Synopses & Reviews
Complete Home Gardening is the book to own if you enjoy the process of growing as much as the finished product. Experienced gardeners will benefit from cutting-edge 21st century growing tips, while beginners can learn from the beautifully illustrated step-by-step techniques. Readers will learn how to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruits with less effort and more yields.
- Smart Tips feature the author's special techniques and are prominently displayed throughout the book.
- Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Directories give detailed information on annuals, perennials, bulbs, biennials, herbs, vines, fruits, and vegetables; hundreds of plants are profiled. Plus, many common plant pests and diseases are profiled in directories along with environmentally friendly controls.
- Clearly illustrated step-by-step planting and growing instructions.
- Tables and charts filled with valuable information at a glance.
- Illustrations of suggested tools in every chapter.
- More than 1,000 color photographs and watercolors.
Synopsis
Complete Home Gardening: Growing Secrets and Techniques for Gardeners will satisfy those readers who enjoy the process of gardening as much as the finished product. It contains equal parts of inspirational photographs and hands-on instructional pictures.
Complete Home Gardening presents the latest gardening techniques for the 21st century gardener with an emphasis on time-saving, efficient practices. There is considerable space devoted to growing herbs, flowers, vegetables, and fruit. This book is perfect for the gardener who wants to know how things grow and why certain practices are more effective.
Synopsis
Complete Home Gardening is the book to own if you enjoy the process of growing as much as the finished product. Experienced gardeners will benefit from cutting-edge 21st century growing tips, while beginners can learn from the beautifully illustrated step-by-step techniques. Readers will learn how to grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruits with less effort and more yields.
- Smart Tips feature the author's special techniques and are prominently displayed throughout the book.
- Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Directories give detailed information on annuals, perennials, bulbs, biennials, herbs, vines, fruits, and vegetables; hundreds of plants are profiled. Plus, many common plant pests and diseases are profiled in directories along with environmentally friendly controls.
- Clearly illustrated step-by-step planting and growing instructions.
- Tables and charts filled with valuable information at a glance.
- Illustrations of suggested tools in every chapter.
- 320 pages featuring more than 850 full-color photographs and watercolors.
About the Author
Miranda Smith is an expert grower, who has been gardening and teaching gardening for 30 years. She is the author of five top-selling garden books, including Your Backyard Herb Garden, Backyard Fruits and Berries, and Greenhouse Gardening. She edited and was the primary writer of The Real Dirt, Farmers Tell about Organic and Low Input Practices in the Northeast. Miranda lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Table of Contents
Complete Home Gardening Table of Contents
Introduction 8 • Tools, Materials, and Plants 8 • About the Plant Directories 9
Chapter 1 Preparing to Garden 10 • Designing for Easy Care 12 • Laying Out the Garden 14 • Soil 18 • Composting 21 • Testing Your Soil 24 • Soil Amendments and Fertilizers 28 • Cover Crops and Green Manures 31 • Climate 33
Chapter 2 Gardening Basics 40 • Plant Basics 42 • Buying Plants 44 • Propagation 46 • Seeds 50 • Planting 53 • Watering 56
Chapter 3 Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers 58 • Planning Flower Beds 60 • Bulbs 63 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Bulbs 67 • Perennials 70 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Perennials 74 • Annuals 88 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Annuals 92 • Biennials 108 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Biennials 110
Chapter 4 Specialty Flower Gardens 114 • Rose Gardens 116 • Gardens for Bees, Birds & Butterflies 122 • Rock Gardens 125 • Gardens for Dried Arrangements 127
Chapter 5 Water Gardens 134 • Considering Your Lifestyle 135 • Siting Your Water Feature 136 • Size and Styles 146 • Liners 157 • Edging Options 163 • Designing the Pond Configuration 166 • Making a Site Plan 168 • Selecting Your Plants 171 • Beware of Invasive Plants 174 • Submerged Plants or Oxygenators 176 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Water Garden • Related Plants 177
Chapter 6 Vines 214 • How Vines Climb 216 • Training and Pruning Vines 222 • Watering and Routine Care 224 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Vines 226
Chapter 7 Vegetable Gardens 230 • Planning Your Vegetable Garden 232 • Planting Your Vegetable Garden 241 • Extending the Seasons 246 • Keeping Soil and Plants Healthy 247 • Saving Your Own Seed 248 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Vegetables 252
Chapter 8 Herb Gardens 274 • Designing Herb Gardens 276 • Containers 279 • A Garden of Treasures 280 • Herbs for Beauty 284 • Plant-by-Plant Directory of Herbs 285
Chapter 9 Fruits 298 • Fruit Trees 300 • Planting Fruit Trees 304 • Pruning Fruit Trees 306 • Espaliered Fruit Trees 311 • Care of Your Fruit Trees 312 • Directory of Fruit Trees 315 • Choosing Fruiting Shrubs 322 • Pruning Fruiting Shrubs 325 • Directory of Fruiting Shrubs 328 • Choosing Fruiting Vines 330 • Pruning and Training Fruiting Vines 332 • Caring for Your Fruit Vines 335 • Directory of Fruiting Vines 336 • Choosing Bramble Fruit 338 • Planting, Pruning, & Training Brambles 340 • Directory of Bramble Fruits 342 • Strawberries 343
Chapter 10 Preventing Weeds, Pests, and Diseases 346 • Weeds 348 • Directory of Weeds 351 • Animal Pests 352 • Insect and Mite Pests 356 • Directory of Pests, Including Controls 360 • Diseases 372 • Directory of Diseases 377
Glossary 384
Index 388
Credits 397