I know Chris McLaughlin’s new book is part of The Complete Idiot’s Guide series, but it’s written with smart gardeners in mind.

The tagline for Small-Space Gardening (Alpha Books, 2012, $19.95) is “Reap a bounty of beauty and edibles in every square inch!”

Chris certainly makes that possible.

She helps gardeners of all levels find ways to plant, whether on a shady balcony, in a typical suburban landscape or with no landscape at all. Her book is filled with creative ideas for finding space to garden.

If you have a will to plant a garden, she has a way to help you.

Chris takes readers through all the steps of evaluating the garden space, designing the space, and planting in the tiniest of spaces. The chapter on Container Gardening is a go-to guide for any gardener who needs to think inside the window box.

I especially enjoyed the section on “Small-Space Garden Themes.” This part of the book gives detailed instructions for planting a food and flower border, creating hanging baskets filled with vegetables and using a soil bag as a nifty container.

She even included something I’ve always wanted to try: making a teepee trellis.

In each chapter of her book, she offers tips, pitfalls and “Garden Gospel” that are as entertaining to read as they are loaded with practical gardening information.

In addition to helping gardeners find space to garden, Chris makes recommendations on the fruits, vegetables, and flowers to plant.

Chapter 10, “Fruit in Your Landscape” is especially helpful because she explains how to plant a micro-orchard with specific varieties of columnar apple trees that fit neatly into containers.

As an added bonus, Part 4 includes good gardening practices from building soil to integrated pest management. Chris wants to make sure your small-space garden is a healthy one.

(My review copy of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Small-Space Gardening” was provided by Alpha Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.)

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Organo Republic 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix for Indoor & Outdoors

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Premium 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix - Special Garden Flower Seeds Blend designed for planting indoor & outdoors across North America. With over 16 varieties and 100,000 wildflower seeds, this mix is the best solution to attract pollinators - bees, butterflies & birds are essential for garden plants health. Our Special Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix Includes White Yarrow, Columbine, New England Aster, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, Blanketflower, Gayfeather, Blue Flax, Lupine, Dwarf Evening, Primrose, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan. Easy & Fun Growing Experience with our online guides - Don’t plant disappointment - Add more colors to your wildflower garden! We send only super hearty heirloom flower seeds with the highest germination rate and fast sprout. Our detailed growing guide helps you grow seeds the garden of your dream like a PRO. Colorful Wildflower Garden from Seeds - Grow wildflowers everywhere - Indoor in window garden or Outdoors Flower garden Garden make a beautiful design for your garden borders, pathways, field or meadow and attract pollinators. Made in the USA by Small Family-Owned Business - Quality You Can Trust - Our wildflower bulk seeds variety pack are tested at the highest germination rates before being sealed to last for up to 3 years before you need to plant. Each packet of our flower seeds variety pack is resealable to make it easy to store and has its own label with a QR code for the growing instructions.

Buy at Amazon

Corona E-Grip Trowel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Handle Material: Aluminum. Handle Length: 14-1/2 in. Overall Length: 14.5 in. Head Material: Aluminum. Handle Color: Red.

Buy at Amazon