How

to Create a Living Miniature Garden

Version 2.0
By Janit Calvo

Founder of Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center, Est. 2001

Author of Gardening in Miniature: Create Your Own Tiny Living World, Published by Timber Press
Creator of over 1,532 Miniature Gardens to date, ranging from 20 long in-ground installations to 4 wide pots.

W W W . T W O G R E E N T H U M B S . C O M
 This eBook is for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other
people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each
recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then
please return to TwoGreenThumbs.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of
this author. Note that distributing copyrighted material without authorization is illegal in the United States and
many other countries.
Copyright 2013 by Janit Calvo
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
whatsoever without written permission, including electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
by any information storage and retrieval system, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or
reviews.
Published by:
th
Janit Calvo of Two Green Thumbs LLC, 10204 12 Ave. S, Suite #2, Seattle, Wa, 98168 (Mailing only.)
Visit us on the Website: http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com
E-Mail: at info@TwoGreenThumbs.com

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 2

Miniature Garden Plants, clockwise from bottom left: White Thyme, Compact Fernspray Hinoki
Cypress (tree, upper left) Miniature Daisies (at the bottom of the gazing balls on stakes) Platts Black
Brass Buttons, Variegated Euonymous (tree in top, right corner) and Dwarf Mondo Grass.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 3

 Introduction
This download will get you starting into the huge world of miniature gardening. It includes our revised version
of our popular step-by-step instructions, a few design tips to help get your idea out of your head and into your
garden. Also included are some patio and pathway suggestions, a list of some of our favorite miniature trees and
plants, an intro to the scales we use, plus some points to consider when planting in-ground.
The most important thing is to have fun while making it your very own little living world. You can always add
to it, try other plants and trees, or change the accessories to suit the season or the occasion.

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
What is a Miniature Garden? ......................................................................................................................... 5

PLANTS
About Miniature Garden Plants ..................................................................................................................... 6
List - Popular Trees and Shrubs for Your Outdoor Miniature Gardening ................................................. 8
List - Miniature Bedding Plants ..................................................................................................................... 9
About Potting Soil & Fertilizers ................................................................................................................... 10

ACCESSORIES
Miniature Garden Accessories ~ An Overview .......................................................................................... 11

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Ways Get Started .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Design and Planning .................................................................................................................................... 16

MAKE A GARDEN IN A POT

How to Create A Miniature Garden in a Pot................................................................................................ 17

MAKE A CUSTOM PATIO

How to use pebbles in the miniature garden ............................................................................................. 22
Installing a Permanent Patio with the Mini Patio Mix Kit ......................................................................... 23

IN GROUND GARDENS
Steps to Getting Started ............................................................................................................................... 27

MAINTENANCE
Care and Maintenance .................................................................................................................................. 29

MORE GOODIES
Get ready to journey into the huge world of growing small ..................................................................... 31
Miniature Garden Resources and Links to More Info & Fun .................................................................... 32

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 4

 What is a
Miniature
Garden?
For decades the
term miniature
gardening has been
applied to many forms
of gardening small.
Windowsill gardens,
bonsai, rock gardens,
gnome gardens, fairy
gardens, trough
gardens, teacup
gardening and
terrariums have all
been called miniature
gardens. When
attempting to define
what our style of
miniature gardening is,
there are no other
words to describe it; it
is a miniature garden
despite the previous
use of this phrase.

A miniature garden is a living garden in a tiny scale and looks like a full-sized garden that has literally
shrunk in size. A true miniature garden consists of a slow growing dwarf or true miniature plants, a patio
or pathway, and miniature garden accessories where all these elements relate in scale and are
proportioned to each other.
{ Fairy gardens are created specifically for fairies with whimsical houses and fantastical furniture and a fairy
figure, or two. For most people, using this highly imaginative theme compromises the realism and reduces the
enchantment that only an authentic and realistic miniature world can deliver. This figure/no figure debate is not
new and occurs often in the miniature dollhouse hobby as well. Its a personal choice.}
When planting a miniature garden, it is not enough
to use just young plants, small-leafed starts or baby
plants that will grow out of scale within the season. Look
for true miniature and slow-growing dwarf trees and
plants with tiny foliage that grow slowly. Note that some
small-leafed plants can be pruned to help keep them in
scale.
The focus is on the realism when gardening in
miniature. The garden furniture, arbors, ponds are in-
scale with the rest of the garden and are usually
modeled after the full-sized materials, or a very
believable substitutes and are what dictates the scale
of the garden. The recommended patio or pathway
materials are also true to scale and really helps deliver
the message to the viewer that it is a miniature world.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 5

 About Miniature Garden Plants
What is a miniature plant? What is a dwarf plant? What will
stay small and grow slowly so you dont have to replant your
mini world in three months? One of the many joys of
miniature gardening is to watch it weave and grow throughout
the years. Treat it like a full-sized garden and you can add or
replace something each season or not. Here is more
information about the plants we recommend for the best
success.

The terms miniature and dwarf describe the growth

rate, not the plant. A true miniature tree will still grow slowly
but it will grow. Be careful of plants that have the words
dwarf and miniature in their name because it may not be
accurate; always look for the growth rate on the tag or in the
listing.
Boyds Willow is a slow-growing dwarf tree with a
growth rate of less than 4 per year. "Miniature" is defined as growing less than 1" per year
(205 cm). Height after 10 years is 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm.)
Generally an ultimate height of less than three feet (90 cm.)
"Dwarf" is defined as growing between 1 and 6 inches per year (2.5 to 15cm.) Height after 10 years is from
one to five feet (30 cm to 1.5 m) and an ultimate height of 10 to 25 feet (3 to 7.5 m.) Look for plants on the lower
end of this range that grow 1 to 3 inches per year.

Miniature Garden Plants For Outdoors

The charm of miniature gardening is watching the garden age year after year, adding plants every now and
again, and decorating it when you feel the need to play.
If you plant fast-growing plants that will grow-up within a season, you will quickly lose that miniature charm
that you had when you first planted your garden with the young plants.
Depending upon where you are, the number of
miniature garden plants that can be found at your local
nursery can be plentiful when you first start to look for them.
But it takes the right kind of slow-growing miniature plant that
will stay small, grow slowly and weave together for years.
Miniature gardening is new and is often confused with
fairy gardening. Your local garden center may not know what
you mean by miniature garden plants and direct you to
small perennials or herbs. Take this list with you, ask for
these types of plants and youll get to the types that have a
much greater chance of working for years in your miniature
garden. Note that the following groups of plants work well for
containers and in-ground.
Purchase well-rooted plants by looking through the
drainage holes in the bottom of the pot you should be able
to see some of the roots. Lift the pot up to see the bottom,
rather than turn it over and make a mess in the middle of the
Usually small-leafed and slow-growing, rockery plants
nursery. If a lot of roots are growing out of the bottom of the are great for miniature gardening. Above, look for the
pot, the plant may be too root-bound - look for another plant size of the adult Hen and Chick to know if it will stay
with less roots reaching out of the drainage holes. small.

Slow-growing dwarf trees and conifers True miniature trees and conifers
Alpine perennial plants Small-leafed, slow-growing rockery plants
Small-leafed, slow-growing ground covers Small-leafed, slow-growing Sedums

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 6

About Faster Growing Plants for Outdoors
Faster growing plants can be fun but they will need to be changed seasonally, similar to annual plants or
vegetables, some more enthusiastic plants need changing each month.
Young herb starts in early spring can suit a miniature garden setting for a few weeks before they will need
more room to grow into their natural, adult shape.
Small-leafed perennials often flower and some can cascade beautifully down the sides of the pot.
Young groundcover shrubs will want to spread horizontally, but will stay low to the ground and can create the
illusion of a miniature shrub in the tiny garden bed. Keep in mind that these are baby plants and will need regular
watering and the right amount of sunlight. Look for them in the spring at your local independent garden center
when they are usually available in 4 pots.
You WILL get better quality plants from an independent garden center AND you will get plants that
will be best for your area. It is worth the drive. Avoid the big-box-stores for purchasing your miniature
garden plants and you will avoid disappointment, the big-box-stores focus on selling, not gardening.

Indoor Plants from left to right: Miniature Aloe Vera, the trunk of a small date palm, Haworthias in front of the ape and the
trunk of a baby Norfolk Pine that has been kept in its original pot and planted here.

Why this works: The Norfolk Pine likes consistent dampness around its roots. The Haworthias and the Aloe Vera that are
planted next it needs the soil to dry out in between watering sessions. By planting the Pine with its pot still on, it keeps the
water corralled within the hidden pot and keeps the Pines roots damp and happy.

About Miniature Plants for Indoors

There is an extensive list for miniature garden plants that can be grown indoors. There are plants for dry or
wet soil and others for bright or low light. Some are faster growing and others you will not see it grow at all.
Depending upon your area, your local garden center will be the best resource for your indoor miniature plant
quest. Here are a few suggestions to start with:

Small-leafed tropical plants Small-leafed Succulents

Haworthias, Crassulas Miniature African Violets
Young Jade plants Air plants

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 7

 Popular Trees and Shrubs for Your Outdoor
Miniature Gardening
Here are just a few of our popular trees and shrubs that are available
through our Miniature Garden Center (dependent upon availability.) They are
slow growing, true miniatures plants or broadleaf plants that can be pruned. Its
important to choose well-behaved plants to increase the lifetime of your
miniature garden to make it much more satisfying, rewarding and easy to
maintain. A well-behaved miniature garden plant is one that doesnt grow fast
and is easy to care for. Note that the tree and shrub shapes noted below are
descriptions of these plants as found in 4 pots at the garden center.

S = Sun SH = Shade T = Tree Shape

Fernspray Hinoki Cypress with
its winter blush. PS = Part Sun / Shade ** = For Indoors Too SHR = Shrub Shape

Broadleaf Trees and Shrubs

Helmonds Pillar Barberry - Berberis thunbergii Helmonds Pillar S, T
Variegated English Boxwood - Buxus sempervirens Variegata PS**, SHR & T

Cypress
Golden Sprite Hinoki Cypress - Chamaecyparis obtusa Golden Sprite S, SHR
Nana Hinoki Cypress - Chamaecyparis obtusa Nana S, SHR
Monteray Cypress - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Monteray PS**, T
Elwood Cypress Chamaecyparis cupressus Elwood, PS**, T
White Pygmy Sawara Cypress - Chamaecyparis pisfiera White Pygmy S, SHR
Mops Sawara Cypress - Chamaecyparis pisfiera Mops S, SHR

Japanese Cedar
Tansu Japanese Cedar - Cryptomeria japonica Tansu PS, SHR
Tensan Japanese Cedar - Cryptomeria japonica Tensan PS, SHR

Japanese Holly
Dwarf Pagoda Japanese Holly - Ilex crenata Dwarf Pagoda PS, T
Sky Pencil Japanese Holly - Ilex crenata Sky Pencil PS, T

Juniper
Blue Pygmy Juniper Juniperus horizontalis Blue Pygmy S, SHR
Miniature Juniper Juniperus communis Miniature S, T
Mother Lode Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis Mother Lode S, SHR

Alberta Spruce
Hobbit Dwarf Spruce - Picea glauca Hobbit S, SHR
Humpty Dumpty Dwarf Spruce - Picea glauca Humpty Dumpty S, SHR
Jeans Dilly Dwarf Spruce - Picea glauca Jean's Dilly - S, T
Blue Planet Spruce Picea glauca Blue Planet S, SHR

Mugo Pine
Mops Mugo Pine - Pinus mugo Mops S, SHR
Michele Mugo Pine - Pinus mugo Michelle S, SHR
Mitchs Mini Mugo Pine - Pinus mugo Mitchs Mini S, SHR

Canada Hemlock
Jean Iseli Canada Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis Jean Iseli PS, SHR
Jervis Canada Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis Jervis PS, SHR
Moon Frost Canada Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis Moonfrost PS, T

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 8

 Miniature Bedding Plants
Here are some of our favorite miniature garden bedding plants that we
have been working with for years. Note that all perennials have a time when
they are dormant and need rest. Find out what is available now in the
Miniature Garden Center store.
S = Sun SH = Shade
PS = Part Sun/Part Shade ** = For indoors too

Flowering Plants Under 3 Miniature Ice Plant

Cranesbill - Erodium reichardii 'Bishop's Form' - S Delosperma congesta
Miniature Daisies - Bellium minuta S, PS
Sea Thrift - Armeria maritime - S, PS
Alpine Cinquefoil - Potentilla neumanniana Nana - S, PS
Elfin Thyme - Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin' - S
Red Thyme - Thymus praecox - S
White Thyme - Thymus serpyllum 'Alba' - S
Wooley Thyme - Thymus pseudolanuginosus - S
Irish Moss - Sagina subulata - S, PS
Scottish Moss - Sagina subulata Aurea - S, PS

Sedums and Succulents

Miniature Ice Plant - Delosperma congesta - S
Hens and Chickens - Sempervivum (look for small adults) - S
Sedum Ogon - Sedum makinoi 'Ogon' - S, PS Golden Baby Tears
Groundcover stonecrop - Sedum lydium - S Soleirolia soleirolii Aurea
Sedum Button- Sedum hispanicum - S
Sedum Cape Blanco - S

Ground Covers Under 1

Elfin Thyme - Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin' - S
Red Thyme - Thymus praecox - S
White Thyme- Thymus serpyllum 'Alba' - S
Wooley Thyme - Thymus pseudolanuginosus - S
Irish Moss - Sagina subulata - S, PS
Scottish Moss - Sagina subulata Aurea - S, PS
Baby's Tears / Angels Tears - Soleirolia soleirolii - SH**
Golden Baby's Tears - Soleirolia soleirolii Aurea - SH**
Corsican Mint - Mentha requienii - SH**
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Foliage Plants From 1 to 3 Ophiopogon japonica Nana
Brass Buttons - Leptinella squalida 'Platt's Black' - PS
Dwarf London Pride Saxifrage - Saxifraga umbrosa primuloides - PS, SH
Dwarf Crisp Fern - Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa Gracilis - SH, PS
Hardy Little Fern or Alpine Water Fern - Blechnum penna-marina - SH, PS

Vines
Wire Vine/Fairy Vine - Muehlenbeckia complexa - S, PS**
Variegated Fairy Vine - Muehlenbeckia complexa Variegata - S, PS**
Connecticut Partridgeberry Mitchella repens - PS

Grass
Dwarf Mondo Grass - Ophiopogon japonicus Nana - S, PS**
Miniature Sweet Flag - Acorus gramineus 'Pusillus' - SH** Platts Black Brass Buttons
Dwarf Lily Turf - Lirope spicata PS Leptinella squalida Platts Black
Silver Mist Lily Turf Lirope japonica - S

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 9

About Potting Soil & Fertilizers
Soil is alive, dirt is dead. Soil is a rich,
brown color, smells earthy and has bits of
compost, organic matter and tiny bark bits
in it. Dirt is gray or pale brown in color, is
gritty or sandy, and lifeless.
Potting soil is much different than the
soil in your garden bed. The ingredients of
potting soil are formulated to create the
right environment for the plants to grow
and prosper in a contained space.
Almost any type of plain potting soil
will work; the lower priced bags will need
extra vermiculite or Perlite to help the
drainage so the cost savings with the less
expensive soils may not work out.
CAUTION: Stay away from the soil
mixes that have fertilizer included, you do
not want your miniature plants to grow
faster than normal. Regular, fresh potting
soil will have enough nutrients in it to last
up to two years after planting. After the
two years, use a mild time-release
fertilizer in early spring and in mid
summer. We recommend an organic
fertilizer; it is environmentally friendly and
is not harmful to our waterways.

CHART TO ESTIMATE THE POT SIZE & SOIL NEEDED

Pot Width # Of Trees Groundcovers Soil Needed

Less than 5" 0 1 4 qt.

5" to 6" 0 1 or 2 6 qt.

6" to 8" 1 1 8 qt.

8" to 11" 1 2 14 qt.

11" to 14" 2 2 or 3 1 cu. ft.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 10

 Miniature Garden Accessories ~ An Overview
When moving down into the miniature scale, it is important to have at least one garden bench, birdhouse or
something man made if it is to be a true garden in miniature. A container of miniature trees and ground covers
would be a trough or sink garden. Add a miniature garden accessory, all of sudden you have an enchanting, living
scene of a true garden in miniature. The man made item will dictate the scale of the garden.

About Miniature Scales

One Sixth Scale or 1:6 scale or 1/6 scale, where 2 = 1 foot.
A 6 person in real life is 12 tall. Barbie, GI Joe or Playscale.
One Inch Scale or 1:12 scale or 1 inch scale, where 1 = 1 foot.
A 6 person in real life is 6 tall. A major dollhouse miniature scale.
Half Inch Scale or 1:24 scale or inch scale, where = 1 foot.
A 6 person in real life is 3 tall. Major dollhouse miniature scale.
Close to the 'G' Scale in the garden railway hobby world, (or 1/20 scale.)
Quarter Inch Scale or 1:48 scale or 1/4 inch scale, where 1/4 = 1 foot
A 6 person in real life, is tall. Major dollhouse miniature scale. Close to 'O' Scale in the railroad hobby.
th
144 Scale 1/144 scale is just really tiny! Dollhouse scale for the 1 scale dollhouse.
Approximately 'N' Scale in the railroad hobby world.

What Materials Work Best

Use accessories made from materials that belong in the garden or at
least look like it. The ideas are indeed limitless, but if you stay with the
same materials that are used in real-life situations, or at least appear so,
your chances of succeeding with the realism are much greater.
Metal is a natural fit in a miniature garden because it is what we
expect to see. Most metal left outdoors will oxidize and rust eventually but it
is still a perfect fit. Metal can also be easily cared for and painted too.
Wood accessories are ideal but they will weather and age eventually
(but can be easily painted and repaired.) Some plastics are fun but they will
need to be treated with UV protectant each season to keep the color fresh
and vivid. Stained resin lasts for years and holds up well to any weather.

Match the Scale

Not only is the medium important for realism, the scale, or size of the accessories, are crucial too. Make sure
all your mini garden art, furniture, accessories and patio material are all the same scale and realistically placed in
the mini garden scene. If one item is larger, or smaller, it
will be seen as out of place compared to the rest, it can
confuse the viewer and spoil the enchantment.

Change with the Seasons, Decorate for Holidays

One of the many fun things to do with your
miniature garden is to collect accessories for it. In real-
life gardens, we adapt the garden for the seasonal
changes and it is really fun to take that routine into your
miniature gardens too. Decorate for special occasions,
holidays, weddings, birthdays...

To make the plants look bigger, use a smaller scale. At right, the
HO-scaled scaled garden accessories forces the tiny Hen and
Chick plant in the barbeque, to appear like a big Agave plant.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 11

 Six Ways to Get You Started Miniature Gardening in a Container
Your miniature garden ideas may overwhelm you at first. Just thinking of all the amazing possibilities can be
exhilarating - and stagnating too. Often the analysis paralysis sets in and its hard to know where to begin. Here
are some ways into getting started. Just think about getting the first one done, and then youll have a better idea
of how to go about creating more.

1. Decide on a place for it

Decide where is it going to live first. Will it live in ground or in a container? Indoor or out? Then, what kind of
light does that spot have? Full shade? Morning sun? Choose the plants that will do well in that environment.

Right plant, right place means to match the plants needs to the placement, or where the garden will live.
Note that indoor plants are tropical plants that, in general, need to stay 60 degrees all year round. Outdoor plants
WILL NOT survive indoors as the indoor temperature and light for outdoor plants are very different.
Indoor Placement Ideas: Centerpiece, windowsill, desk, hanging or on a plant stand by the front window.
Outdoor Placement Ideas: Centerpiece for the deck table, a welcome pot by the front door, at the top or the
bottom of a set of stairs, or a big one at the corner of your patio at waist height so you can play with it easily.

2. Start with a Favorite Plant

If you have the luxury of planting anywhere,
miniature and dwarf trees and shrubs are ideal for
miniature gardening. Pick one that speaks to you,
or triggers your imagination, and youll never tire of
it as it grows, ages and becomes a big little tree.
Some of the miniature conifers can take 25 years
to grow to their natural height of only 2 feet tall
and are often coveted by bonsai artists.
Right plant, right place. Choose your
miniature bedding plants, or ground covers, by
matching the same light and water requirements
as the tree.

3. Start with a Favorite Garden or Memory

Use a full-sized garden, or images from the
Miniature Garden Gallery, to help kick-start your
brainstorming session.
To replicate a full-sized garden, simplify.
Focus on the main elements of that garden by
choosing one main thing that makes the garden
unique, then some smaller focal points to aid in
completing the idea. For example, find miniature
versions of the main tree, the structure, the color of
the patio and/or furniture.
Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 12
 4. Start with an Occasion
Starting with an occasion, event or holiday can
quickly narrow down your choices of what color and
what kind of accessories to look for. For birthdays, use
favorite colors or the colors of their dcor in your garden
so it will fit in to the recipients dcor easily. For events
where you dont know whom the garden is for, (raffles or
charity auctions, for example) an animal-themed garden
or specific regional themes are the most popular.

Garden Theme Suggestions

Rustic Formal
Modern Victorian
Country Urban Chic
Farm Ranch
Northwest Santa Fe / Desert
Rock Zen
Tropical Mediation
Beach Riverside
Dinosaur French
English Asian
Mediterranean Italian
French [Your idea here]

See what Holiday ideas are up in the store.

Special Occasion, Event, Holiday Ideas

New Years Centerpiece Birthday

Valentines Day Anniversary
St. Patricks Day Gift Congratulations
Mothers Day Thank You Gift
Fathers Day Client Gifts
Grandparents Day Lobby Garden
th
July 4 Teacher Gift
Halloween Charity Auction
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Church Raffle
Solstice An Invitation
Christmas Desk Garden
Hanukkah [Your idea here]

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 13

 5. Start with a Favorite Container
Sometimes the container just beckons to have a wee
world in it. Let the colors and the personality of the pot
dictate the mini garden theme. Here are some examples:
- An unglazed, terracotta pot might say rustic backyard
garden.
- A big, black, glazed, ceramic pot would look smashing
with a formal style, blue garden.
- A blue bowl would look lovely with a Blue Pygmy
Juniper, Sedum Button and Woolly Thyme or blue-green
plants. Finish it off with a grey stone patio and wee grey
birdbath for an elegant statement.
- A leaky, galvanized pail is the perfect setting for a hobby
farm in miniature. (See picture below.)
- A hand-made wood garden trug is a great jumping-off
point for a country-style garden.

More Thoughts on Pots

Pot Color: Where will the pot be placed? This will help in deciding the color of the pot. Either match,
complement or accent the color of your house or patio furniture. Monochromatic is always safe.
Pot Height: Taller trees will look great in low bowls and in taller pots. Shorter, globe-shaped shrubs look
terrific in small, short pots or bowls. Centerpieces should be low enough where you can see over them when
sitting down at the table. One-sided tabletop gardens can be more dramatic in height. Note that where the pot will
be placed will dictate the height of the pot and the height of the plants too. Always stand back and look at it
throughout the design process to help keep the design balanced and in proportion.
Pot Width: If you have a certain design in mind, the number of plants you want to include will dictate the
width or diameter of your pot. Use the chart on page 10 in combination with the design diagrams on page 16 to
help you figure out the size of pot needed for your idea. Note in the chart, the amount of soil is approximate, as
the height of the pot is not included in the chart.
Drainage Hole: Outdoor pots will need a drainage hole so the rain can drain. We recommend all pots have
drainage holes, indoors and outdoors for easier maintenance and healthier plants. Without it, it is hard to tell if the
roots are getting enough water or not. Also, roots need air. You run the risk of unknowingly drowning your plants if
there is no place for the excess water to go. There is no need for gravel in the bottom of the pot. Use a small
pottery chard placed askew, or a piece of mesh screen, to cover the hole in the bottom of the pot to help keep the
soil in place for as long as possible (to keep the garden together as long as possible.)

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 14

 Get what
you need in
one place
with the
Two Green
Thumbs
Miniature
Garden Kit

6. Start with a Miniature Garden Kit

If you love kits, do-it-yourself or are new to miniature gardening, the Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden
Kits are a great way to get started. Weve done the planning for you and put together a selection of trees and
bedding plants that will grow together well in containers, or right in the garden bed.
There is always a rotating variety of Miniature Garden
Kits in the online Miniature Garden Center store to suit a
number of different environments: full sun, shade, hardy and
indoor. To visit these ideas in the store, click here.
Here is a checklist of whats in the kit if you want to
assemble your own. The Miniature Garden Kit will fit a 10
wide pot. Use a minimum depth of 8 to give some room for
the plants roots to grow.
A miniature garden tree, a true miniature or slow-
growing dwarf preferably
Bedding plant (a.k.a. ground cover)
Mini Patio Mix Kit,
Stone sheet, 6 x 6
lb. of matching miniature pebbles (to make a path
through the garden bed)
Miniature garden accessories

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 15

START PLANNING YOUR MINIATURE GARDEN
The diagrams below can start the idea process if you want to use a round, rectangular, or an unusually
shaped container. Here are some tips to get your creative juices flowing:

- An asymmetrical design is naturally more interesting than a symmetrical design.

- Use different heights or layers of your garden. Place the tall plants in the back, short plants in the front.
- Play around with the plants while they are still in their pots until you get a design that you like.
- Think in odd numbers when choosing you plants, its more interesting to the eye.

Symmetrical Asymmetrical

These diagrams are only a

sampling of the possibilities.
T
ree
Large Circles = Trees
P
Medium Circles Bedding Plants
atio
Tiny circles with the line
represent the border and placement
of the skewer, which you will learn
about on page 20, in the project
section.

In ground gardens can be

more freestyle, starting at one
side of the bed and working
across gradually. You can add
to it each month, season or year
and let is grow it in slowly.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 16

 How to Create A Miniature Garden in a Pot
These instructions are a general outline of how to put a miniature garden together. You can shrink this
project to one plant in a 4 pot, or you can expand it to include several trees, layers of plants, a patio and a path
through the garden bed for a 22 pot.
Read through the instructions first, so you know what to expect. This project will take you 2 to 3 hours the
first time you go through it depending upon the size. After completing it for the first time, it will get faster as you
learn the details and nuances of this delightful hobby.

Set up Your Workspace

Choose an area where you can make a bit of a mess. There is no water involved until the very end of the
project so it will be an easy cleanup.
Use a piece of cardboard (cut a box down) and cover it with plastic (cut up a shopping bag or two) to protect
your table surface.
Once completed, the garden will have to sit out of the direct sun, in a shady spot, for at least for the first day,
to cure the customized patio after you are finished. When working in ground miniature garden, you can use a
piece of plastic pinned down with a couple of rocks to cover the patio area for at least the first day or so, misting
whenever you can. We will go through this again at the end of this project.

Materials Needed

Pot Mini Patio Mix Kit (includes mix, sand, borders,

Potting soil skewers)
Miniature or dwarf tree Water mister
2 different groundcovers Plastic bag
Miniature accessories in the same Spoon
scale Scissors
Stone sheet, or tile pieces Gloves
Covering for table

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 17

 Planting the Garden

1. Read through all the instructions carefully before

starting so you know what is coming up.
2. Fill the container with the potting soil until it is almost
full. See page 10 for potting soil recommendations.
3. Gently tap the plastic nursery pot off the tree and
loosen the roots with your fingers. If the roots are tightly
compacted and your unable to loosen them easily, use a knife
to 'score' the roots every inch or so around the root ball. This
will signal to the roots that there is new soil to grow into.
4. Choose the best side of the tree and place in the back
corner or rear of the pot. The top of the root ball should be at
'ground level'; if not, lift the plant up slightly and tuck some
more soil underneath the root ball. Ground level should be at
least below the rim of the pot to leave room to water your garden after the project is completed.
5. Tap the pots off the groundcovers, loosen the roots,
and place them according to your design. Be sure to face the
best side toward you. All the plants should be at the same
'ground level.'
6. Fill the gaps in between the plants and the pot as well
as between each plant.
Pack the soil in gently, not firmly. Don't leave any big air
pockets in the soil and make sure all the roots have contact
with the soil.
Tuck soil in between the plants by carefully lifting the
leaves up with one hand, while poking more soil in with the
other hand. Work around each plant one by one until the
garden bed is filled in.

Creating the Garden Bed

7. After your plants are carefully planted, gradually

create your 'garden bed' by gently pushing the whole 'bed'
towards the back of the pot to create a ledge in the soil
where your patio will be.
Again, dont pack the soil in tightly; the roots will want
some room to grow through the soil and if the soil is packed
in, the roots wont be able to get through to grow.

The ground level should be even all throughout the garden.

Leave the below the rim of the pot, to leave room for
watering.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 18

 8. Create the S or U shape of your garden bed from
your chosen design. For this design, we created a U in the
corner of the pot. Different shapes can be easily done in
miniature.
This is the final stage before you really get serious and
create the patio. Stand back and try to picture the finished
garden to see if the plants are in the position where you want
them. You may want taller plants in the back to help the
layering of the different heights of the garden plants. You may
want to create some mystery and hide the patio with a taller
plant in the front, to force the viewer to come closer for a better
look. Rearrange anything that needs it and re-create the
gardens edge before moving to the next step.

Installing the Garden Border

Installing a garden border with a patio into your design can add a level of detailing that isnt expected in
miniature, but it does serve a purpose when building your miniature garden. It helps cinch the scale for the viewer
and delivers the idea faster: that it is a true garden in miniature and not just a pot of plants.
For permanent patios that use the Mini Patio Mix Kit, the border acts as a wall between the Mix and the soil,
allowing you to create different patio shapes quickly and easily. For pebble patios, the borders keep the pebbles
from eventually spreading all over the garden. It also acts as a barrier when watering the garden bed from the
backside of the pot.
Different types of mini garden borders that you can source are bendable wood strips scraps from a
woodworking workshop that can be made malleable by soaking in a tub of water for a couple of hours. Or cut one-
inch wide plastic strips from yogurt containers or plant pots. Find easy-to-use, bendable, faux wood strips, up in
the Miniature Garden Center here. For corners, score the wood or plastic gently to create a sharp corner or angle.

Now, lets get back the How-To:

9. Even out the soil in the patio area and press gently to eliminate any air pockets. Do not water the plants yet!
The soil needs to be dry for the next step if you are using the Mini Patio Mix Kit. If you are using pebbles, it might
be easier to leave the area dry too.

10. Cut a little off one end of the border and shape it to
mimic the inside curve of the pot whether is it straight,
curved or slanted make your cut to fit snug against the
inside of the pot.
Use the wood skewers to help you keep it in place as
you gauge the shape of the curve of the pot.
Cut a little off at a time. You can always cut more off, but
you cant put it back on.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 19

 11. Note the curve of the pot, matches the curve that is cut
into the wood border.
The ends of the wood are going to be braced against the
inside of the pot, with the skewers holding them in place. See the
design diagrams page 16 for recommended skewer positions.
A snug fit will keep the Mini Patio Mix from washing into the
garden bed when it is sprayed with water at the end of this
session.
A snug fit also helps to keep the border stable until the patio
is cured.

12. Hold the cut end of the border where you want it on the
inside of the pot. Use a skewer to help hold it in place while
bending the border against the garden bed and around to the
other side.
Note where you want to make the second cut with your
fingers, and cut a little longer than you think again, you can
always take a little off, but you cant put it back on.

13. Put the border back in the pot using the skewers to
help keep it in place. Take it out to shave more off the end if
needed.
Again, you want a snug fit against both sides of the pot and
to fit snug against the garden bed. For S shape borders, see
the diagram on page 3 to skewer placement.

14. Place a skewer to hold the border in place as

shown above. Place a third skewer to hold the middle bend
creating a firm and level garden edge, as shown on the left.
The top of the garden border should be level with the
top of the pot. Fill in with soil to help get it to the right place.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 20

 15. Fill in the corners of the garden-bed-side with more soil, right up to the back of the border. Fill in
underneath the border and in the trough area where the patio will be. Press the soil just enough to keep it place -
not too firm that the roots won't be able to get through.
Note: Do not water now - the soil in the patio area MUST BE DRY before moving on to the next step if
you are using the Mini Patio Mix Kit and installing a permanent patio.

How deep to make your patio area?

How deep to make your miniature patio area depends
on what you are using for the end patio.

To make a permanent patio:

The patio area should be 1 to 1 deeper than the ground
level of the garden bed. This depth is dependent on the
depth of your patio material. See the examples:
Example #1: Using flagstone that is 1 thick, make the
trough/patio area least 1 deep.
Example #2: For thinner flagstone that is thick, make the
trough/patio area 1 deep.
There should be at least of room underneath the stone,
rock or tile, to layer in your custom Mini Patio Mix Kit.
Want to make a permanent patio? Go to page 23.

A patio made from Mini Patio Mix and a stone sheet.

See the cute wee white path through the middle? After
60 to 90 days of it curing in the miniature garden, you
can take it out and use it in another mini garden.

To make a temporary patio:

How do you know how deep to make the patio area? A good rule
of thumb is to create the depth of the patio twice as deep at the size
of pebbles you are using. For larger pebbles, leave the trough
deeper for fuller coverage. For micro pebbles, you can leave less
room or less than deep. Want to create a pebble patio. Go to
the next page.

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 Installing a Miniature Garden Pebble Patio
Use a piece of screen mesh or landscape cloth
underneath your miniature garden pebble patio to
extend the life of your miniature garden design
and your pebbles.
Without the mesh, the pebbles can quickly get
mixed up in the garden soil from the overhead
watering or heavy rains. The mesh will keep the tiny
pebbles separated from the soil and prevent them
from getting dirty and stained. When you are ready
to repot your miniature garden, you can recover your
pebbles quickly and easily, wash them off and use
them again.
To make your patio area last even longer, use
miniature borders to rim the outside of the patio
edge, then lay down this screen mesh, then the
pebbles. See the pictures for a quick step-by-step
how-to.

(Next time you need to replace the screen door or window, keep
the old screen around for this purpose.)
Once your patio area is created and ready, place the piece of
mesh right on top of the patio area and cut out the pattern while its in
place. It doesnt have to be exact, but it helps if it is a good fit.
You can find miniature pebbles at your local independent garden
center, florist shop, pet shop or craft store. See the many different
shapes, sized and colors available in your Miniature Garden Center
here.
Find the screen mesh here.

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 Installing a Permanent Patio with the Mini Patio Mix Kit
The Mini Patio Mix Kit will help you create a custom, permanent
miniature garden patio that will not wash away in the rain or when
you water your garden. Its an easy and fun way to really
personalize your wee world. Once cured, the patio will age and
weather just like a real patio.
This recipe works with marble, tile, glass, stone, brick,
polished-stone and just about anything else you can think of.
When cured, the Mix is not strong enough to permanently damage
any pot and the residue can easily be cleaned off the pots edge
with a knife.
You can use regular cement or grout but note that both of
these ideas need to be installed wet. Meaning, you need to mix up
a batch and then quickly put the patio together before it sets. With
our Mini Patio Mix, you are working with it while it is dry with dry
tile/stone pieces and dry Mix so you have plenty of time to figure
out how your pieces fit, you can create an alternating pattern, rim
the outside of the patio with a different kind of stone, etc.
At right, a Mood Garden gives you an opportunity to
create three gardens in one. Placed on a turntable, the view
can be rotated to highlight whichever side you like.
Bricks: The tiny bricks are mounted on a mesh screen
that makes it really easy to install, especially with the Mini
Patio Mix. At right, we cut the rows of bricks almost all the
way across to get it to curve with the design. The miniature
bricks are high-fired, can last in the garden for years
(without freezing,) and can be cut with scissors.
Stone Sheets: Are available in different sizes and
shapes. Shown at right is the Sea Green color.
Tile/Marble Pieces can be broken up quickly and
easily. Easy mix and match too. Find some in your garage
or a store that specializes in reusable building materials.
Definitely wear eye protection!
Find the brick and stone sheets here.
Find the Mini Patio Mix here.

Lets get back to the How-To:

16. Soil and border(s) should be dry, or barely damp.
You can water the fresh plantings after the miniature patio
is completed.
Fill in patio area with soil leaving almost 2" from the top
of the border edge. Level the surface all around the patio
area by adding more soil if needed. See step 8 for the depth
details.
Lightly press down to make sure there are no air holes
in the soil. The new soil added should be dry or barely
damp.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 23

 17. Pour the sand into the contained area, roughly
deep. This sand base will buffer the Patio Mix from the soil
and roots.
Smooth out sand until even throughout patio area.
Gently push some into corners with your spoon.

18. Pour a pile of Mini Patio Mix into the contained

area.
Smooth out mix until even throughout area. Make this
layer about to deep.

19. Lay out your tile pieces, marble pieces or

cobblestone pebbles for the patio so you can see the different
shapes and sizes.
If you are using the sheets, trim your pebble sheet or
brick sheet to fit the patio area.
If you are building a pathway in the middle of the patio,
lay these pieces in first, then work around it with the patio
stones.

20. Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle and start with the

corners first, and then go from one side to the other, adjusting
the pieces for the best fit.
Top surfaces of stone should be level with each other
AND the pots edge.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 24

 21. When laying the stone, eliminate the smaller
spaces as you go. If a tile fits perfectly on two sides but
leaves a large gap on the third side, try another piece to see
if it fits better.
The gaps between the stones should be the same
thickness for realistic patio look.

22. As you are laying the pieces in, put your hand flat
on top to see if they are level with each other and just below
the garden border.
Keep checking as you go, if there is a stone that is too
low, gently lift it up and put a little sand underneath it, lay it
back down and check again. The pointy-end of the wood
skewers are perfect for this kind of detailing.

CAUTION: The edges of the tile, marble or glass

pieces may be sharp.

23. Work gradually to fill the entire patio.

As you work from one side to the next, you may have
to switch stones around and play with the amount of space
between the stones to create a consistent look throughout
the patio and around the edges.

24. When you are finished laying in all the stones, use an
extra piece of the tile, or something firm and flat, and gently
tamp down the stones in the patio to level the top of each to
create a smooth surface. Here, we used a bigger piece of
marble to do this.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 25

 25. Gently pour a small pile of the Mini Patio Mix onto
the middle of your patio. Be careful not to pour it into the
garden by using your other hand as a barrier.
Smooth the mixture into the corners and edges of the
patio. Carefully tap the stones to get the mixture into the
cracks. Then tap the pot itself just to settle the stones and
the mix. Check for a level surface again with your hand flat,
tamp down with a flat object again if necessary.
CAUTION: The edges of the tile, marble or glass
pieces may be sharp.

26. Sweep off the excess with your hand or a brush

and put back in the bag for future use. Use a soft touch so
you don't disturb the stones.
If some of the Mix got into the garden bed, clean it out
later after the patio has set so you dont upset the work
already done.

27. Removing the skewers: If your wood border needs

the skewers to stay in place, cut the skewer in half and
bury it just beneath the soils surface, on the garden bed
side of the border.
Gently firm up the soil around the skewer to help keep
it in place. Hold the skewer firmly while cutting so you dont
upset the patio.

28. Using the mist setting on your mister, gently spray

the patio from one side another.
Wash the stones off and wet down the Mini Patio Mix
as you work across the area.
STOP WHEN THE WATER STARTS TO POOL ON
THE SURFACE.
Let your patio dry slowly! The slower it dries, the
stronger it will be. Brush off sand after it is dry. Youll ruin
the texture and it wont look real.
If you have made your patio in a moveable container,
place the pot in the shade for a couple of days for the patio
to cure. If your patio is in a sunny garden bed, cover it with plastic (cut a piece from a plastic bag) and keep the
plastic in place with the wood skewers, or rocks, for at least three days to protect from dryness or hard rain. Mist
the patio often for the first couple of days, to slow down the drying process.
NOW WATER YOUR MINIATURE GARDEN PLANTS SLOWLY AND THOROUGHLY FROM THE BACK
OF THE GARDEN UNTIL WATER DRAINS OUT THE BOTTOM DRAINAGE HOLE.

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 IN-GROUND MINIATURE GARDENS
Choosing a spot in the
garden bed that will suit the
light and water
requirements for your new
miniature plants is easy
when you know what to
look for. Consider these
points before planting, for
the best success. Always
follow the golden rule of
gardening and choose the
right plant for the right
place.

This mini garden was along the

edge of a sidewalk. The Mini Patio
Mix made the transition from the
sidewalk fun and easy.

LIGHT
Match the plants needs to the light that the garden be receives during the spring and fall months. (The sun in
the middle of the summer and in the middle of the winter is the extreme.) After you select the location for the
garden, observe the amount of light that the area receives and use the chart below to determine what kind of light
you have, then choose your plants.
To turn a full-sun spot into a part-sun spot, plant your miniature garden on the east, or north side, of a taller,
full-sized plant or shrub to create some shade for your mini garden. This trick can be done next to full-sized trees,
shrubs, tall perennials, ornamental grasses, boulders, retaining walls or buildings. Remember your gardening
small so you have a lot more advantages than full-sized gardening.

QUICK SUN/SHADE CHART

Part shade - 2 to 4 hours of cool sun.

Full shade - less than 2 hours of sun.
Dappled shade - called light shade or part shade.
Part sun - 4 to 6 hours of sun.
Full sun - 6 or more hours of sun.
"Cool sun" - morning sun before 11am or after 3pm, or in the winter.
"Hot sun" - from about 2pm to 7pm in the summertime.

SOIL
For the best success, your soil where you will be planting the miniature garden should be examined before
starting. You do not need overly rich soil, you should have a nice blend of compost and soil to start with. Do not
use potting soil in the garden bed it is a different mix.
Dig up a shovel full of soil in the garden bed and have a good look at it. If it is too sandy, too clay-like, too
much like dirt, add compost. There should be a nice blend of broken-down matter, tiny bark chips, almost black
bits and be very organic looking. The soil should have a nice earthy smell to it, and it should hold itself together
when you ball it up in your hand. Dirt is a sandy, bland, pale brown color that will just crumble in your hand, will
not smell earthy and look dead.
A little bit of thought now will go a long way in having a successful miniature garden that will last for years to
come. Your local garden center will know all there is to know about the soil in your area. Take a sample in to
show them and they can help you amend it for planting.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 27

DESIGNING AN IN-GROUND GARDEN
When creating a miniature garden in the
garden bed, the fun is deciding where to put
everything. If you do not have a design yet,
here are some ideas to get you started.
- You can place the plants while they are
still in their black nursery pots and you can
play until your satisfied but do not let the
pots dry out. Move them around to try
different combinations until it feels and looks
right to you. It is your own world to arrange
how you like!
- To start designating and organizing the
space where your miniature garden will be
planted, you can use the sidewalk, trees, full-
size plants, rocks, or the edge of the garden
bed, and either tie it into your design or use that as a starting point and work out your layout from there.
- Cater your design to how the viewer will see it and observe the design from different angles to see the gaps
in the design, and where you may need to add a plant or a move a tree over a little.
- You can also use the full-size garden elements like trees and rocks as a backdrop, or wall, for your
miniature world.
- Choose plants that will provide layers and use larger trees to anchor the back of the garden, medium height
plants next, then fill in with the low-growing ground covers in the front. As you do so, your patio and pathways
area will begin to emerge. You can use a length of string or ribbon to help decide the outline shape of the patio
and paths, and lay the string down around the edge of where the future patio will be.

This area was an old

pond that no longer held
water but made a
perfect spot for a
miniature garden. The
shape of the mini path
mimicked the shape of
the ponds edge. The
path is also a place to
step or kneel on, to make
it easier to maintain. You
can see the pond shown
below in the bottom left
corner of the bigger
photo, just above the
little house.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 28

 Care and Maintenance
Caring for your miniature garden is easy if you
have used the right plant, right place rule. A little
attention to detail keeps your miniature world growing
year after year. If you are a new gardener and you find
that you are forgetting to tend to your miniature world,
there are many spots in and around your house you can
place a container, the corner beside front door, or in a
bare spot in the garden bed along the walkway where
you will see it and water it. For indoors, use your
miniature garden as a temporary centerpiece for your
kitchen table, or place it in the living room next to the
couch you sit on almost every night. You will remember
it if you see it.
Keep in mind that every environment is different,
indoors and outdoors. If you have a little patience when
learning how to garden in miniature, youll find out what
plants work best for you. There are some plants that will
not do well despite all your efforts and yet, your friend
may have no problem growing it. There are plenty of plants to choose from and if you match the light, watering
and temperature needed by the plant, to your environment, youve got a great head start.

Watering
This is a non-negotiable as far as the majority plants are
concerned and the #2 cause of plant death. #1 killer is
overwatering. The plants that you have in your miniature
garden container should need the same watering schedule.
You can, however, water one plant more often than the other
in the same pot but remember to check all the plants in one
pot individually too.
Water your miniature garden from the back of the
container slowly and gently, filling up the garden bed with
water, letting it drain, and filling it again. At least once a month,
water your pot until comes out the drainage hole in the bottom
to make sure the water is getting through.
When to water depends upon what kind of plant you are
growing. Not all plants like regular watering. The general rule
of thumb is to water only when the soil has almost dried out:
test the soil with your finger but sticking your finger down into
the soil about one inch, if it is dry, water. If its moist, wait a
couple of days before watering.
Your miniature garden will need more water during the summer months than in the winter. To help with
watering in the hot months, move your container to a part shade spot. The direct sun and wind dry out containers
faster than usual. A part shade spot can be beside a bigger pot, next to a chair or the front door, to welcome your
guests.
The amount of rain that your area counts too but it will need monitoring. Light rainfalls do not necessarily
water your garden containers and may only wet the top inch of soil. Small trees can shelter the roots from
rainfall too. Use your finger as the best judge. Conversely, be careful that it doesn't get too soaked during the
heavy winter rains, and raise it up in pot-feet or a couple of bricks so the water can drain freely out of the bottom
of the pot.
For smaller pots where the soil has dried out, place the whole pot in a pail, pan or bucket, water it and let it
soak in the water for a couple of hours until the root-ball is completely soaked through.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 29

Pruning
Some of the trees and shrubs can be pruned
and others dont have to be. You can do a search
on the Internet for the plants name; ask us if you
purchased the plant from our store (contact info is
on back page) or visit your local nursery with the
name in hand, or at least a photo of it before
proceeding with any kind of pruning.
When the 'bedding plants' grow in, you can
pinch back the growth where you don't want it to
just above a set of leaves. Prune back after
flowering too. When the roots of the bedding
plants will outgrow your pot (this will take several
seasons), you can either divide the plant (give
some to a friend), or root prune it (no more that
one third) or replace the plant entirely.

Light
This is a non-negotiable as far as the plant is concerned and it is dependent upon the plants you used in
your design. For indoor plants, note that most plants dont enjoy the direct sun beaming at them through the
southern or western windows.

Bugs and Pests

A healthy plant will be able to ward off any pests or disease. If you have any issues, treat the plants
deficiencies first, and then treat the problem. Avoid the use of chemical pesticides or herbicides because they are
harmful to the good bugs which are needed for health. There is a wealth of information on the Internet; a simple
search with the plants name and/or pests or diseases will get you the information you are looking for.

Tender Loving Care

We have been growing miniature gardens for several years and we really haven't had any problems with
pest or disease. In fact, one year, we found a miniature (baby) slug hanging out in our miniature garden! (Nothing
was eaten either!) Be sure to monitor your garden closely every few days as each environment is different.

Winter Care
All plants in this container are generally hardy,
outdoor plants that will normally winter over here in the
Northwest - if there is danger of freezing, move it to the
side of the building and gently cover your mini garden with
large plastic bag (upside down) for overnight protection.
Be sure to take it off in the morning, your miniature
garden, like all plants, need light and air to flourish. If you
are keeping it under shelter for the winter, be sure to
water when needed.

Conifer Dieback
All trees and shrubs exfoliate somehow. The
miniature and dwarf conifers are no exception; they just
do it differently. Slough off all the dead foliage and clean it
out from the middle of the plants and away from the base
of the plant to let light and air into the center of the plant.
A kitchen fork makes the perfect rake for the miniature
garden.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 30

 LIKE THIS PDF? Then youll LOVE this!
Get ready to journey into the huge world of growing small!
Combine the joy of gardening with the magic of miniatures! Gardening in Miniature is a complete guide to
creating lush, living, small-scale gardens. It has everything you need to pick up this new hobby, including scaled
down garden designs, techniques for creating tiny hardscapes, miniature garden care and maintenance, tips on
choosing containers, how to buy the right plants, and where to find life-like accessories. Inspiring step-by-step
projects feature basic skills that can be recreated in any number of designs, like a tiny patio, a trellis, a pond, and
a secret garden.
Whether you want to build a miniature fairy empire in your garden bed or design a private garden with a
pebble patio for an indoor centerpiece, Gardening in Miniature is the primer for creating your own tiny, living
world.
Order it here on Amazon.

Signed copies by the author are available through our Miniature Garden Center.
Want to sell this book in your store? Visit the Timber Press website for the details.
Not in the USA? Timber Press is everywhere books are sold or order directly from the publisher here.

Price: $19.95* | Format: Paperback

Pages: 256 pp.* | Book dimensions: 8 x 7 in. (190 x 205 mm.)* | Images: 283 color photos*
ISBN-10: 160469372X | ISBN-13: 9781604693720 | Product code: 689372
*These specifications have not been finalized and are subject to change.

Your Miniature Garden Center ~ http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com 31

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Copyright 2013 by Janit Calvo All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system.

The information in this booklet has been carefully collected from our own personal experience and from feedback collected throughout
the years of catering to our fellow miniature gardeners throughout the country, and the world. The information may, or may not work, in your
situation and is not guaranteed.
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Published by: Janit Calvo of Two Green Thumbs LLC, 10204 12 Ave. S, Suite 2, Seattle, Wa, 98168 (Mailing Only)
Visit us on the Website: http://www.TwoGreenThumbs.com | E-Mail: at info@TwoGreenThumbs.com | 206.352.0494

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