Garden Landscape IDEAS for Small Spaces
Small? Yes. A concrete slab populated solely with plastic chairs and an abandoned grill? Not anymore.
Chances are your balcony, porch, or patio could use a major makeover. Fern Richardson, charismatic creator of the blog Life on the Balcony, is here to walk you through the process of beautifying a small space — even when your budget is just as small.
This exciting guide layers practical gardening fundamentals with creative solutions that encourage thinking outside the pot. Maybe this means repurposing a shipping pallet to create a colorful vertical garden of nasturtiums and lobelia. Or simply seeing walls, rafters, railings, and everything in between as fair game. You’ll also learn how to tackle unique challenges, like windy conditions when gardening several stories above street level, and how to care for plants and troubleshoot with the best of them.
From design basics to essential plant picks, Small-Space Container Gardens proves you don’t need a yard to have a garden. For anyone who wants more green in their life, it’s time to get out there and start growing.
Media reviews
“Walks you through beautifying a small space, such as a balcony, porch, patio or small yard, even on a tight budget.”
—Horticulture
“From selection of plants to illustrations of how to lay it all out, beginning and experienced gardeners alike will find plenty of inspiration.”
—Kylee Baumle, Horticulture
“Ideas to help patio gardens look polished and planned.”
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune
“Packed with gorgeous photographs, making it pleasant to browse through for quick inspiration. The author’s real-life take on small-space gardening makes reading the full text worthwhile.”
—Fort Worth Examiner
“The best book on balcony gardening on the market today. I highly recommend this book to all small space gardeners (novice or expert).”
—The Real Gardener
“Fern Richardson’s delightful blog, Life on the Balcony, is chock-full of ideas for small-space gardening in containers, and now she has put some of her best ones into a beautifully written and designed book.”
—Nature’s Footprint
“You’ll find the keys to creating an uncluttered, lush outdoor space that’s not only beautiful, but budget-friendly.”
—VIV Magazine
“Fern’s DIY style is made easy and fun with numerous tutorials and crafts throughout the book.”
—Genevieve Schmidt, North Coast Gardening.com
“If you have ever dreamed of having a garden but are constrained by price or space, this is the book for you!”
—Patricia McGoldrick, PM27 Blog
“One of the best new books on this topic.”
—Vancouver Sun
“Shares a whole host of ideas for transforming even the tiniest of spaces into something special.”
—Rochelle Greayer, Apartment Therapy
“Offers a generous list of funky containers.”
—Kimberly Gomes, San Francisco Chronicle
“Container gardening is flexible, and Richardson makes it verdant, affordable, and fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The ideas are perfect for folks in condominiums, rental houses — and homeowners looking to enhance established landscape features.”
—Calloway’s Nursery
“Packs a great deal of information in a small space.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Whether you’re planning a small container garden or want to beautify your backyard, this book is full of helpful tips for beginning gardeners.”
—Green Upgrader
“Shows us how to have an enviable garden without the acreage.”
—Curbly.com
“Yes, you can do it all — attract wildlife, grow food, become one with your inner-nature-lover, and work with limited lighting on porches, balconies, and other small areas.”
