'Garden Spaces: Simple Solutions for Planning and Design', by George Carter (Mitchell Beazley, £14.99)
Go in to any bookshop, and you’ll see a plethora of gardening titles conscientiously manning the front stands.
As the effects of global warming become more noticeable in our everyday lives, teaching the masses how to use their garden is big business for publishers. After all, gardens are recognised now, more than ever, as beneficial to the environment and our health.
And on the domestic front, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that a decent, tidy garden will add pounds to the value of your property, while an unsightly mess may keep buyers from parting with the full asking price when you come to sell.
So, how is this guide different from all the rest? Well, although it won’t tell you what seeds to scatter or plants to prune, it offers a series of first-class tips on organisation.
A former RHS Gold medallist at the Chelsea Flower Show, leading British garden designer Carter is generous and sage with his advice on garden planning - the first design hurdle against which homeowners generally tend to fall.
A sense of space
Establishing a sense of spaciousness is probably the most relevant theme for British readers of this book. It may be hard to believe that subdividing the smallest garden area or balcony will make it seem larger, but it appears to be true. I’ve seen the pictures.
In long, thin gardens, it’s best to create a series of rooms as an extension of your home to create illusions of space, while loading a couple of big urns or vases onto a small balcony will also work to fool the eye.
Hints are also yielded on how to entertain in a garden that’s too small to hold a marquee, how to create the perfect pond, and what to do if your garden doesn’t get enough sunlight to sustain grass. But keep it simple to begin with, Carter warns – elaboration can always come later.
It might not be your first port of call, but it should certainly be your second or third if you want to get the most out of your space – a precious commodity indeed on our overcrowded island.
Review by Natalia Gameson