Choosing the right trees and shrubs for small gardens is a fine art, and it's all too easy to end up with heavyweight shrubs overtaking the border, dysfunctional climbers, and trees outgrowing their designated spaces. In this practical reference, woody plant expert Diana Miller takes the anguish out of the process by recommending plants and cultivation techniques that excel in small garden spaces.<br><br> Small gardens require careful planting and the book starts by considering plants that fulfill a particular design function, such as trees that provide the right levels of shade for an underplanting of choice bulbs, columnar or weeping trees for very restricted spaces, and specimen shrubs that provide an effective foil for herbaceous perennials in a mixed border. Pruning, coppicing, topiary, and planting in containers to restrict growth are valuable techniques in the small garden armory.<br><br> At the heart of this book is a comprehensive plant directory that provides detailed descriptions, including full cultivation advice for over 400 top performance trees and shrubs. Further advice on pruning, information on planting to encourage wildlife, and handy lists that allow readers to search by color, height, and other characteristics are invaluable. Color photographs complement the plant descriptions, aid identification, and complete this practical plant reference.