New Wild Garden: Natural-style planting and practicalities

by Ian Hodgson

New Wild Garden combines new approaches to a more naturalistic design with the practical side of growing wildflowers and shows how to incorporate wildflowers, real meadows and a looser meadow-style planting into gardens and wild spaces.With serious concern into the decline of pollinators and habitats, meadows are currently the focus of enormous creativity. Gardeners, wildlife lovers, professional designers and seed manufacturers are all pushing the envelope of what can be grown, the pictorial effects that can be achieved, and the benefits that this provides for gardeners and wildlife.This book includes 15 step-by-step projects and an essential plant list, as well as offering inspiration to gardeners and an overview of the most influential movement in garden design over recent decades.In this book you can How to sow or plant meadow to suit your space* Planting plans for every plot from a container, small patch, allotment or an acre* How to grow and propagate more than 50 kinds of wildflowers* Understand and emulate the new natural style followed by designers* Meadow recipes for every soil, situation and wildlife habitat.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Plants

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2016

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource for helping to design all kinds of "wild" gardens with native plants that will help pollinators, conserve water and more, looking beautiful all the while. Hodgson goes into great detail about every element of setting up your garden in all different ways with everything from naturalized bulbs in your lawn to wildflower seed mats to starting annual seeds inside and much more. It covers ponds and other water elements, soil types, styles of gardens, container and roof gardens and more, with a wonderful guide at the end that gives you profiles, pictures and information about a wide range of recommended perennials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs, grasses and trees. My one wish is that it covered US growing zones since my Minnesota garden can't sustain all of the plants listed and I'll have to look up some of them that I'm not sure about. I'm assuming it's a UK book because of this, but it's still a fantastic resource. It's also brimming with photos of all kinds of natural gardens that provide loads of inspiration.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely book that gives the background on Wild Gardening. I appreciated this book quite a lot. Though, if you are looking for guidance on implementation and planting, you might find Brilliant and Wild: A Garden from Scratch in a Year by Lucy Bellamy more than useful. These two books go well together, hand-in-hand information on the principle and planting of a wild garden.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best "wild" or "natural"-style garden book I've read, because it not only shows tons of inspiring photos of various gardens and plants, but it actually explains what you need to do to achieve that look (from dealing with your existing sod, to starting from seed or plants, to realistic timing and maintenance information).

[Rose Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate mowing the grass, and so I wanted to reduce as much as I could the square footage of grass to mow. On the other hand, I do like the way a smooth green lawn looks against garden beds and other plantings. And of course there are always my lovely swallowtails & monarchs & red admirals & painted ladies to think of. So. This lovely practical book will help you turn part, or all, of your yard into a wonderland for butterflies, moths, other pollinators, birds & small wildlife. And your neighbors won't hate you.

[Brandon Sweaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

introductory level information

It’s not necessarily a bad book but the level of information is fairly basic. Anyone with a fundamental understanding of environmental requirements for plants will struggle to find value in this resource. If you have zero understanding about plants and are looking for somewhere to start, this isn’t a terrible option.

[Christine55416 · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent educational source promoting different types of wild gardens, prairie, woodland, pond, grassland, containers, with specific plant names, planting suggestions with photos, ideas for challenging landscapes, and my one complaint would be that the majority of the book only names plants by Latin names, not common names, so I spent a ton of time googling.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author describes different types of plantings: meadow, pond, grassland, pots, wild looking, with some wonderful descriptions and instructions. There is also a planting guide by plant type and color. unfortunately there isn't too much help for planting locations.

[Alethia Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful book

Great book nice read and learn, perfect for someone interested in creating a natural garden. Highly recommend and beautiful pic of flowers plants and grasses

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Most of the gardening information deals with gardens in England but they are beautiful to look at.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on the topic. Written for a UK audience but most techniques and many plants applicable to US.

[Amanda Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok but it didn’t excite me - more confirmed what I already knew.

[Angie Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one of those books that makes you want to get rid of some grass and create a garden.

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource, lots of ideas can be gleaned from the photos of gardens. Generally good information for someone wanting naturalistic or “wild” garden plantings.

[Sheryl Melvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos of amazing gardens.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to learn more about naturalistic gardening? Maybe you'd like to create one yourself, suited to your garden space? Would you like to look at gorgeous photos of naturalistic gardens to get inspiration? Then you want this book! Whether your garden is large or small, even if all you can fit into your space is a container or two, you'll get all the information you need to get started right here. Throughout the book, you'll get information on why this type of gardening is a good way to go, be it less mowing and maintenance or because it's better for the environment. Everything is explained clearly, with lots of helpful pics, making this book suitable for any gardening level. There's a handy gallery of suggested plants in the back, including flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees, and drool-worthy photos of finished gardens throughout. A must for any gardener's library!

#NewWildGarden #NetGalley

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are an avid admirer of gardens or a true horticulturalist, you will delight in this ascetic tribute and tool to capturing wild gardens. Most basically, it is a detailed how to guide in creating your own lush, wild landscape. It really is more than that though. The pictures guide and inspire all levels of gardeners. The descriptions tell you which species work best in different settings, how to introduce and support wildlife and insects, how to blend for the space you are trying to create and how to maintain your special habitat. A practical and useful guide that deserves its place in the hands of any gardener. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

[Amy Dendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Wild Garden functions as a gardening reference and project instructional manual for the outdoor gardener hoping to master the art of mass plantings of wild flowers and other pollinating plants. It is full of easy to implement tips to increase garden pollinators and the habitats surrounding such.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in gardening this is a must read. Well written, informative and full of ideas.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine