Step-By-Step Garden Basics (Better Homes & Gardens Step-By-Step)

From Publishers Weekly This smooth combination of ideas, garden creations and hardcore how-tos will inspire beginning gardeners. In the opening chapter, "Welcome to My Garden," readers will discover a personal entry point in the enticing portrayals of garden types: cutting, ornamental, formal, kitchen, island bed, border, edible flower, country garden and entryway gardens. By spotlighting only two attributes--color and height--this introduction puts accessible tools in the novice's hand. The text, by veteran garden writer Liz Ball, squeezes a vast range of practices into skillfully selected topics arranged by seasons. For example, spring themes include seed starting and crop rotation, planting strawberries and dividing perennials, constructing cold frames and fabric tunnels to extend the season and diagnosing plant diseases and pest damage. The final chapter, "Gardening Basics," rounds out the rudiments and simplifies such inscrutable matters as pH levels, fertilizer components (N-P-K), plant diseases and pests. Catalogue sources for seeds, bulbs and plants add a winter's worth of garden sport. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Beginning with descriptions of different types of gardens, this addition to the "Step-by-Step" series provides an excellent overview of gardening. The 400 color photographs offer hours of inspiration and pleasure. Organized by seasons, lists of garden chores are given for both Northern and Southern gardens, including mulching and deadheading. A list of plant sources, a USDA hardiness zone map, and spring and fall frost date maps enhance the value of the volume. Plant information, such as mature height and spread, is scant, and common (not botanical) plant names are used. Still, coupled with a detailed plant guide, this book would be useful for any gardener. Recommended for all libraries with gardening collections.