Synopses & Reviews
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.
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You dont need a yard in the suburbs to surround yourself with homegrown beauty and produce. Richardson, writer of an award-winning blog about gardening in tiny spaces, offers a comprehensive approach to getting started on a balcony or wee patio. The book is organized by principles (color, weather, wildlife, pests, etc.), which is particularly helpful for those just starting container gardening. For them, the book is filled with resources: planting schemes, do-it-yourself projects, short appendixes. Those with more gardening experience may find the plants Richardson highlights limiting. The authors attention to succulents is distinctive; those forgiving plants lend themselves to the container gardening environment. Gardeners living in less mild climates than Richardsons Southern California should remember that whatever is too delicate to winter outside must be hauled indoors for the duration, taking up what might be precious limited space. That said, container gardening is flexible, and Richardson makes it verdant, affordable, and fun. Publishers Weekly
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“Container gardening is flexible, and Richardson makes it verdant, affordable, and fun.” Publishers Weekly
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"If you have ever dreamed of having a garden but are constrained by price or space, this is the book for you!" PM27 Blog
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“Ideas to help patio gardens look polished and planned.” Patricia McGoldrick - PM27 Blog
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“Covers just about everything you want to know about container gardening. I absolutely love [it]!” Nara Schoenberg - Chicago Tribune
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“Ferns DIY style is made easy and fun with numerous tutorials and crafts throughout the book.” North Coast Gardening.com
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“From selection of plants to illustrations of how to lay it all out, beginning and experienced gardeners alike will find plenty of inspiration.” Horticulture.com
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“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.” Orange County Register
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“Offers a generous list of funky containers.” Orange County Register
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"Shares a whole host of ideas for transforming even the tiniest of spaces into something special." Apartment Therapy
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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
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"A beautifully written and designed book." Nature - ' - s Footprint
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"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
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"Walks you through beautifying a small space, such as a balcony, porch, patio or small yard, even on a tight budget.” Horticulture
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"The ideas are perfect for folks in condominiums, rental houses — and homeowners looking to enhance established landscape features." Calloway - ' - s Nursery
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"Packs a great deal of information in a small space." Calloway's Nursery
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“...shows us how to have an enviable garden without the acreage..." Cleveland Plain Dealer
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"Youll find the keys to creating an uncluttered, lush outdoor space thats not only beautiful, but budget-friendly." VIV Magazine
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"One of the best new books on this topic." The Vancouver Sun
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"Offers suggestions ranging from upcycling and plant repetitions to spray-painting mismatched containers." The Vancouver Sun
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“Its packed with gorgeous photographs—making it pleasant to browse through for quick inspiration. The authors real-life take on small-space gardening makes reading the full text worthwhile." Fort Worth Examiner
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“Ideas to help patio gardens look polished and planned.” Nara Schoenberg - Chicago Tribune
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“Covers just about everything you want to know about container gardening. I absolutely love [it]!” Kylee Baumle - Blue Planet Garden Blog.com
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“Offers a generous list of funky containers.” San Francisco Chronicle
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"Packs a great deal of information in a small space." Cleveland Plain Dealer
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“...shows us how to have an enviable garden without the acreage..." Curbly.com
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"Offers suggestions ranging from upcycling and plant repetitions to spray-painting mismatched containers." Bill Holgan -- MCT/ Tribune Papers
Synopsis
Small? Yes. A concrete slab populatedwith plastic chairs and an abandoned grill? Not anymore.
Small-Space Container Gardenslayers practical gardening fundamentals with creative solutions, encouraging us tothink outside the pot. You'lllearn how to tackle unique challenges, like windy conditions several stories above street level, and how to care for plants and troubleshoot problems like garden pests and diseases. From design basics to essential plant picks, Small-Space Container Gardensproves you don't need a yard to have a happy, healthygarden. For anyone who wants more green in their life, it's time to start gardening creatively in small spaces.
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About the Author
Fern Richardson is the creator of the popular and critically-acclaimed garden blog, Life on the Balcony. A master gardener, amateur photographer, and garden designer, she lives in Long Beach, California, on a balcony with her many plants.