Product Description

Any outdoor space in an urban environment, however small, is an invaluable bonus. Here, expert garden designer Joe Swift shows us how to create an area that meets all your practical and style requirements whilst making the best use of every inch of available space. Familiar to many as the co-presenter of BBC's "Gardeners World", Joe's practical and attractive ideas will enable you to create your own personal Eden. It features chapters that take you through the initial assessment and planning stages, to selecting suitable plants and hard materials, quick makeovers and year-round maintenance to keep your garden looking at its best. Joe reveals how to make the most of existing elements, how to conceal less pleasing aspects, and how to create privacy and the illusion of space so that you can make the very most of whatever space you have. And, throughout, Joe remains cost-conscious, aware that redesigning a garden can be an expensive endeavour.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105508 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-15
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

LivingEDGE, 1st August 2008
"Any outdoor space in an urban environment, however small, is an invaluable bonus. Here, expert garden designer Joe Swift you how to create an area that meets your entire practical and style requirements whilst making the best use of every inch of available space."

HEAT,9th August 2008
"Is your patio the size of a postage stamp?..... if this sounds like you, treat youself to this book - it's pretty extensive when it comes to explaining and inspiring. Actually, Swift's tome would be right at home on the bookshelves of the most acomplished urban gardener, too. Joe packs in loads of ideas: multi-tiered, decked, paved and dining-friendly chill out zones are all in there, as well as a really helpful guide on what to grow where."

Gardens Illustrated, 1st August 2008
"Joe's Urban Garden Handbook...helps readers achieve both whole garden designs and quick fixes"

Customer Reviews

Small space, big ideas
Joe Swift is a real natural. In this book he demonstrates the style you can bring to a neglected, small urban garden. Explore the potential of your own patch that sits unused and buried beneath weeds. Learn how to disguise or conceal the bits you don't like, create privacy and make the maximum use of the garden.

This book looks at several solutions to your needs, whether you are a family needing an extra outdoor room or someone wanting to chill out in their own outdoor space. The book is lavishly illustrated with fabulous garden ideas. Simple layouts are easy to adapt. The regular garden features such as hardscaping - surfaces and softscaping such as plants are explained for each idea.

The bonus of this book is that it is not a garden plans book, it's a book to get the best out of your plot, to create an individual garden. It includes what is essential for you, design solutions to typical gardens, professional know-how, a plant selector and ideas for jazzing up the basics through the year as well as maintenance. A list of suppliers will help make your garden dreams come true.

Find solutions for your urban space and make the world a brighter and more useful place.

Inspiring
I got given this book as a gift by my girlfriend. Contains loads of good non-fussy advice and information, cleanly presented (the photos are really excellent). I had no idea just how much you can do with a small space and how much you can do yourself without spending a fortune. Has definitely inspired me to finally get around to doing something with my back yard (much to my girlfriends delight!)

My new garden design bible
I was just about to have a go at my small garden myself and had a vague idea of what I wanted to do. I'm so glad I didn't do it as this book has completely changed my approach, and now I know what I want. The pics are good (mainly modern gardens) and its written in an honest, unfussy style by someone who obviously has a lot of experience. I wish it had some plans that I could copy.