Garden Design by Maxine

garden design leeds

Maxine Nelson (BA Hons/ND Hort/CertEd/RHS)

MAXIMISING THE POWER OF YOUR GARDEN

Is your garden missing something?

Welcome

Hello and welcome to award winning garden designer Maxine Nelson.

“There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling.”  Mirabel Osler

Designing gardens is a wonderful role. Our gardens can be beautiful extensions of who we are, a place to be, to think, to relax, to unwind, to be busy, to be quiet, to play, to connect … and so much more. I love working with clients to maximise power of their gardens to enhance who they want to be and how they want to live.

In 2025 after reaching the milestone of 20 years of Gardens by Max, I wanted to share some examples of the many powerful stories of the joy and wellbeing experienced by my clients following redesign of their gardens, all in their own words – The Garden Power.

The result has been the publication of Maximising the Power of Your Garden, my book Book Front which was launched on the 1st of June 2025. To my delight Adam Frost, BBC Gardeners World presenter and Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winner, has written the Foreword.

MY FOCUS IS YOUR FOCUS

My focus is to ensure you have an outdoor space that enhances who you want to be and how you want to live, whether it’s a place to relax, entertain or simply admire. 

Where you already have well developed ideas we can help you to bring these to life, alternatively we will listen to your likes and dislikes, themes and concepts and use these to develop design ideas for you.

Whatever your starting point we bring passion, attention to detail and garden ‘know-how’ to working with you in creating a garden that fits with your dreams and your budget. Once created, we can help you to maintain your garden as it becomes established and continues to evolve.

We specialise in all types of garden and landscape design projects be it full garden designs and redesigns or a focus on a part of your garden such as a new planting scheme for a garden border or the addition of a water feature. We have experience in design and

implementing small and large front and rear gardens; courtyards; school, community and accessible gardens. Some Planting Designs can be viewed here 

Gardens have been transformed in and around Leeds, Harrogate, Ripon, Thirsk, Knaresborough, York, Killinghall, Ilkley, London and across Yorkshire. Every garden is unique as you will see in the examples included on this website and can be seen in my book ‘Maximising the Power of Your Garden’.

Contact me  at Gardens by Max, 7 Tinshill Grove, Leeds, LS16 7AR
Mobile: 07855 824224 | Email: maxine@gardensbymax.co.uk

Now Available: Gardens by Max – The Book

Packed with heartfelt reflections, hand-drawn sketches, and over 20 years of garden transformations, Maximising the Power of Your Garden
style is more than a design guide, it’s a celebration of colour, calm, connection and creativity.

What you’ll discover inside:

🌸 Learn how gardens support wellbeing
🧩 Explore real-life case studies
🎨 Find your space, your voice, your story

🌸 Connection
Rediscover joy, reflection and belonging in your space.

🌿 Structure
Clear ideas and thoughtful planting to bring balance and beauty.

🎨 Personality
Design that reflects you — not just a trend.

Let’s Reimagine Your Garden Together

Book a friendly, no pressure consultation and see how we can bring clarity, calm, and connection to your outdoor space.

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