Garden structures serve many purposes. Gazebos and patio roofs can provide much needed shade on hot summer days. Garden sheds offer places to store our gardening equipment. These garden projects require careful planning. For that reason, I recommend the following books on garden structures.

“Patio Roofs and Gazebos” edited by Don Vandervort et al was released by Sunset Books. This guide is essential if you’re planning on installing any of these structures. It can help you avoid costly mistakes. This practical guide takes you through the projects one step at a time. This includes everything from planning and designing through the construction process.

Gardeners will learn about all of the many options that are available. These include everything from attached patio roofs to free standing pergolas, gazebos, and arbors. This guide features everything you need to know about planning and installing such project. It provides details on all of the construction materials and methods that are used.

All in all, this features 14 step by step projects. For each, this has a list of materials with easy to follow, illustrated, step by step directions from beginning to end.

The projects include trellises, arbors, gazebos, patio covers, and gazebo benches.

Garden sheds are essential for gardeners. But they don’t have to be an eyesore. Clarkson Potter offers practical solutions to this age-old problem. “Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways-Big Ideas for Small Backyard Destinations” is by Debra Prinzing with photos by William Wright. This book provides inspiration and ideas from all over the country. Readers will see how garden structures can be converted for various uses.

The author presents the stories of 28 garden structures that are used for a wide variety of purposes. These range from artist’s studios and writer’s dens to gardener’s retreats, greenhouses, children’s playrooms, and potting sheds.

Basically, this book shows you can escape to your own backyard when you create inviting serene places that renew your spirit. While some of these featured spaces are luxurious, others are simple garages or out-buildings that were converted into gorgeous, practical spaces.

Readers will learn the fascinating story of each building and how the owners use the space. As these examples show, attention to aesthetics allows you to incorporate these buildings into the landscape.

Gibbs Smith has published a groundbreaking book on garden structures. “Small Buildings Small Gardens-Creating Gardens Around Structures” is by Gordon Hayward. This resolves an age-old problem when a gazebo or other structure sticks out like a sore thumb. Whatever sort of garden structure or building you may have, this invaluable guide shows how it can seamlessly become an integral part of the landscape.

This definitive book devotes a chapter to each type of building or structure. The author provides all sorts of practical ideas gardeners can use. It covers both free standing and attached arbors. There are also chapters on decks, gazebos, pergolas, and trellises. Readers can also learn about gates, obelisks and bridges as well.

One chapter is devoted to garden sheds. Another covers buildings used for various other purposes, such as summerhouses, playhouses, and pool houses.

For those planning fences, this book is a godsend. It features 72 drawings by Peter Joel Harrison of historic fence pale patterns he has seen throughout the country.