Table of Contents
Yourgarden can heol… 8
Preface Alistair Griffiths 10
Introduction Matt Keightley 12
The Protective Garden
Introduction 18
Plants as Potential Pollution-Busters 20
Which greenery is best? 22
Maximize your hedges effectiveness 24
Designing your pollution barrier 26
No room for a hedge? 28
From Matt Keightley: Designing your boundary 30
Plants as Potential Soundproofing 32
Layer vegetation to filter sound 34
Planting for noise-buffering 36
Natural sounds to distract attention 38
From Matt Keightley: Designing around sound 42
Creating a Low-Allergen Garden 44
Designing a haven for allergy sufferers 46
Managing Pests the Natural Way 50
Plants that protect 52
Making friends with pest predators 54
Welcoming in wildlife 56
The Healing Garden
Introduction 62
Feel Good with Vitamin G 64
Getting your dose of Vitamin G 66
From Matt Keightley: Designing a secluded haven 68
How Your Garden Helps to Reboot Your Brain 70
How nature fascinates 72
Design your garden for fascination 74
Plant your garden for fascination 76
Make a mindfulness corner 78
From Matt Keightley: Designing your seating 80
Create a brain-boosting indoor garden 82
How Gardening Can Boost Your Self-Esteem 84
Choose what works for you 86
Gardening to Overcome Isolation 90
The Powerful Impact of Scent 92
Designing your scented space 94
Choosing your scents 96
From Matt Keightley: Designing your scented space 98
Harnessing the Power of Color 100
Using color to excite 102
Using color to calm 104
The Restorative Effects of Water 110
Design with water for well-being 112
From Matt Keightley: Designing your-water garden 114
The Positive Power of Birdsong 116
Bring birds into your garden 118
Dirt Is Good for You 122
Get digging to boost immunity 124
Why the Garden Beats the Gym 126
Good gardening technique 128
The Nourishing Garden
Introduction 132
The Secret Life of Healthy Soil 134
Boosting your soil 136
The Detoxing Power of Plants 138
Designing your perfect raised bed 140
A Medicine Chest in the Garden 144
Designing a medicinal garden 146
Grow your own remedies 148
Growing Your Own Food 150
Prepare for planting 152
A year of vegetables 154
Making small spaces fruitful 156
The Sustainable Garden
Introduction 162
The Cooling Effect of Plants 164
Keep your home naturally cool 166
Save Energy with Plants 168
Green wall insulation 170
From Matt Keightley; Greening a garden room 172
Future-Proofing for Drought 174
Planting for drought resistance 176
A lawn to beat the heat 178
Be water-wise in the garden 180
Make Your Garden a No-Flood Zone 184
How plants capture water 186
Make a flood-proof garden 188
Create a simple rain garden 190
From Matt Keightley; Designing a rain garden 192
Plant a Haven for Pollinators 194
How to help pollinators 196
Create a wildflower meadow 198
Make a scented night garden 200
Is Your Garden Really "Green"? 202
Make your own compost 204
Saving Air Miles on Cut Flowers 206
Plant a year-round cutting garden 208
Index 212
References 216
Further reading 219
About the authors 222
Acknowledgments 223
