This picture- and tip-packed book makes it a snap to keep the beautiful flowers and foliage blooming by using hardy, care-free plants. 500+ full-color photos & illustrations.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

Profiles the two hundred easiest, most rewarding, foolproof, and problem-free plants, providing information on each plant's origins, colors, sun and water requirements, and growth rate.

Profiles the two hundred easiest, most rewarding, foolproof, and problem-free plants, providing information on each plant's origins, colors, sun and water requirements, and growth rate.

Garden smarter, not harder . Now you can discover how to spend less effort, save money, and end up with more time to enjoy your beautiful garden. "Carefree Plants" reveals the secrets to great gardening and puts these skills within easy reach, regardless of climate, soil conditions, or taste in blossoms. You'll find the essential facts and hassle-free how-tos for growing 200 sturdy, versatile, beautiful plants, plus dazzling results captured in over 500 full-color photographs and drawings. In two easy-access sections, gardeners of all levels will find perfect plants for every situation-learn how to combine them for maximum impact with minimum maintenance. *Section One: Dry soil? Lots of Shade? Excessive wind? Simply look up a particular condition and discover easy-care plants necessary to thrive *Section Two: Wild about tulips? Passionate about roses? Pining for evergreens? Find the facts on favorite plants, including which varieties need the least amount of TLC Seeking out a four-season trooper? Azaleas stand up to blistering winds, acidic soil, and road salt ... and still burst out in a blaze of color every spring. Facing a tough-to-plant hillside? Turn to enchanting, drought-resistant daylilies and barberries to ward off erosion while bringing a smile of sunny yellow. These pages are filled with an abundance of possibilities for gardening with ease and enjoyment.

A practical, ordinary person's guide to choosing, planting, and caring for the world's most popular plants, Shrubs & Hedges delivers all the know-how you'll need to grow beautiful, healthy shrubs. Whether they're flowering shrubs or evergreen hedges, these long-lived plants fill a lot of space in our landscapes; yet they don't capture as much attention as perennials, annuals, and even trees. The front doors and picture windows of millions of houses world-wide are adorned by shrubs. Despite their ubiquity, selecting and maintaining shrubs remains a mystery to many. Shrubs are all-too-often inappropriately pruned into "meatball" shapes, or alternatively, left to become an overgrown tangle of branches. But as you'll discover in the pages of Shrubs & Hedges, when cared for properly, these workhorse plants have much to offer. They mask foundations, delineate property lines, increase privacy, stabilize soils, provide food for wildlife, and add beauty and interest to the landscape. It’s time for shrubs to take center stage. Shrubs & Hedges eliminates the ambiguities of shrub selection and care by offering: Advice on how to pick the best shrubs for your growing conditions Plant profiles of both dependable classic shrubs and new rising stars Step-by-step propagation instructions for making more shrubs—for free! Shrub identification tips A lesson on the value of hedges and hedgerows The best shrubs for pollinators and other wildlife Pruning illustrations and tips to maximize shrub performance and health Tips for designing with shrubs Drawing on her decades of experience in the plant-care and landscape industries, author and horticulture educator Eva Monheim proves you don’t have to be a “gardener” to see the value in this extensive group of plants.

A gardening reference which lists entries alphabetically, this guide presents all the information needed to grow, feed, prune and propagate the commonest garden plants. Each entry is illustrated and step-by-step artworks explain the techniques of care.

“Fear deer no more! The best source I’ve seen on the topic!” —Tracy DiSabato-Aust, award-winning garden designer and best-selling author Deer are one of the most common problems a gardener can face. These cute but pesky animals can quickly devour hundreds of dollars’ worth of plants. And common solutions include the use of unattractive fencing and chemicals. In Deer-Resistant Design, Karen Chapman offers another option—intentional design choices that result in beautiful gardens that coexist with wildlife. Deer-Resistant Design showcases real home gardens across North America—from a country garden in New Jersey to a hilltop hacienda in Texas—that have successfully managed the presence of deer. Each homeowner also shares their top ten deer-resistant plants, all welcome additions to a deer-challenged gardeners shopping list. A chapter on deer-resistant container gardens provides suggestions for making colorful, captivating, and imaginative containers. Lushly illustrated and filled with practical advice and inspiring design ideas, Deer-Resistant Design is packed with everything you need to confidently tackle this challenging problem.

Armed with a selection of over 2000 of the hardiest varieties, expert advice and practical tips, Care-free Plants will show you the easy way to a garden full of healthy, beautiful, vigorous plants. Find out how to get the most out of your garden, whatever its aspect and soil type. You will learn how to identify your soil type, and discover what this means for your plants, helping you to select the varieties which suit your garden best. Learn all about the conditions in your garden, and how to guarantee success with wonderful plants that are sure to flourish. Care-free Plants explores the potential and pitfalls of 29 different situations, helping you to work out how best to deal with a sheltered garden, dry soil, shaded flowerbeds, and many other factors. An A-Z directory lists the most care-free varieties of more than 250 favourite garden plants, which are able to combat the problems of frost, shade, acid soil, drought, or even mildew. Make your choice from the toughest, most pest-resistant, easy-care annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, climbers and bulbs, to ensure your garden looks great, with the least maintenance possible. With your own personal garden expert at hand, you can b