Much to learn. Do you have a 'How to' book?

17 years ago

Hi Everyone!

Gardening seems to be one of those things that the more you know about it,

the more you realize you DON'T know!

I mentioned a favorite "how-to guide" to Nan on a different post and decided to see what the rest of you are using.

My favorite is:

"The Well-Tended Perennial Garden. Planting and Pruning Techniques"

by Tracy DiSabato-Aust.

A sample of material covered:

Design and Its Relationship to Maintenance,

Bed Preparation, Pests and Diseases,

Staking, Division, Pruning,

Deadheading, Cutting back

She has an encyclopedia of perennials, in which she goes into detail about how to prune and maintain each plant.

In the back of the book are very helpful lists of plants that tolerate different conditions like drought or clay soil.

There are lists of short lived perennials, Deer resistant perennials, Perennials that require division every 1-3 years, every 4-5years, every 6-10 years.

Also perennials that do not respond well to pinching, and perennials that will not flower if their terminal buds are removed. etc. etc.

We pay a lot for our plants, not to mention the time and effort involved in maintaining them. The more we educate ourselves, the better our success. A book like Tracy's is another tool in keeping a beautiful, healthy garden.

Do any of you have such a "How to" book that has taught you to be a better gardener?

Patti

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Comments (19)

debbieca
17 years ago
Patti, I got the well tended garden a couple months ago. It will take a while to get it all mastered. "How to" is a good term. I have color books, and perennials ID books, and the Sunset Western Garden book is the best WHAT to plant where book, but well tended garden is the first real HOW book I bought. I am glad I got it.
blossomgirl
17 years ago
Patti-

Like Debbie- I have two fantastic Encyclopedia books and the Sunset Western Garden book. I also like the Ortho series "Complete Guide to Roses" for $19.95

Contents of Complete Guide to Roses is-

The story of Roses
Selecting the right Rose
Using roses in the landscape
Planting roses-How to
Caring for roses
Pruning roses
Protecting roses
Pleasure of roses
Creating roses
Gallery of roses

My two expensive books(gifts from DH) are--Illustrated guides-

The American Horticultural Society of Garden Plants-
has 4,000 full color photographs

Botanica -A-Z of over 10, 000 garden plants and how to cultivate them

I want to read "The well tended garden" next.
Gigi
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mary_lu_gw
17 years ago
Thanks so much for the info, Patti. Sounds just like a book I would really enjoy. It will go on my "wish list". The kids always ask what they can buy for birthdays, mothers day, Christmas, etc. So I have started keeping a wish list of things I would like on the refrigerator. That way when I think of it, it goes on the list. When the kids come over they check to see if I have added anything.

Sure has helped the "old" lady remember what it is she really would like to get as a gift.

Marylu
georich5
17 years ago
Yay Patti....sounds like a new Book List to me. One can never have too many flowers or too many garden books.

georgeanne
haziemoon
17 years ago
Marylu,
that is a wonderful idea! keeping a list on the fridge.
My kids are always asking me too, and I can't ever remember
all the little things I make a mental note of!

The "Well tended...garden" is going to be the first thing on my list!

Haziemoon
thinman
17 years ago
What about "English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners", Revised Edition by Margaret Hensel? I have seen it on Amazon and it the reviews make it sound very good.

Does anyone have this, and if so, do you like it?

ThinMan
badtoad
17 years ago
I have English Cottage Gardening For American Gardeners. It doesn't give specific instructions. Mostly it's a book of great photos and inspirations. There is a pretty good plant list in the back of the book.
PattiOH
Original Author
17 years ago
I too have "English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners", Revised AND EXPANDED Edition by Margaret Hensel. I agree with Badtoad. This is a beautiful picture/story book. My edition (expanded) does have a small general encyclopedia of perennials, including size and growing conditions, with a nice paragraph on each plant about design uses. But as Badtoad said, really not much actual instructions or "How to" do various tasks. There is much valuable information here that is sprinkled throughout the book. Which is why I don't use this one when I'm actually working in the garden! It's time consuming and frustrating to locate the needed info sometimes, not to mention that I can't bring myself to mar the beautiful pages by highlighting an important idea or jotting a note to myself in the margins! This is what I call a "Pretty book".

Most of the gardening books I have in my little gardening library(50+ and growing) are "pretty books". These are wonderful for reading in the winter and pulling ideas out of for the spring. The remaining gardening books, like Tracy's "Well Tended" are my "working books". These I underline and dog ear and scribble notes and page numbers on the inside covers and take them into the garden with me and in general treat them most abominably. But they're the most valuable books I own and I love them the best.

I think we need to have both kinds of books. Don't you?

Patti
nberg7
17 years ago
Patti's fave book is on my list now. I could never grow the multitudes of perennials available when I lived in California that are now open season for me in NC, so I'm on a huge learning curve. I'll add two books that I refer to a lot: The Ultimate Gardening Book and Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials. I also love a book called Landscaping With Roses- for inspiration more than anything else. And I agree Patti- we need both deep information books and "pretty" pages too.

Anyone have gardening magazines they can't live without? I'm a sucker for Fine Gardening (the articles really teach some great design theory) and any of the "special" gardening magazines that get published throughout the year. Love the Flowers and Herbs magazines to pieces. I hang on to these to read in the Winter when everything looks so pathetic outside.

-Nan
honeysucklecottage
17 years ago
A great book for the cottage gardener is Rob Proctor's book called "Herbs in the Garden". He is a no nonsense gardener with great ideas and helpful techniques. I think I could call it a "how to" book. He gives sound gardening advise with a great deal of humor - his definition of an herb is a riot.
wantoretire_did
17 years ago
Sunset has come out with a Northeastern Garden book which is the same format as the Western Garden book. I just received mine (used/like brand new) from Amazon for under $10, including shipping :-)

Carol
mrmorton
17 years ago
Honestly, I don't buy "How-to" books. I'm more into the "pretty" books myself. I love English Cottage Gardening for American Gardeners. Tons of great pics and lots of good information.
I read enough "how-to" books when I went to school for this stuff! Plus, I'm around it all everyday. I have access to endless books, magazines, catalogs, etc. When I'm reading a book at home it is for pleasure. If I happen to learn something in the process, all the better.
lynnencfan
17 years ago
My bible is AM Hort Society - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants followed closely by North Carolina's Gardener's Guide by Toby Bost and them Month by Month Gardening in the Carolinas. I have various other books that I refrence to on a regular basis like ALL of the Southern Living books. I never met a garden book that I didn't like - some just more than others :):):)....

Lynne
scarlettmx5
17 years ago
Some people collect shoes, but my weaknesses are stores like Half-Price Books, Costco, and the bargain bin at Borders Books. My favorite books are the Sunset Western Garden Book and "Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass" by Liz Primeau. I, too, like the "pretty" books. It's just easier for me to visualize the plant combinations, true colors, texture, sizes, etc., when I can see them in a picture (not an illustration). You know you're addicted when you buy a book, come home, and realize you already have it. :-)
dakinipa
17 years ago
My favorite is Organic Gardening. It's a Rodale book and it was published in the 1970's. My mom got it a yard sale and it's previous owners used it heavily as it's pretty worn. Thankfully it's a hardback which is quite thick but it has very little pictures, mostly all information. It's the best gardening book I own. It's encyclopedia style so everything (and I mean everything) is in alphabetical order for easy reference and it covers such topics as propagating, harvesting, diseases, origins, etc by plant name. Very detailed and handy!

My second favorite is The Cottage Garden which has absolutely gorgeous photos and goes into detail on the history of cottage gardens. I like to look at this one in the winter when I'm dreaming of lush greenery and color.
leslie197
17 years ago
Annuals for Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson
Perennials for Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson

Great practical information in both these books. Helpful info on choosing the right plants or seeds for your conditions.

Also a wonderful magazine called the English Garden - gorgeous pictures but good information too!
bibliobeth
17 years ago
You can never have too many books!

The book that got me started, the one I still return to for comfort and inspiration, is A Starter Garden: The Guide for the Horticulturally Hapless, by Cheryl Merser. The author is witty, funny, and down-to-earth-realistic. She actually admits when plants don't grow for her, even when they flourish for her friends. The premise of the book is a description of her first two years in her new home, creating a garden out of the abominable mess in her backyard. Although this is not really a "how-to", and it doesn't even have one photograph, this is the one book I turn to again and again.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Starter Garden
PattiOH
Original Author
17 years ago
Debbie, Gigi, Carol & Scarlett:
I like the Sunset books too! One of the first garden guides I ever bought (about 25years ago!)was Sunset's "Garden Color, Annuals & Perennials". I had forgotten that there was a small encyclopedia in the back that included info on how to care for each plant. A very nice little book! I also received the Sunset book, "Cottage Gardens" for Christmas. Beautiful photos and helpful info on many plants.

Marylu, I agree with Haziemoon. Great idea about having an ongoing wish list!

Georgeanne & Bibliobeth, there are certainly never enough flowers or books at THIS house!

Nan, The "Rodale's encyclopedia is excellent. I highly recommend it to everyone! As for garden magazines, I am definitely hooked. They are piling up now, unread next to my comfy chair. Waiting for a snowy day when I have time to read them!

Leslie, you HAD to mention English Garden magazine! I'd never heard of it before and a flyer came in the mail TODAY with a reduced rate, and since you spoke about it in such glowing terms, I just had to get out my checkbook and subscribed on the spot! It's all your fault. Haha! I agree with you about Larry Hodgson's books. "Perennials for Every Purpose" is such a great book. The way the plants are divided up by growing conditions, such as wet areas or shade is extreemly helpful, especially when I am unloading a trunk load of newly purchased plants, and can't remember which plant likes which conditions.

Honeysucklecottage, I've never attempted to grow herbs, but I'd like to try next year. Rob Proctor's book will be first on my new "Wish list", along with the American Hort. A-Z encyclopedia that Lynne suggested.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. I hope others will add their fav "how to" book.
Patti
bellarosa
17 years ago
I don't do 'How to' books either. My favorite gardening book is by Lauren Springer, entitled, 'The Undaunted Garden'. Great photos, great suggestions and a delight to read! I also love 'Perennial Combinations' by C. Colston
Burrell and any books by Piet Oudolf. Both have great pictures, wonderful ideas and are well written. Oh, and I just absolutely love 'Climbing Roses' by Stephen Scanniello! Its out of print, but if you can find it, and are interested in growing roses, this is a fantastic book! I also love 'An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Clematis' by Mary Toomey and 'Peonies' by Allan Rogers. I love gardening books and have over 100 of them. Some were bought at discounts prices, and others, well, I just had to have it! With our long Winters, a great gardening book really makes the time go by.

Much to learn. Do you have a 'How to' book?

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