Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and Herbs

There are surprisingly few books on gardening in small spaces so the title of this book drew me immediately. My expectations of gardening books are that they should be visually appealing and informative in helping the reader use some of the ideas featured. This book is definitely not visually appealing. Most of the photos are close-ups of features so you get to see very few of the gardens in context. I am sure it was difficult to shoot such small spaces but that's why it is imperative a photographer should have been hired who was experienced enough to deal with this...there are professionals out there who know quite a lot of tricks in dealing with this....instead the book includes a lot of stock imagery. So since there isn't one photographer for this project the book feels very disjointed. When an entire garden space is shown it is a bit underwhelming and often not shot at a flattering angle. After going through the entire book I can unfortunately say there is only one project I actually may use (Vertical Pallet Garden) and I probably could have found tips on this online. Also some of the print is odd. Some pages have text in large bold letters scrunched together at the top which then leaves lots of blank space on the bottom of each page. Perhaps the author's blog is better? I think the concept is a good one but that the whole book should be redone and money should be spent on the artistic elements of the book: photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, editor, etc. I'll be donating this book to charity.

During this pandemic you need practical advice on how to really make use of the space you have to grow. Hoped to find advice that would include what size container would be practical for what you are trying to grow and not just style choices. Cute but not worth it for me.

I've been a fan of Fern's stylish blog Life on the Balcony for some time. Fern's like an approachable version of Martha Stewart for container gardeners - while her photos and ideas are gorgeously inspiring, her projects are never so difficult or time-consuming that I feel I couldn't possibly fit them into a weekend, unlike some of Martha's cool but overly involved eye candy.So when Fern's new book Small-Space Container Gardens came out, I already had two copies pre-ordered, one for myself and one to give as a gift. I just knew I was going to love it. And sure enough, I do! The book is structured as a total from-the-ground-up guide to having a gorgeous balcony garden. While you might think that would encompass only container planting, she also shares numerous tips on design and décor, dealing with narrow spaces, vertical gardening, and issues unique to balcony gardeners like how to deal with rain pouring in sheets off the roof and onto your potted plants.Even better, Fern's DIY style is made easy and fun with numerous tutorials and crafts throughout the book. I absolutely adored the chalkboard planter idea for taking ordinary, inexpensive pots and making them cute and functional. How many times have I gotten a call from a client just before dinnertime wondering whether the plant with big leaves was the oregano or the sage? Now, I can show horticulturally-challenged gardeners this tutorial and they can create their own (very chic) labeled pots for their edibles. What a great gift idea!I felt this way with all of the tutorials in the book. Fern made everything look so elegant that I immediately wanted to rush out, get a few supplies, and make `em happen. She showed a small-space DIY birdbath which would be perfect nestled among a few potted plants. And the mod-minimalist bird feeder idea? I totally want to adapt this project and make it my own (I mean, purple would be mod-minimalist too, right? Right?).I also loved that Fern made cohesive garden design easy with her small-space patio design plans. She created full container planting designs for a Verdant and Vertical Garden, Potager With a Twist (some great edible and cocktail garden ingredients!), Succulents and Scents, and more. It's not just the planting ideas, either; she mixes décor tips and layout ideas into her plans so you can see how all the elements fit together.The book is beautifully-photographed and designed, and would make a great gift for the beginning or advanced container gardener. The text covers all that a beginner would need to know in clear language, while the designs and DIY projects offer enough interest to keep even pros like me coming back for more.

A pretty basic book covering the beginning steps of small space and container gardening. If you don’t know much, this book will help, but I was really looking for something much more in depth.

A very generic (bland) book I was hoping for more technical information about soils and well specifics. This is pretty much an extension of what you might see on a spring time daily talk show...... Example ... when it discusses soil.... "buy a premium brand potting soil" ...???? Nothing here that you cannot gather on line more specific to your needs.

I own a condo and have a small 8' X 15' balcony. I have very limited knowledge of plants, planters, dirt, etc. I bought this book looking for "cute ideas" and it has done so much more than that! It has given me detailed, step by step ideas for mapping out my space. The pictures are beautiful. It has great ideas for placement, planters, plants. It has creative ideas for fillers, spillers, and thrillers. All in all, this is my go to book for spring when I redo my balcony. Love it!

if you are an experienced gardener, don't buy this book because you probably know everything in it. Just a few good tips in this book. so glad I bought it used. looked like the previous owner had not touched it.

I'm transitioning to a smaller home with a small back yard and bought this book because I thought it would help me indulge my green(ish) thumb but keep things organized. I was right. This is a lovely book overflowing with ideas and I recommend it to anyone...even those with massive yards to fill because the ideas contained in this gem are quite versatile.

I live in the city, i always loved plants and wanted to have a garden, one day i was thinking how could i make my balcony which is quite large like a garden. So i was searching on the net to know more, i saw this book, i looked inside and i saw how it was exactly what my mind was thinking of. So i bought it. I am very pleased it gives a lot of ideas to make even the smallest balcony a place with plants, tables and relaxing corners; the woman who wrote it Fern Richardson lives in LA, she explains about the type of planting, ideal even for the smallest balcony, she also offers some ideas how to pick furniture to make it larger and delightful. I am so very pleased about this book, i can't still believe that i found a book about what exactly i had in mind, it absolutely serves the purpose to transform my balcony in a small Eden. Thank you to Amazon and seller! GOOD JOB!!!

Not worth buying in the UK as the book is aimed at an American audience, so much of her gardening advice is not relevant. The book would have been worth a buy despite this for the DIY projects, but most of these, if not all, are available on her blog.With the lack of originality and American focus I wish I had bought a different book, as there is a wide variety of material out there focusing on small spaces and container gardens.

Ok

I bought this book after seeing a home-made vertical garden featured on-line. A great book - I really like how it is presented. BIG about small things :)

great book