

MEET THE LEAD DESIGNER

Under the direction of Michael John McGarr, our studio is a hub for designers, creatives, and industry professionals seeking deeper insight into design, technical execution, and real-world project delivery.

With extensive experience across residential and commercial environments, Michael combines creative vision with practical expertise and is able to deliver education that is grounded and industry-relevant.

michael john mccarr

Design Your Own Garden

For homeowners and design-led clients

Walk through your garden before you build it.

  • Create a clear layout and concept
  • Understand materials, levels, and planting
  • Test ideas in 3D before spending money
  • Avoid costly mistakes


Includes:

  • Step-by-step design system
  • Templates and worksheets


From £490

SketchUp + Twinmotion for Garden Designers

For designers and landscapers

Create visuals that win clients.

Using SketchUp and Twinmotion, you will produce:

  • Client-ready 3D models
  • High-impact visuals
  • Walkthrough animations


Outcome:

A complete visual presentation pack for a real project.

From £750

Advanced SketchUp + Layout (Professional Construction Drawings)

For designers ready to operate professionally

Learn how to produce drawing packs that get built.

Using SketchUp and Layout:

  • Scaled plans and sections
  • Construction-ready drawings
  • Repeatable template systems


Outcome:

A full professional drawing package.

From £750

Studio Launch - The Garden Design Business System

For designers who want to earn properly

This is not a design course.

It is a business system.

  • Attract better clients
  • Price for profitability
  • Structure your offers
  • Systemise your studio
  • Deliver high-ticket projects without burnout


Outcome:

A clear system to win and deliver £30k–£150k+ projects.

From £990

Why this is different

Most courses teach you how to use software. They show polished inspiration, trend-led visuals, and idealised project examples. What they often leave out is the commercial reality of working in the industry: how projects are won, how budgets shape decisions, what clients actually expect, and how profitable design work is delivered in practice.

Our courses are built differently.

We focus on the work that real clients actually pay for, not just concept pieces created for portfolios. You’ll learn the types of spaces, services, and deliverables that contractors and developers genuinely need, and how successful projects move from idea to completion.

We also teach the business side of design that many training programmes ignore. That means understanding how to structure profitable services, manage scope clearly, price work confidently, and create systems that support long-term growth.

Just as importantly, we show you how to present your ideas professionally and sell design properly. From proposals and client meetings to visual presentations and communication, you’ll learn how to build trust, justify value, and win better projects.

Everything we teach is grounded in real studio experience, not theory. These methods have been tested in live projects, real budgets, and commercial environments—so you gain practical skills that work in the real world.

 

Who These Courses Are For

These courses are designed for people who want practical results, professional standards, and a clearer route to success in the garden design industry.

They are ideal for homeowners who are planning to make a serious investment in their garden and want to approach the process with confidence, clarity, and better decision-making before committing significant time and budget.

They are also for garden designers who want to improve the quality of their work, strengthen their client offering, and increase their income through better systems, stronger proposals, and more valuable projects.

For landscapers looking to move into design, these programmes provide a clear pathway to expand your services, add higher-value revenue streams, and position yourself as more than just a contractor.

They are equally valuable for studios that want to grow and scale sustainably without losing control of quality, profitability, or the client experience.

 

How It Works

Our courses are delivered through structured programmes designed to create momentum and measurable progress. Each course runs over a focused period of approximately four to eight weeks, giving you enough time to learn properly while still maintaining pace and accountability.

You’ll gain access to high-quality pre-recorded training that you can work through in your own time, alongside live sessions where you can ask questions, gain feedback, and deepen your understanding.

You’ll also receive practical templates, tools, and systems that can be implemented immediately within your own projects or business, saving time and improving consistency from day one.

Every course is built around clear outcomes, so by the end of the programme you will know exactly what you have achieved and how to apply it moving forward.

 

Results You Should Expect

By the end of your course, you should expect far more than information—you should expect tangible progress.

You’ll gain greater clarity before committing to build decisions, helping you avoid costly mistakes and move forward with confidence.

You’ll be able to create stronger, more professional design proposals that communicate value clearly and help win better projects.

You can expect to attract higher-value clients who understand quality and are willing to invest properly.

You’ll improve your margins through better pricing, clearer scope, and more efficient systems.

Most importantly, you’ll build a more controlled, professional studio or project process that gives you confidence, consistency, and room to grow.

 

Entry points

Start where you are:

  • Homeowner → Design Your Own Garden
  • Designer → SketchUp + Twinmotion
  • Professional → Advanced Drawings
  • Business owner → Studio Launch

Next step

These are structured programmes with limited capacity.

If you are serious about improving your garden or your business, register your interest below.