The Master Gardener’s Bookshelf
Small Gardens: Essential know-how and expert advice for gardening success by Zia Allaway
Review by Cindy Robertson, Extension Master Gardener
In the City of Alexandria and Arlington County, small gardens dominate our landscape – for good reason. Our residential lots average 1/5 to 1/6 of an acre, with even less square footage for urban dwellings in Old Town or Clarendon, where a patio, stoop, or roof deck might be the only outdoor space.
Far from being constrained, experts and new gardeners alike will feel empowered to create gorgeous, right-sized gardens by consulting Small Gardens, a book in the “DK Grow” series. A compact guide itself, this 144-page book packs a surprising number of easy-to-read, useful tips alongside colorful, inspiring photos.
An Inspiring Guide with Practical Tips
- Excellent Illustrations: Each page (except the index) has an equal proportion of visual to textual content. The effect is both inspiring and exceptionally informative – a picture is worth a thousand words! Paging through this book is like going on a garden tour, minus the sore feet and sunburn, with so many clever ideas for small gardens alongside simple written instructions and considerations.
- Well Organized: The hardest part of starting a garden (or really any creative endeavor) is knowing how to begin. The book starts where it should: assessing how much space you have and how to create an impact with what you’ve got. It wisely suggests “checking your site and soil” for the type of soil (acidic vs. alkaline, clay vs. sandy, moist vs. dry) and the amount of light your garden receives.
- Design-Focused: Here’s where the magic happens. The book draws upon expert designers’ tips for how to define your space in a style of your choosing (again, inspirational photos). These looks vary from “chic minimalism” to “classic cottage.” The book offers pointers on making your space feel larger and helps you create flow, areas for seating/lounging, and different viewpoints. Even color theory is covered. Special focus is given to how to layer plants effectively in small spaces, with vertical gardening emphasized.
- Practical, How-to Advice: This “idea book” goes well beyond style and offers simple instructions on projects that I will now attempt in my small garden. As one example, I learned how to “wire up” a surface for trailing vines by using heavy-duty garden wire and attaching it to screw eyes installed into a fence. The book also gives basic instructions for planting containers and window boxes, including how to select plants that are capable of overwintering outside. Instructions are easy to understand, even for novice gardeners.
- Plant Diversity: Ornamental, Edible, and Aquatic: No matter what you want to grow (flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables, or even water plants), this book covers how to do so practically and stylishly in small spaces. Once again, great photos and simple instructions make the lessons accessible for all.
- Comprehensive Coverage: The book covers an impressive array of options and challenges for the small garden. Storage alternatives can be tough in small spaces. This book suggests making use of hidden spaces, such as below an elevated patio, or creating a narrow storage unit to run along the length of a patio that when closed, cleverly resembles a fence. Lighting, furniture, and basic garden maintenance, such as weeding, pruning, and pests are also addressed.
Know What This Book Is and Is Not
First, do not expect deep exploration of any single topic related to small gardens. Instead, this book provides a very good overview of great ideas, as though you are conversing with an experienced gardener giving you essential tips. These tips may be enough to successfully create a beautiful garden, but you may find additional research is needed. To the book’s credit, I wish I had owned it for the past two decades of tending my small garden, although it was only published in 2023. I will definitely keep my purchased copy for ideas and inspiration going forward, but it is also available at Alexandria and Arlington public libraries.
Second, while the book offers many illustrated suggestions of what to plant where, there is no emphasis on native plants. Thus, though it recommends plants for patios or vertical surfaces, among many other categories, the lists include a number of non-native plants, including even some invasive to our region (such as Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii)). Prior to purchasing any of Small Garden’s suggested plants, research their status for our region. Fortunately, the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia at mgnv.org has an excellent list of native plants for various uses (groundcover, vines, shrubs, and small trees), and includes replacement ideas for invasives that are still routinely recommended in books like these.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a great guide to designing a small garden, this book covers an impressive array of options and challenges, with simple tips and excellent illustrations. This compact guide proves that small gardens can have big impact and be just as breathtaking as wide vistas. The best news is that with the benefit of this book, you will learn how easy it is to create a beautiful garden in a remarkably small amount of space.