20 Best Small Gardens Book

Small does not necessarily mean less attractive. Now that space is demanding even more of a premium many people find themselves with a smaller plot of land than they would like, but there is no reason why this cannot be successful and appealing. 20 Best Small Gardens is a book devoted to making the best possible use of a limited area. As the title suggests, the book looks at every conceivable kind of small garden from Roof Garden to Courtyard and offers advice on how to make every inch count. Tim Newbury looks at each garden in turn addressing design, planting and features. For example the Sloping Garden that seems problematically long and narrow, so Newbury suggests that the garden be divided into three separate, equal areas. If you plan a patio by the house, a circular lawn, and fruit and vegetable plot at the bottom end of the garden, the space is used to maximum effect. The book covers a wide variety of small gardens and will offer ideas for all tastes. The Water Garden, for example will "create a mood of tranquility and peace" and Newbury offers aquatic plant types to complement the garden's split-level pools. In contrast the Foliage Garden is a full of flamboyant plants, perfect for disguising oddly proportioned areas. Newbury includes a list of plants and illustrated planting plan, with variations to suit different shaped gardens. This book has something for everyone. It ranges across formal, modern, and beginners' gardens and the style is accessible and easy to follow. The index of plants allows favourites to be included and the illustrations are instructive. It is not a glossy coffee table book, rather a really useful guide to best utilise a small garden. --Karen HomerRead More