Synopses & Reviews
Beautiful gardens are generally thought to be true labors of love, often demanding hours of tedious routine maintenance. Planting requirements can be daunting, and finding the time to successfully cultivate a home garden is a tall order for most of us - constant watering, debris removal, and tiresome pruning are not at the top of our wish lists. Luckily, it doesn't have to be this way: a carefully selected plant variety can give you all the enjoyment and curb appeal of a gorgeous, painstakingly tended garden with none of the wrist pain. Plant This Instead! tips you off to 75 lesser-known plant types that will thrive naturally in various microclimates, depending on where you live in the United States--featuring native and non-invasive plants, hardy alternatives to less sturdy species, new introductions, repeat bloomers, and other helpful varieties. Renowned garden designer and photographer Troy B. Marden offers clear-cut, side-by-side comparisons of these superior plant choices to the more common, fussier kinds. He incorporates original photography and identifies regionally appropriate selections, demonstrating which climates are friendly to which plants and ensuring that no matter your location, you'll be able to capitalize on his expert advice. Most importantly, Marden alerts you to some of gardening's most harmful misconceptions, explaining why you shouldn't copy professional landscapers and how placing a ten-dollar plant in the wrong place could cost you thousands of dollars. Planting a beautiful garden shouldn't be a chore--and with Plant This Instead!, it won't be.
Review
"Beautiful color photos by the author provide valuable side-by-side comparisons and eye candy to help one visualize how suggested plants would fit into existing garden schemes." - Newsday
Review
"This book is well organized, easy to understand, packed with excellent plant suggestions." - Gardening and Botany Magazine
Synopsis
Plant This Instead! tips you off to 75 lesser-known plant types that will give you a garden that is beautiful—and perhaps far lower-maintenance than one planted with common local selections—no matter where you live in the U.S.
Synopsis
Troy B. Marden (Nashville, TN) is a plantsman, garden designer, exceptional photographer, and author with a passion for plants. His twenty-five-plus years of professional experience include time spent in nearly every facet of the horticulture industry. Troy has been a co-host of Nashville Public Television’s hit gardening show
Volunteer Gardener for more than 10 years; writes regularly for some of the country’s top gardening magazines, such as
Horticulture,
Fine Gardening,
Garden Design, and
Southern Living; and is an accomplished landscape designer. In addition to his media appearances, Troy is a popular, lively, and in-demand speaker for all kinds of gardening and social groups. His blog,
Gardener Cook (http://troybmarden.blogspot.com), has become popular with plant lovers and food lovers alike. His latest venture is a garden tour division of his business that will take other passionate gardeners on trips to some of the finest horticultural destinations in the U.S. and around the world. You can find more information at www.troybmarden.com.
About the Author
Troy B. Marden has co-hosted Volunteer Gardener out of Nashville, TN, for over 10 years. Troy is a popular, lively and in-demand speaker for all kinds of gardening and social groups. He has more than 26 years of experience in the garden industry and garden writing world, as well as strong connections to the country music industry. Marden has written articles for magazines such as Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and Southern Living. He is also an exceptional photographer. Visit www.troybmarden.com to review his work and photography.