Perennials For Dummies? - Softcover

Tatroe, Marcia; The Editors Of The National Gardening Association

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764550306 ISBN 13: 9780764550300

Publisher: For Dummies, 1997

Synopsis

Perennials are perennially popular. Now, in Perennials For Dummies, discover how you can bring your garden to life with colorful, healthy perennials, some varieties of which may be altogether new to you. Complete with 32 pages of full-color photographs, Perennials For Dummies digs deep to uncover the secrets of soil preparation, garden design, and plant maintenance and offers plain-English, practical information on how much light and space various perennials need and even how to cope with inhospitable climates, hungry pests, and devastating diseases. Plus, you'll find invaluable resources related to perennials, from mail-order companies to Web sites and online forums.

About this title

Review

There's no perennial question too basic to ask this book. Maybe you've gardened here and there, but are looking to add a new flowerbed. Or maybe you're tired of the plants you've got that are looking so... tired. In Perennials for Dummies, you can start fresh, with proper plant choices and correct care, and have a lush and blooming garden sooner than you might expect. Choosing the right plants can be annoying if you don't really know what zone means, and the first section of this book is devoted to explaining not just the meaning of zone, but also specific growing conditions for precise regions. High-altitude desert, subtropical swamp, or Pacific Coast--each is detailed with helpful information. The section on planning for your style and color choices is also helpful, and geared toward attractive and low-maintenance choices.

The big downside to this book is its lack of pictures. There are lots of line drawings, but they tend to show particular stages of a process rather than each step. Color photos are limited to one section, and since the plant photos are separate from the descriptions, they don't add much value to the book. With bullet-point lists, icons for highlighting categories like "ecofriendly" or "time-saving," and simple tables and charts, how-to photos aren't essential. For folks who learn best with straightforward reading, the presentation won't be an issue, but if pictorial aids are what you need for learning, look elsewhere. --Jill Lightner

From the Back Cover

"A wonderful introduction to the world of perennials! ...the ideal introductory book for all budding perennial lovers." — Lauren Springer, Garden Designer, Columnist, and Author of The Undaunted Garden "Humorous down-to-earth information anyone can understand. Covers every detail of creating a flower garden from beginning to end." — Judy Wigand, Owner of Judy's Perennials, San Marcos, CA

Features 32 Full-Color Pages of Flowers and Sample Garden Plans — Plus a Six Month Subscription to National Gardening Magazine

Do you turn green with envy when you see your neighbor's flower garden? If you want colorful perennial beds in your yard or on your porch, but don't know where to begin, fear no more! With Perennials For Dummies at your fingertips, you'll be growing beautiful perennials in no time! This is your guide for exploring the world of flower gardening with perennials — from choosing and growing flowers to protecting them from pests and disease.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Identify and choose perennial flowers that will grow in any space or climate
• Plant, fertilize, mulch, and maintain healthy perennials
• Create beautiful flower gardens with suggestions from the full-color pages of sample plans
• Keep pests and diseases from infiltrating your flower garden
• Add style to your flower garden with rocks, sculptures, birdbaths, and more
• Discover perennials that thrive in shady spots where even grass won't grow
• Locate great mail-order sources and online forums for perennials

About this edition

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0764550306
• ISBN 13: 9780764550300
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392