New Small Garden

Autorentext
Dr Noel Kingsbury has been described as 'the voice of authority with renegade undertones'. A gardener since childhood, he has designed many gardens and public spaces, run a nursery and carried out research at the University of Sheffield's Department of Landscape. He is best known for his promotion of naturalistic planting design, but is passionate about any kind of innovation in the garden. Noel has written more than 25 books on garden matters, including four with planting designer Piet Oudolf. He lives and gardens in central Portugal. Photographer Maayke de Ridder is a former fashion stylist with a strong sense of design and photographer several books in her native Holland.

Klappentext
Transform even the smallest outdoor space into a vibrant, beautifully designed garden with New Small Garden, now repackaged into a flexible paperback edition. 
 
Small gardens can be some of the most rewarding spaces we tend and also some of the most challenging. In this practical and inspiring book, planting expert Noel Kingsbury teaches you how to see compact spaces differently, revealing how thoughtful design can turn any tiny space into a thriving green haven.  
 
Drawing on decades of horticultural expertise and the latest approaches in sustainable gardening, Kingsbury shows how limited area doesn’t restrict creativity. Instead, it offers opportunities for smarter choices and more intentional design. 
 
Across beautifully photographed real gardens, he explores the combinations that work best for small spaces. Whether you’re a beginner looking to plant your first border or a seasoned gardener rethinking an existing space, this book offers eye opening guidance that will elevate what you grow and how you grow it. 
 
For example, you will learn how to:  

• Design for small spaces using visual illusions, diagonal sightlines, and layered planting that makes compact gardens feel larger. 
• Choose the right plants for the upper, middle, and ground layers, including perennials, shrubs, climbers, grasses, and bulbs. 
• Use sustainable practices such as rain garden features, permeable surfaces, water smart planting, and wildlife supportive design. 
• Work with microclimates and urban conditions to grow healthier, more resilient plants. 
• Incorporate vertical planting to maximize growing area and add height. 
• Create character and continuity with focal points, containers, repeated materials, and seasonal planting schemes. 
• Support biodiversity by designing habitats that welcome beneficial species.  
• Learn from real-life examples, including six whole garden case studies showcasing successful small gardens and the thinking behind them. 

The book is complete with more than 450 stunning photographs by renowned lifestyle photographer, Maayke de Ridder, illustrating every concept through lush, real-world inspiration. 
 
Whether you’re working with a courtyard, balcony, terrace, or backyard, New Small Garden gives you the tools and confidence to create a beautiful and deeply personal outdoor space, no matter its size.

Inhalt

Introduction 
Assessing your space
First things first, Looking for light, Going underground 
Design tricks for small spaces
Visual illusions, Where does your garden end?, Thinking diagonally 
Less isn’t always more, Filling the space effectively, Interesting the
feet, Injecting detail, Introducing focal points, Taking the gaze up 
Combining functional spaces, Including sensory experiences 
Linking the house and garden, Case study 
Layering with plants
Nature’s way, Structural plants, Sculpting with woody plants 
Herbaceous and short-lived plants, The lawn, Visual plant layering 
How to layer with plants, Naturalistic plant layering, Case study 
Plants for small gardens
Choosing plants, Seasonal changes, Plants with staying power 
Late-season blooms, Two-season plants, Focus on foliage 
Using colourful leaves, Choosing evergreens, Including structure 
Designing with grasses, Introducing scent, Cultivating the exotic
look, Case study 
Vertical planting
Climbing high, How plants climb, Right climber, right place 
Trailing and flowing effects 
Mini wildlife havens
Small sanctuaries, Nurturing environments, Providing water 
Selecting plants for wildlife, Wildlife-friendly garden features 
Case study 
Sustainable small spaces
Designs for compact eco-friendly gardens, Managing water in urban
gardens, Planning and planting a mini rain garden, Making hard
surfaces porous, Introducing recycled and reused materials 
Containers for small plots
Creative displays for containers, Choosing containers, Top container
design tips, Container care, Choosing plants for pots 
Case study 
Making space for food
Creating a tiny fruit and vegetable plot, Types of vegetable, Types of
fruit, The home vegetable-growing revolution, Choosing a productive site, Protecting crops in tiny plots, Case study 
Plant selector
Trees, Shrubs, Sub-shrubs, Perennials, Grasses 
Climbers, Bulbs 
Designers’ and Garden Contacts 
Index 
Acknowledgements