Natural Gardening in Small Spaces

by Noel Kingsbury

With the growing recognition that a wisely and sensitively planted garden has a lot to offer to wildlife and the food web, more and more people are looking for ways to make their gardens environmentally friendly. However, gardeners have tended to assume that to create habitats for wildlife, and evoke wild and natural places, you need a lot of space. In Natural Gardening in Small Spaces, renowned plantsman Noel Kingsbury refutes that presumption, showing how even in a small garden you can create a sustainable ecosystem that looks great --- and, once established, largely looks after itself.

He first explains how plant communities work and what this means for
the gardener, then proceeds to examine the various types of natural
habitat that can offer inspiration to the small-space gardener. If
your garden is shady, you can take natural woodland as your
think of wild flowers carpeting the ground in spring, ferns and mosses
growing lushly in the moister spots. In a more open position, you
might consider planting a miniature wildflower meadow, or a
late-flowering prairie, in place of a conventional lawn. Gardening on
thin dry soil in exposed conditions can initially seem a thankless
task, but windswept heath, sun-baked scrub, rocky cliffs offer a home
to some of the most beautiful and dramatic plants of all. Looking to
the wetlands, even the tiniest garden pool can be an ecosystem in
miniature. And of all environments the woodland edge, the meeting
place of the cool enclosed world of the forest and open, sunlit
grasslands, offers perhaps the most useful source of inspiration for
the small natural garden.

A chapter on the practicalities deals with such issues as how to garden without watering, using mulches to minimize the growth of weeds and the loss of water, and boosting opportunities for wildlife with bird boxes and mammal hibernation sites; while a detailed plant directory lists the best plants for natural gardens, chosen for beauty, ease of growth and adaptability, and use for wildlife. Over 150 glorious photographs of small natural gardens provide visual evidence of Noel Kingsbury’s contention that event the smallest garden can provide a natural haven.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with how-to information and generously accompanied with color photographs. More pertaining to gardening in general that specifically "small spaces" but much to gleam from. Plant directory, and plenty of information on soil, planting, weeds, etc. A good garden book as a whole, with small added in.

[Sarah Guldenbrein · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit generic for my needs. I guess it did help me figure out that I'm not necessarily into a natural *style* garden, but a naturally *managed* garden with a more uh, horticultural style. This book is about creating the *look* of nature, where I want ecological impact with many native plants but also a showy look. So for me, not enough emphasis on place and ecology and too much on getting the natural "look."

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was amazed at the variety of gardens and styles for small spaces. He covers roof gardens, wall gardens, patio gardens, and regular suburban lots. Styles, plants for colors and shapes, for what soil, everything!

[Readsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admire this author and would likely have given it more stars if I had read it when published. He was one of the people that worked to transitioning gardeners to more nature centered practices. I however do not agree with the use of herbicides, with a little extra work it can be avoided.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hated to return this one to the library!

[Pam Penick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noel Kingsbury wants us to plant gardens like Mother Nature, using naturalistic plant combinations and creating wildlife-friendly habitats. He argues that this can be accomplished on a small scale on urban lots, or even in rooftop and container gardens. Naturalistic does not mean sloppy, however, and he insists on the firm hand of the gardener in maintaining naturalistic gardens. He discusses how to combine plants from different regions of the world, so long as the regions have similar climates. A native-plant fascist he is not. Wonderful photos of small gardens will inspire you. If you want to get away from the obligatory row of boxwoods along the front of the house, this book is for you.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this book as a gift by a well-meaning person who figured I would enjoy it based on its title. Instead, I found it to be incredibly pretentious. From all I have ever read, Kingsbury is a gifted landscape designer, but in this book, he writes in such a dispassionate, overly ornate style that just reading a few pages makes me want to NOT garden.

Apparently I'm not alone, as I've tried to give this book away repeatedly and no one has ever wanted it.