Synopses & Reviews
It's a tired turn of phrase, but the grass is always greener on the other side. And for gardeners, it's not just the grass — it's the flowers, the shrubs, and the trees.
No longer! Pining to grow lilac but lack the full sun? Try the fragrant pink and white flowers of Korean spice viburnum. Love the drama of canna but need something hardier? Try the bold foliage of variegated fleece flower. Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? offers hundreds of all-star alternatives that replace — and often outshine — popular problem plants.
Garden designer Andrew Keys makes it easier than ever to skip over the fussy plant prima donnas and move toward the equally gorgeous understudies. Each profile shows the problem plant and offers three alternatives that include three or more of the original plant's characteristics — hardiness, shape, color, texture, light, and size.
With this fun and accessible guide, you can discover the secret to choosing the plants destined to be the new stars of your garden.
Review
"Gardeners looking for vibrant inspiration will revel in Keys' innovative recommendations." Booklist
Review
"Inspires readers to think outside of the tried and not necessarily true garden stalwarts that we all have a tendency to buy. I wholeheartedly endorse the message of breaking out of a rut, trying something new and mixing it up." Studio G blog
Review
"This may be my favourite new book this year."
(The Chronicle Herald)
"Seriously - this is funny stuff, while at the same time providing lots of creative substitutes that will give your garden more bang for its buck."
(Gossip in the Garden)
Review
"Whether you are looking for trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, grasses or groundcovers, you will find a way to have what you want. Each page names a popular but problem-causing plant, and a few easier-to-grow 'Extraordinary Alternative' plants are described in detail. Plenty of humor and lots of good suggestions will make this a popular choice for new homeowners as well as experienced gardeners." Garden Gate
Review
"Offers a plant option for just about every spot in the yard and garden." The Gardener
Review
"This book offers hundreds of alternatives to shrubs, trees and perennials (including vines and ornamental grasses) that can pose problems without the right conditions or enough time to give extra attention." The Gardener
Review
"Don't give up on growing your dream plants! With 250 suggestions, let this book be your guide to successful substitutes."
Review
"A fun, helpful tool for gardeners looking to expand their plant selections."
Review
"This may be my favourite new book this year."
(The Chronicle Herald)
"Seriously - this is funny stuff, while at the same time providing lots of creative substitutes that will give your garden more bang for its buck."
(Gossip in the Garden)
Synopsis
"This book will help you solve problems before they start!"
Synopsis
"Andrew Keys is the kind of guy you frisk at the gate to make sure he's not carrying a concealed shovel: insatiable, with a boundless love for all things botanical."
About the Author
Andrew Keys is a writer, designer, and lifelong gardener, Garden Confidential podcaster and columnist at Fine Gardening, and author of the book Why Grow That When You Can Grow This? : 255 Extraordinary Alternatives to Everyday Problem Plants (Timber Press). Descended from Mississippi cotton farmers, Andrew was raised with a reverence for the land passed down generations, and first fell in love with plants in the woods of his childhood home. Andrew’s feature articles have appeared in Fine Gardening, he’s written for Leaf Magazine and Coastal Home, and he splits his time between plants and his work as the web manager for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Andrew is a Northeast Organic Farming Association-accredited organic landcare professional, and his consulting philosophy is centered on sustainable planting. He can be found online at his blog, Garden Smackdown.