Synopses & Reviews
• 48 designs created by landscape professionals specifically for California—featuring creative solutions for front entries, foundation plantings, patios, steep slopes, and more
• Detailed descriptions of more than 200 plants picked for your region, plus all you need to know to plant and maintain them
• Step-by-step instructions for building structures, such as paths, patios, ponds, walls, fences, arbors, and trellises
• Approximately 400 full-color photos and illustrations
Praise for the First Edition
“... like having a team of professional garden designers on hand.”
—Country Living Gardener
“... youll turn to these beautifully rendered design possibilities again and again.”
—Elanore Lewis, Womans Day Garden Planner & Practical Guide
“This idea-filled book takes the guesswork out of landscaping so you can focus on the fun. Designs that work, great plants you can find, accurate instructions, and detailed drawings will help you succeed.”
—Nancy Beaubaire, former Editor Fine Gardening and Country Living Gardener
“The Home Landscaping series takes the fear out of gardening by skillfully combining a wide range of attractive, dependable plants with clear, concise information on the techniques of gardening and easy-to-follow plans.”
—Thomas Fischer, Executive Editor, Horticulture
Synopsis
Make a Californian home landscape more attractive and functional with
California Home Landscaping, third edition. Like the other titles in this series, this book contains three parts: Design Portfolio, Guide to Installations, and Plant Portraits. In the "Design Portfolio" section, readers will find 48 designs created by landscape professionals in California. "Guide to Installations" explains how to install the plants, paths, patios, and arbors used in the designs. More than 200 of the best plants for the region are fully described in "Plant Portraits." Clearly written in a friendly style and with 450 color photographs and paintings,
California Home Landscaping, third edition, provides everything Californians need to know to landscape like a pro.
Synopsis
Collection of 48 designs created by area landscape professionals, with over 200 plants that are proven performers and more than 450 color photos and drawings. Also shows how to install and care for plants, paths, fences, walls. Covers the entire state of California.
About the Author
Roger Holmes is the founding editor of
Fine Gardening magazine. He co-edited the monumental
Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening and other highly regarded gardening books, and produced the seven-book regional landscaping series of which this book is part.
Lance Walheim lives in California and has authored or contributed to more than 30 gardening books, including Lawns for Dummies, Roses for Dummies, The Natural Rose Gardener, and Citrus. He has also been a staff editor at Sunset magazine.
Table of Contents
California Home LandscapingTable of Contents About This BookAs Your Landscape Grows
PORTFOLIO OF DESIGNS
First Impressions Make a pleasant passage to your front door
A Foundation with Flair Flowers and foliage create a front garden
Up Front and Formal Garden geometry transforms a small front yard
An Eye-Catching Corner Beautify a boundary with easy-care plants
Streetwise and Stylish Give your curbside strip a new look
Landscape a Low Wall A two-tier garden and patio replace a bland slope
Beautify a Blank Wall A vertical garden makes the most of a narrow site
A Shady Hideaway Build a cozy retreat in a corner of your yard
An Outdoor Living” Room Patio and shady arbor provide open-air opportunities
Splash Out Make a water garden the focus of outdoor activities
Garden in the Round Create a planting with several attractive faces
A Beginning Border Flowers and a wall make a traditional design
Back to Nature Create a wooded retreat in your backyard
A No-Mow Slope A terraced planting transforms a steep site
Under the Old Shade Tree Create a cozy garden in a cool spot
A Pleasant Passage Reclaim a narrow side yard for a stroll garden
Down to Eart Harmonize your deck with its surroundings
Gateway Garden Arbor, fence, and plantings make a handsome entry
Front-Door Makeover Enhance your main entry in a weekend
An Island Retreat Create a freestanding patio garden
An Entry Oasis Extend a friendly desert welcome
Backyard Makeover Getting a lot out of a small, frost-free lot
Poolside Pleasure Plantings to enhance your swimming pool
Planting in the Pines Surround your woodland deck with flowering shrubs
GUIDE TO INSTALLATION
Organizing Your Project Introducing the tasks involved in a landscape installation. How to organize them for best results.
Clearing the Site Removing turf, weeds, and other unwanted material.
Water for Your Plants Water-wise practices. Watering systems.
Making Paths and Walkways Choosing materials, preparing the base, installing edgings, laying the surface.
Laying a Patio Employing the same materials and techniques as for walks and paths. Ensuring proper drainage.
Installing a Pond Siting, excavating, installing a flexible liner or fiberglass shell. Growing pond plants.
Building a Retaining Wall Laying out, excavating, and assembling a precast modular wall system and steps.
Fences, Arbors, and Trellises Wood selection, layout, post setting, basic construction. Plans for building the fences, trellises, and arbors shown in the Portfolio of Designs.
Preparing the Soil for Planting Digging and improving the soil. Edging for beds.
Buying Plants Where to go, what to look for, how to get the best quality and price.
The Planting Process When to plant, steps in the planting process, spacing. Annuals as fillers.
Planting Basics Plants in containers, balled-and-burlapped plants, bare-root plants, ground covers, and bulbs.
Basic Landscape Care Mulches and fertilizers. Controlling weeds. Watering.
Caring for Woody Plants Basic pruning for trees, shrubs, vines, and roses. Making a hedge.
Caring for Perennials Routine care, pruning, dividing.
Problem Solving Understanding common problems with animal and insect pests and diseases. Winter damage.
PLANT PROFILES
Descriptions of all the plants shown in the Portfolio of Designs, plus information on how to plant and care for them.
Glossary
Photo Credits
Index