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

Fern Richardson
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Book Description

March 6, 2012
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 Life on the Balcony blog, is here to walk you through the process of beautifying a small space--even when you have a similarly small budget.

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. It's in these containers--traditional or not--that you'll cultivate your own food, attract beneficial insects, grow flowering vine privacy screens, and so much more. 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.

Frequently Bought Together

Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and Herbs + The Edible Balcony: Growing Fresh Produce in Small Spaces + McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers
Price for all three: $44.62

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Filled with useful information, but written in a relaxed, chatty style, [Small-Space Container Gardens] is a great cover-to-cover read, while also working well as a reference guide if you're looking for specific tips, such as container plants that attract butterflies..." (Susan Morrison, author of Garden Up!)


"From selection of plants to illustrations of how to lay it all out, beginning and experienced gardeners alike will find plenty of inspiration." (Kylee Baumle, Horticulture Magazine)

"Popular blogger Fern Richardson at Lifeonthebalcony.com knows all about attaining some big style in small spaces. 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. " (Cindy McNatt, The Orange County Register)

"If you have ever dreamed of having a garden but are constrained by price or space, this is the book for you!" (Patricia McGoldrick Calloway's Nursery )

"If you have ever dreamed of having a garden but are constrained by price or space, this is the book for you!" (Patricia McGoldrick PM27 Blog )

“Ideas to help patio gardens look polished and planned.” (Nara Schoenberg Chicago Tribune )

“Covers just about everything you want to know about container gardening. I absolutely love [it]!” (Blue Planet Garden Blog.com )

“Fern’s DIY style is made easy and fun with numerous tutorials and crafts throughout the book.” (North Coast Gardening.com )

“From selection of plants to illustrations of how to lay it all out, beginning and experienced gardeners alike will find plenty of inspiration.” (Kylee Baumle Horticulture.com )

“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 )

“Offers a generous list of funky containers.” (San Francisco Chronicle )

"Shares a whole host of ideas for transforming even the tiniest of spaces into something special." (Apartment Therapy )

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 )

"A beautifully written and designed book." (Nature's Footprint )

"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 )

You don’t 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 author’s attention to succulents is distinctive; those forgiving plants lend themselves to the container gardening environment. Gardeners living in less mild climates than Richardson’s 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 )

"If you have ever dreamed of having a garden but are constrained by price or space, this is the book for you!" (PM27 Blog )

"Walks you through beautifying a small space, such as a balcony, porch, patio or small yard, even on a tight budget.” (Horticulture )

"The ideas are perfect for folks in condominiums, rental houses — and homeowners looking to enhance established landscape features." (Calloway's Nursery )

"Packs a great deal of information in a small space." (Cleveland Plain Dealer )

“...shows us how to have an enviable garden without the acreage..." (Curbly.com )

"You’ll find the keys to creating an uncluttered, lush outdoor space that’s not only beautiful, but budget-friendly." (VIV Magazine )

"One of the best new books on this topic." (The Vancouver Sun )

"Offers suggestions ranging from upcycling and plant repetitions to spray-painting mismatched containers." (Bill Holgan — MCT/ Tribune Papers )

“It’s packed with gorgeous photographs—making it pleasant to browse through for quick inspiration. The author’s real-life take on small-space gardening makes reading the full text worthwhile." (Fort Worth Examiner )

“It’s packed with gorgeous photographs—making it pleasant to browse through for quick inspiration. The author’s real-life take on small-space gardening makes reading the full text worthwhile." (Fort Worth Examiner )

About the Author

Fern Richardson is the creator of the container gardening blog Life on the Balcony. She is also a master gardener, amateur photographer, and container garden designer.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Timber Press (March 6, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1604692413
  • ISBN-13: 978-1604692419
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 11 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Fern Richardson was born in Long Beach, CA and has been gardening in small spaces all around Southern California since childhood. In 2008 she created the popular container gardening blog, Life on the Balcony. Through her blog--and now in her book, Small-Space Container Gardens--Fern shares her experience designing and tending to gardens on balconies, patios, porches, and rooftops. Fern is an equal opportunity gardener; no flower, succulent, vegetable, herb, or fruit tree has escaped her enthusiasm for bringing life to small, urban spaces.

Customer Reviews

The author's book is divided into nine easy, comprehensive lessons. allanbecker-gardenguru  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
I have very limited knowledge of plants, planters, dirt, etc. Nicole Bogrand  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
I just knew I was going to love it. Gen of North Coast Gardening  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and easy to read March 27, 2012
Format:Paperback
I got this book because (A)I live in an apartment complex and (B)I have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is - a magenta thumb? I kill, unintentionally, every plant I've brought into my life, no matter how robust.

This book has me on the path to leafy rehabilitation. It's very thorough, covering topics I wasn't even aware were a consideration. It's very easy to read in a large format with plenty of pictures and examples.

Even if I'm a hopeless case, at the very least this book has imparted knowledge upon me I didn't previously have. While I may not create the next award-winning small space botanical extravaganza (or I may!), I've certainly gained a valuable appreciation for what goes into a successful garden.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful gardens in small spaces. April 9, 2012
Format:Paperback
Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and HerbsOne doesn't need a yard in order to garden. In the equal-opportunity world that many of us inhabit, anyone who wishes to grow plants ought to be able to do so, no matter where they reside. The fact that so many apartment-dwellers and condo-owners choose gardening as their passion, speaks not only to the ingenuity and zeal of the individual hobbyist, but also to the versatility and adaptability of most plants to container gardening.

Master Gardener, Fern Richardson writes about small-space gardening with an authentic voice. She lives in an apartment with minimal outdoor living area, yet manages to grow food, flowers, and plants with only a balcony and front porch as her garden. Her book is filled with ingenious ways to convert tiny areas into outdoor oases, complete with plant vegetation and small-scale furniture so that anyone's balcony, porch, or tiny patio may become a multi-purpose outdoor living area.

The author's book is divided into nine easy, comprehensive lessons. Chapter One over arches the main elements of a small garden, namely the colors, shapes, sizes, and textures, of plants and containers, appropriate furniture, and the option of lighting. Chapter Two discusses the pivotal role that weather and climate play in affecting the productivity, hardiness, and health of container-grown plants. The third chapter offers suggestions for attracting wildlife and the fourth is about growing food - yes, one can grow food in containers. Read the book to discover how it can be done.

The author grows, figs, peaches nectarines, and blueberries on her balcony in Southern California, and offers suggestions for successfully growing vegetables, not only in her warm climate but also in colder areas where, due to shorter growing seasons, seeds must germinate quickly. Readers who garden in northern locations will be pleased that the author has paid attention to their climate needs.

Chapter Five includes a photo essay on designing with succulents and aromas. The theme of the sixth chapter is about building privacy, while the seventh introduces lushness and verticality in the form of wall gardens and vertical plants that draw the eye upward to relieve a feeling of claustrophobia that sometimes occurs in small spaces.

The eighth chapter is aptly titled Green Thumb Crash Course, Learning the Essentials for Success. Here, the author writes about the importance of using high quality potting soil, essential details for container planting, repotting root bound plants, the role of fertilizer and irrigation, bulb forcing, whether or not to deadhead, and pruning technique. The last chapter is devoted to troubleshooting pests and diseases. In this fascinating segment, we learn how some companion plants help to control such uninvited guests. Even readers who do not garden in containers might find reasons to include these beneficial plants in their growing beds.

It must be mentioned that the photography sourced for this book is outstanding. To illustrate Ms. Richardson's text, the works of over thirty illustrious garden photographers were tapped. For example, the cover image by Marie Viljoen that is repeated on page 72 is a masterpiece of narrative photography and composition.

All of the stunning visuals enhance the reader's understanding of the advice offered by Fern Richardson, who, by the way, is an extraordinarily effective communicator. Add to this recipe, Timber Press' hallmark, avant-garde graphic design, and the result is a publication that raises the artistic bar for all future gardening manuals. This is a beautiful and inspiring book to own.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Great for ideas May 18, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a great basics book and fantastic for the beginner. I regularly read Fern's blog and like her ideas. There were too many suggestions with little substance or follow through in here for me to find this as useful as I was hoping. Thoroughly recommended for someone just starting out with gardening and a good point of reference book. Beautiful pictures.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Good for Beginners
I don't have good soil for growing food in my garden, so I use containers such as different size pots to grow vegetables and fruits on my patio. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Bebe
5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!
Perfect for cactus and succulent planting. Good reference book for what to plant. I learned a lot from this small book.
Published 28 days ago by Barbara Paicopulos
4.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures and good ideas
This book offers a lot of visual ideas and text to match for working with limited garden/planter space. It will help me plan for my new little home.
Published 29 days ago by Susan Seymour
2.0 out of 5 stars Great book just not what I thought it was
This a very good book don't get me wrong. It is just not what I was looking for at all. I thought that it was a different container garden book.
Published 1 month ago by Dzaya Weretiger
5.0 out of 5 stars Love It!
Practical without being boring. Nice pictures and provides information for dealing with (and realizing what) climates you live in, amount of sun, sun direction, wind . . . Read more
Published 1 month ago by Debra Potts
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Container Garden Book
Being a Master Gardener and Landscape Designer I find this to be one of the most informative books on my bookshelf. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ellen Ingram
5.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas for small area gardening!
Good photos and lots of useful information on container planting. A great section on succulents! A great addition to my gardening books.
Published 3 months ago by jeanne sammons
5.0 out of 5 stars Love love love!
I own a condo and have a small 8' X 15' balcony. I have very limited knowledge of plants, planters, dirt, etc. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nicole Bogrand
5.0 out of 5 stars Container Gardens
As soon as the first frost hits here I am planning for next year's plantings. Small-Space Container Gardens has already helped me start planning for our spring porch and deck. Read more
Published 7 months ago by tmtrvlr
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
I got this book from my local library and I love it so much I'm buying it. I have a small back porch with a solid stucco wall enclosing it and this book inspired me to turn it into... Read more
Published 11 months ago by A. Smith
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