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Andrew Fisher Tomlin’s The Modern Professional Planting Designer is a landmark publication in contemporary garden design—both practical and inspiring. With 256 pages of insight drawn from a near 40-year career, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive framework for modern planting design, bridging aesthetics, ecological function, and professional practice.
At its launch, Fisher Tomlin credited his students at the London College of Garden Design (LCGD), where he is co-founder and director, as his “greatest inspiration,” particularly in the moment when they truly “get” what it means to design gardens. This sense of mentorship and education is woven throughout the book, which offers structured, actionable guidance for aspiring and experienced designers alike.
In the foreword, award-winning designer Jo Thompson praises Fisher Tomlin as an honest critic who isn’t afraid to challenge conventional thinking. Both agree that a strong foundation in plants is essential, and that truly great garden designers must also be active gardeners.
The book’s approach is refreshingly wide-angled. It frames planting design as both a creative and environmental act, one that must respond to climate change, support biodiversity, and still deliver beautiful, functional spaces for human interaction. Fisher Tomlin is clear: “Planting is a major part of the solution to a changing climate.”
At the heart of the book is matrix planting design—a layered, flexible system that prioritises diversity and seasonal dynamics. Fisher Tomlin breaks this down into structural plants, seasonal performers, groundcovers, perennials, fillers, and geophytes. The principle? Keep it simple, yet diverse. Choose plants that peak together, then evolve the palette month by month.
What sets this book apart is its professional toolkit. It covers everything from interpreting environmental data (soil, light, pests) and crafting project briefs to presenting a design narrative. There’s practical instruction on developing structure, sketching ideas, moving into CAD or 3D models, and building long-lists of suitable plants. The emphasis is on thoughtful, resilient, and site-specific design.
Fisher Tomlin’s background lends real authority here. Inspired by a landscape architect neighbour, he left a career in banking to study horticulture at Askham Bryan College. Since then, his career has included major show gardens, including a celebrated plant collector’s garden at Hampton Court in 2016, and influential work on planting for climate resilience and biodiversity.
The book includes numerous international case studies, showcasing work from Annika Zetterman, Colwell Shelor, Surface Design, his own Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer practice (at the old Veitch nursery at Warren House in London), Tom Bannister, Kate Gould, Alejandro O'Neill, SurfaceDesign, Susan Cohen, Richard Wilford (Kew Broad Walk borders), Bethany Williamson, Green Over Grey, Duncan Cargill, Rios, CW, Andrew Smith-Williams, Hashiuchi and McWilliam and Wilson (his partner at LCGC). These examples demonstrate how principles of structure, innovation, and environmental sensitivity are being applied globally.
Fisher Tomlin's communication skills, honed through decades of leadership roles (including past chair of the Society of Garden Designers and RHS judging), shine throughout. His writing is clear, confident, and deeply knowledgeable. It’s also underpinned by a real commitment to horticultural education and mental health advocacy—he is patron of Veterans’ Growth, a charity using gardening to support veterans with mental health challenges.
The Modern Professional Planting Designer is more than a manual; it’s a manifesto for a new kind of landscape professional—one who understands that modern gardens must be both measurable and magical, rooted in science yet rich in story.
It’s no surprise the first print run sold out before publication. This is essential reading for anyone serious about the future of garden design.
His new book, The Modern Professional Planting Designer, was published by Rizzoli New York in October 2025. The book is published by Rizzoli at £35. The first print run sold out pre-publication. Fisher Tomlin is set to be a HortWeek podcast guest.
