Landscaping
& Planting
Garden design courses, workshops & community inspiration for every level
Master the art of garden landscaping and planting with Yvette’s hands-on courses
Whether you’re dreaming of a complete garden makeover or looking to refine your planting palette, the Landscaping and Planting Design courses delivered by Yvette provide the perfect foundation to bring your vision to life.
These interactive courses offer expert guidance on creating a tailored, functional garden design, from site analysis and layout to selecting the right plants for your space.
Garden Design — Landscaping
Do you have a garden or outdoor area that needs a makeover or a grand new plan?
Have you spent money and time on plants and ornaments for your section and it’s still not what you want?
In this fun and interactive 6-week course you will create a hardscaping design of the garden of your dreams – no matter what your gardening experience or drawing abilities!
If you’ve tried “giving it a go” before and now want great results, this course will teach you exactly how to create your dream garden with confidence and within your budget.
With clear direction in a relaxed classroom environment you will be inspired to solve problems and work out the best way to use your outdoor space - for any sized private area or shared community garden.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
Anticipate what hardscaping is required and draw up a full plan for a garden / outdoor space
Identify what materials will produce the style and end result.
Identify and take into account your preferred style, wish list and work to site conditions
Work to a budget or know what range of budget to anticipate.
Accurately draw your detailed design on paper and to scale
Use your drawing to build the garden yourself or consult a landscaper to do the hardscaping on your behalf.
Tuesday 17 June 2025
6:00pm–8:00pm
The Kikorangi Room, 170 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington
$255 (6-week programme)
Please bring some scrap paper, a notebook, pens, pencils and an eraser.
It is recommended you take photos of the area to be developed and bring them along to class to show and discuss with the group.
Please note that this course does not include:
Planting design, although inclusion of trees will be considered in part of this course. Planting design is available in a seperate course.
Building the garden
Learning skills to build your garden
Recommendation of contractors and suppliers for hardscaping
The landscaping course empowered me to get into action. There was a sense of inclusivity and no criticism which helped me relax and be open with my own property. The visits to the other gardens was very special. Wonderful and valuable.
— Mark W, Past Student
Garden Design — Planting
Spent a fortune on plants and still not achieved the dream?
Can’t work out why some plants thrive and others barely survive?
Want to make change but no idea where to start?
This fun and interactive 4-week course Garden Planting Design course will help you choose the style of garden you want, the plants to achieve it and will answer all your queries to give you confidence to create the garden of your dreams!
Style of garden, colour, plant palette – we’ll cover it all – and more!
Working with the conditions of your specific site including local climate factors, you will learn how to identify the right plant for the right space and know how to create the best soil conditions to get success.
After completing the course you will:
have created a detailed hand drawn plant design that includes your wish list of plants, incorporating a precise “shopping list” of plants and soil requirements to avoid impulse buying to help manage your budget;
be confident in choosing a colour palette to enhance your preferred style and mood of garden
Most gardens have challenges and solutions can be found on this course – no matter what your gardening skills or plant knowledge.
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
Identify the style of garden you want and learn the plants that will achieve it
Understand the role of colour in the garden and incorporate it into your design
Work with the site and climate conditions of your garden/outdoor areas
Learn how to identify soil types, how to improve them and the role of different plants in the garden
Accurately draw your detailed planting design on paper and to scale
Use your final design to create a “shopping list” of plants and prepare a budget
Tuesday 29 July 2025
6:00pm–8:00pm
The Kikorangi Room, 170 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington
$255 (4-week programme)
Use Code PLANTING10 for a 10% discount if booking on to both courses
Please bring some scrap paper, a notebook, pens, pencils and an eraser.
It is recommended you take photos of the area to be developed and bring them along to class to show and discuss with the group.
Please note that this course does not include:
Hardscaping design. This is available in a separate course.
Planting up your garden.
Recommending suppliers, service providers and retailers, although knowledge and experiences of the tutor and peers will be shared appropriately.
Pruning practices or plant disease management.
Organic methods of practice, although knowledge and experiences of the tutor and peers will be shared appropriately.
In depth coverage of specific plant groups, e.g. roses, vegetables.
Yvette’s knowledge and willingness to share ideas / suggestions has been the most valuable part for me. Also being able to see other people’s gardens/ ideas and share has been very inspiring.
— Jeff L, Past Student
Luxe Workshops
Online or live sessions on topics requested by Luxe Garden Clients and Students.
These will be scheduled based on popular topics.
Price
Starting at
NZ$65 for 2 hours
I found the group discussions and practical focus on what we wanted to do with our own gardens the most valuable. Great that the material was adapted to help with our issues – flat versus steep garden design challenges. Doing the “field trips” were a great add in option too.
— Amie C, Past Student
Community & Inspiration
Luxe Loops
Why end a good thing after the learning ends? Social life goes on with groups after Luxe Learning and Luxe Workshops end!
Stay inspired and connected with like-minded garden enthusiasts through our social field trips, working bees (like at Jane's garden), and ongoing community groups after completing our learning courses and workshops.
These social “field trips” to our own Wellington NZ gardens and garden centres are for anyone who has attended in-person garden design courses and workshops.
They are an ideal way to remain in contact with peers, be encouraged by others and see how everyone else is creating their dream gardens too.
Ready to get started?
Landscape Design Course
$255 6 weeks
Planting Design Course
$255 4 weeks
Venue Information for Courses
Both courses are located on the grounds of St Mary’s Church, downstairs from Kororia Cafe in Karori.
Parking is available onsite
A lift is accessible if required.
Buses # 2, 18, 33 and 34 stop at Marsden Village. The Venue is a 2 minute walk from the bus stop across the road.