New Small Garden: Contemporary Principles, Planting and Practice

Transform even the smallest outdoor space into a vibrant, beautifully designed garden with New Small Garden, now repackaged into a flexible paperback edition. 
 
Small gardens can be some of the most rewarding spaces we tend and also some of the most challenging. In this practical and inspiring book, planting expert Noel Kingsbury teaches you how to see compact spaces differently, revealing how thoughtful design can turn any tiny space into a thriving green haven.  
 
Drawing on decades of horticultural expertise and the latest approaches in sustainable gardening, Kingsbury shows how limited area doesn’t restrict creativity. Instead, it offers opportunities for smarter choices and more intentional design. 
 
Across beautifully photographed real gardens, he explores the combinations that work best for small spaces. Whether you’re a beginner looking to plant your first border or a seasoned gardener rethinking an existing space, this book offers eye‑opening guidance that will elevate what you grow and how you grow it. 
 
For example, you will learn how to:  

• Design for small spaces using visual illusions, diagonal sightlines, and layered planting that makes compact gardens feel larger. 
• Choose the right plants for the upper, middle, and ground layers, including perennials, shrubs, climbers, grasses, and bulbs. 
• Use sustainable practices such as rain‑garden features, permeable surfaces, water‑smart planting, and wildlife‑supportive design. 
• Work with microclimates and urban conditions to grow healthier, more resilient plants. 
• Incorporate vertical planting to maximize growing area and add height. 
• Create character and continuity with focal points, containers, repeated materials, and seasonal planting schemes. 
• Support biodiversity by designing habitats that welcome beneficial species.  
• Learn from real-life examples, including six whole‑garden case studies showcasing successful small gardens and the thinking behind them. 

The book is complete with more than 450 stunning photographs by renowned lifestyle photographer, Maayke de Ridder, illustrating every concept through lush, real-world inspiration. 
 
Whether you’re working with a courtyard, balcony, terrace, or backyard, New Small Garden gives you the tools and confidence to create a beautiful and deeply personal outdoor space, no matter its size.

Dr Noel Kingsbury has been described as ‘the voice of authority with renegade undertones’. A gardener since childhood, he has designed many gardens and public spaces, run a nursery and carried out research at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape. He is best known for his promotion of naturalistic planting design, but is passionate about any kind of innovation in the garden. Noel has written more than 25 books on garden matters, including four with planting designer Piet Oudolf. He lives and gardens in central Portugal.

Photographer Maayke de Ridder is a former fashion stylist with a strong sense of design and photographer several books in her native Holland.