In an extract from his excellent new book, Small Space Revolution, Tayshan Hayden-Smith explains how to help build stronger, greener communities plant by plant
Any space has the potential to be a garden or, at the very least, an opportunity for nature to creep in – you’ll be surprised what can grow where. It was only recently I stumbled across a fully formed and fruiting tomato plant growing between the cracks of a pavement in inner-city London, also neighboured by a vibrant chard plant. Something tells me that there’s a gardener behind this curious experiment, and while it’s impractical to start planting between every crevice on roads and streets (although I’m not against it!), such seemingly random planting really does exemplify the resilience of plants. They, as well as humans, have had to adapt to the ever-increasing temperatures in towns and cities because of climate change – worsened by the development of urban infrastructure, which absorbs and re-emits the sun’s heat. Growing plants on streets can be an invaluable way forward in helping to reduce temperatures, benefiting both planet and people.
Have a think about what your road could look like.
How does it make you feel? I always view spaces with a green to grey ratio in mind – where does your road sit on that? What percentage of it is green?
Planting under a tree
Think carefully and realistically about the size of the space you have identified, what plant or plants might be appropriate, and is there anything already growing there?
Choose a plant that won’t compete with or outgrow the tree. Often the base of the tree can be shady, so select plants that can cope with such conditions.
To give any plants the best start, aim to plant in autumn or spring, when temperatures aren’t extreme and there is soft, moisture-filled soil for roots to establish in. Never plant in very dry or frozen soil. Use a trowel or bulb planter to dig the planting holes, being careful not to damage any tree roots.
Planting ideas for th
