Synopses & Reviews
Horticultural expert Vincent Simeone helps you plan your green garden in this practical, holistic guide. With detailed, strategic timelines for both short-term and long-term gardening techniques, Grow More with Less lets you put your best foot forward in creating an efficient, sustainable home landscape. From composting and mulching to planting trees, author Vincent Simeone covers all the eco-friendly essentials in one straightforward handbook. Simeone makes the what, how, and why of sustainable gardening unmistakably clear: why we should plant for the long-term, how to make the best plant selections possible, how to manage invasive species, how to make the most of your lawn (regardless of its size), the importance of IPM (integrated pest management) in fighting insects and pests, how to conserve water with proper irrigation, installing rain barrels and cisterns, and more. Even when the solution is to do nothing - for instance, leaving some parts of a lawn un-mowed in order to save time and money while attracting local wildlife - Grow More with Less enables you to confidently make the call. With effective, time-proven recommendations like these, field-tested in a large botanical garden and adapted for home use by Vincent Simeone, Grow More with Less is your complete step-by-step personal roadmap for green gardening.
Review
"Hubert (The Granny Square Book) returns with a second dose of granny squares in this colorful collection of crochet motifs inspired by nature. Many of the projects require intermediate to advanced crochet skills, and each design includes both written and charted directions as well as a color photograph of the finished square. An assortment of 15 projects incorporating the squares in the book completes the package. Some feature interesting and unexpected uses of the motifs, such as the tasseled ski hat (the squares make up the ear flaps) and the children’s blocks and coordinating hassock. VERDICT Granny squares are the building blocks of crochet, and this work contains a number of pretty designs that are ready to mix and match." - Library Journal
Review
"In his latest book, Simeone (director, Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park; Great Landscape Evergreens) focuses on creating gardens in harmony with their environment. He thoroughly explains pragmatic garden design and ecoresponsible maintenance practices, enhancing his work with color photographs, other illustrations, and tables. The essential strategies for being an earth-friendly gardener are covered: choosing appropriate plants for a specific site; attracting wildlife; employing integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce use of pesticides; understanding water conservation methods; and undertaking sustainable lawn care. The list of hardy and noninvasive cultivars will help readers select specimens that will thrive with minimum intervention and contribute to an ecologically healthy garden. Simeone also presents alternatives to using turf, which is high maintenance, on the lawn. He ends with material on composting, soil management, planting, recycling, and pruning. VERDICT Complementing Thomas Christopher’s The New American Landscape: Leading Voices on the Future of Sustainable Gardening, this book provides a sensible and manageable approach for home gardeners seeking grounds that are in keeping with their environment and our shrinking planetary resources." - Library Journal
Synopsis
Grow More with Less gives readersa specific plan based on practical, field-tested methods to transform their home landscape into one that cooperates with nature, conserves time and resources, and looks beautiful.
Synopsis
Spend less money, use less water, do less work, and
still have a lawn and garden you love. Horticultural expert and professional garden director Vincent Simeone offers the home gardener detailed and practical ways to create a sustainable home landscape.
Grow More with Less covers all the eco-friendly essentials in one straightforward handbook. Simeone makes the what, how, and why of sustainable gardening unmistakably clear: - why we should plant for the long-term future- how to choose the right plant for the right place- how to manage invasive species- how to make the most of your lawn (regardless of its size)- why IPM (integrated pest management) is important in fighting insects and pests- how to conserve water with proper irrigation, rain barrels, and cisterns- and more! It’s a small world and the only one we’ve got. You can do your part to be eco-friendly by starting in your own backyard. Stay green in the garden with this practical, useful guide.
About the Author
Vincent Simeone (Oyster Bay, NY) is an experienced lecturer, instructor, horticultural consultant, and author of books and magazine articles. His education and training is in the field of ornamental horticulture, which he studied under world-famous professors Dr. Allan Armitage and Dr. Michael Dirr at the University of Georgia. Later, Simeone added to his education by receiving a master's in public administration from C.W. Post Long Island University. In addition to his media appearances, Simeone is director of the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, where he hones the art of sustainable gardening by practicing what he preaches.