Synopses & Reviews
Make a Californian home landscape more attractive and functional with
California Home Landscaping. 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 470 color photographs and paintings, California Home Landscaping provides everything readers need to know to landscape like a pro.
Synopsis
California Home Landscaping Approximately 400 full-color photos and illustrations
48 designs covering the most common situations, such as front entries, foundation plantings, patios, and steep slopes.
Detailed descriptions of more than 200 plants that will grow well in your region, plus all you need to know to select, plant, and care for them.
Step-by-step instructions for building structures, such as paths, patios, ponds, walls, fences, arbors, and trellises.
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.
Synopsis
Created by area professionals, the 48 designs use over 200 of the best regional plants. Learn to install and care for plants, paths, fences, walls. More than 470 color photos and drawings. Now 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 Book 8As Your Landscape Grows 12
PORTFOLIO OF DESIGNS
First Impressions 16 Make a pleasant passage to your front door
A Foundation with Flair 20 Flowers and foliage create a front garden
Up Front and Formal 24 Garden geometry transforms a small front yard
An Eye-Catching Corner 28 Beautify a boundary with easy-care plants
Streetwise and Stylish 32 Give your curbside strip a new look
Landscape a Low Wall 36 A two-tier garden and patio replace a bland slope
Beautify a Blank Wall 40 A vertical garden makes the most of a narrow site
A Shady Hideaway 44 Build a cozy retreat in a corner of your yard
An Outdoor Living” Room 48 Patio and shady arbor provide open-air opportunities
Splash Out 52 Make a water garden the focus of outdoor activities
Garden in the Round 56 Create a planting with several attractive faces
A Beginning Border 60 Flowers and a wall make a traditional design
Back to Nature 64 Create a wooded retreat in your backyard
A No-Mow Slope 68 A terraced planting transforms a steep site
Under the Old Shade Tree 72 Create a cozy garden in a cool spot
A Pleasant Passage 76 Reclaim a narrow side yard for a stroll garden
Down to Earth 80 Harmonize your deck with its surroundings
Gateway Garden 84 Arbor, fence, and plantings make a handsome entry
Front-Door Makeover 88 Enhance your main entry in a weekend
An Island Retreat 92 Create a freestanding patio garden
An Entry Oasis 96 Extend a friendly desert welcome
Backyard Makeover 100 Getting a lot out of a small, frost-free lot
Poolside Pleasures 104 Plantings to enhance your swimming pool
Planting in the Pines 108 Surround your woodland deck with flowering shrubs
GUIDE TO INSTALLATION
Organizing Your Project 114 Introducing the tasks involved in a landscape installation. How to organize them for best results.
Clearing the Site 116 Removing turf, weeds, and other unwanted material.
Water for Your Plants 118 Water-wise practices. Watering systems.
Making Paths and Walkways 120 Choosing materials, preparing the base, installing edgings, laying the surface.
Laying a Patio 126 Employing the same materials and techniques as for walks and paths. Ensuring proper drainage.
Installing a Pond 128 Siting, excavating, installing a flexible liner or fiberglass shell. Growing pond plants.
Building a Retaining Wall 132 Laying out, excavating, and assembling a precast modular wall system and steps.
Fences, Arbors, and Trellises 136 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 148 Digging and improving the soil. Edging for beds.
Buying Plants 152 Where to go, what to look for, how to get the best quality and price.
The Planting Process 153 When to plant, steps in the planting process, spacing. Annuals as fillers.
Planting Basics 155 Plants in containers, balled-and-burlapped plants, bare-root plants, ground covers, and bulbs.
Basic Landscape Care 157 Mulches and fertilizers. Controlling weeds. Watering.
Caring for Woody Plants 161 Basic pruning for trees, shrubs, vines, and roses. Making a hedge.
Caring for Perennials 166 Routine care, pruning, dividing.
Problem Solving 168 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. 172
Glossary 214
Photo Credits 216
Index 217