Search

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Create green outdoor spaces no matter how small and see how transformative they can be.Gardener and activist Tayshan Hayden Smith demonstrates 20 different practical projects you can create to positively change small outdoor spaces and pulls out inspiration from a variety of successful community gardens around the world. Tayshan's practical advice will help you make the most of your projects, with easy-to-follow steps and photography alongside inspiring examples of how simple garden projects-on even the smallest scale and budget-can open the doors to better well-being, uniting communities and reviving natural spaces to help create the greener future we're all fighting for.Reconnect with the outdoor space around you-perhaps start growing your own food or build a learning bed to educate children (and even adults) about the soil beneath their feet. Begin to reimagine how even the smallest of spaces can be green and living-transform a drainpipe into the perfect trellis for a climbing clematis or construct a pollinator wall out of repurposed tin cans to support local wildlife. Tayshan underpins all his practical takeaways with inspiring manifestos on why we need to improve small spaces, the environmental benefits for nature, and the wider issues around connections with growing and greening space. He also emphasizes the importance of recycling and reusing, both for the environment and keeping costs down. Most importantly, his message is clear: Everyone can play their part in creating green spaces to benefit us as individuals, communities, and the environment, too.

‘Every vegetable needs different skills and Rob guides you through a great spectrum of possibilities. His advice is super comprehensive, and of particular use to beginners.'– Charles Dowding ‘What a great book for those new to growing their own vegetables and there are still things to be learnt for us seasoned growers. There are a vast range of vegetables to grow and there is advice for them all, so if you haven't grown some before, now is your chance for success and the opportunity to taste a new flavour.'– Terry Walton, BBC Radio 2 ‘Grow to Eat is an absolute credit to Rob, jam packed with golden garden nuggets of information for the reader. I grow food on a daily basis, but I have been inspired to get growing some unique and colourful varieties for taste and visual delight. This book is a must for the garden library.'– August Bernstein, Head Tutor at the Raymond Blanc Gardening SchoolGrow to Eat gives you the guidance to successfully grow veg that are bursting with flavour. We know fresh vegetables are good for us and there's no better feeling than harvesting your own homegrown produce, but Rob Smith wants to upgrade your gardening experience. From stripey aubergines and super sweet beetroot to elephant garlic and purple tomatoes, growing your own food allows you to tap into a treasure trove of different vegetables that you won't find in the shops. And with colour and flavour (and pests and diseases) always in mind, Rob advises on how to grow, when to grow and which varieties to grow to best complement your gardening space. Whether you have a balcony, allotment or garden, with Rob's gardening expertise and practical tips and techniques, you'll be growing an abundance of gourmet veg with ease.

Discover how to assess, grow, and maintain a shady garden.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Shade Garden contains everything you need to create a flourishing garden full of color, texture, and scent in a shady space. Learn how to grow and care for various shade-loving plants with tips on selecting the right site and varieties. Once you understand different types of shade and have assessed your space, select the best plants for your garden with the help of handy directories that profile different shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and trees and provide key growing information. Projects on tree planting, container displays, and creating a fernery also get you started on planting techniques and ideas to make the most of a shaded space.Whether you are an avid gardener or want to create an easy-to-maintain garden, this book can guide you and answer important questions like how plants react to shade. And How do I check my soil and climate? With this book, you can find:-Fuss-free guide to designing, creating, and maintaining a garden, ideal for first-time gardeners-Detailed profiles on shade-loving plants and practical projects accompanying advice on how to assess, design, and maintain your shady space-Helpful tips on how to care for your garden to maintain it for longer- including Essential tools, Pruning tips, and clearing mossy paths and patios-Images and descriptions of issues that your garden may face and ways you can solve this Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow. This useful guide contains images, facts, and information to help you grow a garden that suits your lifestyle. Grow Lawns is part of a series with GROW Houseplants, GROW Compost, GROW Herbs, and GROW Trees.

Beat the rising cost of living and transform your garden on a budget with Anya the Garden Fairy.The Money-Saving Gardener reveals the tips and tricks to keeping costs down without compromising on style or impact. Learn how to repurpose what you have and give new life to second-hand garden furniture; discover savvy cheats to keep hard landscaping costs low; and boost your plant collection for next to nothing with seed-saving and propagation hacks. Revealing the plants that will give you the best long-term value for money, tips for choosing the varieties that will thrive in your garden year after year, and projects for making the most of your propagated cuttings and seedlings, The Money-Saving Gardener proves that a stunning garden doesn't need to cost the earth or break the bank.

Bird-Friendly Gardening is the definitive guide to planting a wildlife-welcoming home landscape filled with a diversity of native plants that feed, shelter, and support birds. With hundreds of North American bird species facing population decline or at risk of extinction, right now is the perfect time to create a home-based habitat garden that offers birds the resources they need to safely feed, migrate, breed, and thrive. Thankfully, making your outdoor space a secure and comfortable haven for many different bird species isn't a Herculean task. It's a matter of understanding the needs of our avian friends and how native plants, combined with purposeful garden design, can help meet those needs. And that's exactly the know-how you'll find here, outlined in a simple-to-follow, actionable format by author Jennifer McGuinness. Step beyond the seed-filled bird feeder and suet block, and learn how to further provide for birds. Some of the topics covered in the book include: How to design a bird-centered habitat garden in spaces large and small Advice on providing fresh water year-round Understanding the connection between native plants and insects and the birds that rely on them How to design and plant a fruit garden, a bird seed garden, a runoff-absorbing rain garden, or even a container garden that nurtures birds Meet dozens of trees, shrubs, and other plants that support the insects almost all adult birds need to feed their young 18 step-by-step garden design projects and plant lists for creating a diversity of bird-friendly spaces Tips for preventing window strikes and cat kills Best practices for including bird feeders, nest boxes, and bird baths in your landscape Whether your “spark bird” was a lightning-fast Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a brilliant Indigo Bunting, or a petite Hammond's Flycatcher, it's time to put out the welcome mat for birds in your home garden. YOU can make a significant impact on the lives of thousands of birds, whether they're just passing through during migration or making a feather-lined summertime home for raising the next generation. It's time for gardeners from coast to coast to heed the call and welcome their flighty friends home with Bird-Friendly Gardening.

An extensive and info-packed bible of home vegetable growing from the editors of the world's most-visited gardening resource, Garden Know How. With the experts from Gardening Know How at your side, cultivating loads of fresh, homegrown food has never been simpler. This indispensable handbook for vegetable gardeners includes not only the essential information you need to succeed, but also a wealth of expert tips and real-world advice to smooth the many inevitable bumps on the road to a productive edible garden. Gardening Know How – The Complete Guide to Vegetable Gardening is here to answer your every veggie-growing question, from asparagus planting to zucchini pest control—and everything in between. Detailed plant profiles offer specific cultivation information and unique growing tips for each vegetable crop, allowing you to pick and choose which crops to grow based on your climate and personal preference. Other highlights: Planting plans for maximizing succession planting Soil-building expertise from the pros Budget-friendly garden design ideas and inspiration Seed starting and transplanting information Know-how on filling raised beds and containers Tips for companion planting Guidance on feeding, watering, and mulching your veggie plants Recommendations on the best varieties to grow Harvesting advice for dozens of different vegetables Links throughout the book guide you to even more available resources on the Gardening Know How website. Plus, lush, full-color photos highlight the beauty and value of homegrown harvests from backyard gardens, both large and small. Welcome to the garden!

This essential guide to growing a bountiful food garden includes detailed seed-starting, growing, and harvesting information for 62 vegetables, fruits, and herbs, a complete companion-planting guide, and organic pest-control handbook. The latest addition to Storey's bestselling Backyard Homestead series, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Growing Organic Food is a one-stop reference for all the key information food gardeners need to grow a healthy, bountiful garden. Author Tanya Denckla Cobb presents key information based on extensive research and years of experience, including when to start seeds for each type of crop (and at what temperature), how far apart to space seedlings, how to tell when a crop is ready to harvest, and notes on preservation. The book features a comprehensive companion planting guide and an in-depth review of the most effective organic pest control practices, including recipes for how to make your own pest deterrent sprays.

Perfect for any aspiring backyard gardeners, this book offers a doable, incremental program for turning any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants, and medicinal herbs. When faced with financial uncertainty or a potential disruption to the food supply, more people turn to vegetable gardening — for the joy, satisfaction, and sense of security that comes from growing food. Today's gardeners want a bit of everything — vegetables, fruit, medicinal herbs, flowers for pollinators, and even chickens for eggs. The dream is to build a diverse landscape that serves multiple functions but achieving that goal can be intimidating and overwhelming. Homesteader Leah Webb shares her strategy for implementing a homestead plan in seven stages, starting small and gradually add more features each year. The Seven-Step Homestead takes readers through the process with a series of doable steps, beginning with establishing one or two raised beds of the easiest vegetables to grow, and gradually building up to the addition of fruit trees and berry bushes on hugelkulture mounds, a coop full of chickens, and a winter's worth of storage crops. Step-by-step photos from the author's own homestead, accompanied by her hard-earned advice and instruction, make this a one-of-a-kind guide for anyone who aspires to free themselves from reliance on the commercial food system but doesn't know where to start or how to make it happen in a realistic way. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Best-selling gardening author Barbara Pleasant makes organic vegetable gardening easy, fun, and rewarding with detailed planting and care designs for 24 beginner-friendly gardens to fit any site, whether it's a tiny side yard, a border, a trellis alongside the house, or a front yard. From exactly what plants (and how many) to buy, where and when to plant them, and how to care for each vegetable throughout the season, Pleasant encourages readers to start small, grow the food they love, and expand their plant selection as their skills develop. Specially tailored plans offer choices to fit a wide range of sites and food preferences, from the Front-Yard Food Supply to the Marinara Medley, Sweet Corn & Company, and High-Value Verticals.There's a plan and plant selection to fit every gardener's passion. Detailed plot plans show progressive stages for how each garden can be expanded gradually over the course of three years, ensuring that beginning gardeners will experience success and satisfaction without being overwhelmed by an over-ambitious plan at the start.

Connecting to nature with native plants Landscaping with native plants has encouraged gardeners from the Midwest and beyond to embark on a profound scientific, ecological, and emotional partnership with nature. Benjamin Vogt shares his expertise with prairie plants in a richly photographed guide aimed at gardeners and homeowners, making big ideas about design approachable and actionable. Step-by-step blueprints point readers to plant communities that not only support wildlife and please the eye but that rethink traditional planting and maintenance. Additionally, Vogt provides insider information on plant sourcing, garden tools, and working with city ordinances. This book will be an invaluable reference in sustainable garden design for those wanting both beautiful and functional landscapes. Easy to use and illustrated with over 150 color photos, Prairie Up is a practical guide to artfully reviving diversity and wildness in our communities. Received Honorable Mention from the AHS Book Awards (American Horticultural Society)

The new Kew guide to planting and cultivating shrubs features 12 easy and inspiring projects as well as detailed information on 50 of the most important specimens to grow, all accompanied by Kew's beautiful botanical illustrations.Shrubs are the perfect plant - they are low-maintenance, there is a variety for nearly every need and they are widely available. This guide is a perfect mix of practical and giftable gardening reference for the entry level enthusiast who wants to find out more about shrubs and wants to grow them successfully. Combining the authority and expertise of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with beautiful artworks and practical advice, this is a giftable hardback for enthusiasts and beginners. Packed with information and inspiration, it covers a range of plants as well as vital information on soil, light and maintenance. Every plant's needs are revealed so readers can succeed with 50 specimens and 12 easy to follow projects.

If you're tired of battling blight on your tomatoes, losing your basil to downy mildew, and watching deer raid your vegetable garden, you'll find all the answers you need right here. In The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook, author and veggie-growing guru Susan Mulvihill of YouTube's Susan's in the Garden is ready to set you up for long-term success in the vegetable garden. In these pages, Susan hands you all the info you need to stand firm against plant diseases, viruses, disorders, stressors, and even animal pests, and to do it without having to turn to harsh synthetic chemical products. All-natural solutions to your worst gardening woes are featured in an organized, problem-by-problem manner that makes this a quick and useful reference for both beginner and expert gardeners. This book is a wonderful companion to Susan's previous book, The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, which covers organic solutions for managing insect pests common in home veggie gardens. In this book, not only will you discover how to get your plants off to a healthy start, you'll also find out how to properly identify plant pathogens, how to troubleshoot problems like pollination issues and weather-related disorders, and how to prevent ailments such as fruit cracking, leaf roll, and blossom end rot. In addition, Susan hands you natural solutions to: Over 28 bacterial and fungal diseases, including nasties like powdery mildew, potato scab, and leaf spot Limit damage from plant-eating animals, including birds, chipmunks, rabbits, groundhogs, gophers, deer, and 8 other critters Manage a dozen physiological disorders common to the veggie garden, including bitterness, bolting, and sun scald Prevent problems before they occur using the many strategies detailed throughout these pages Keeping vegetable plants healthy and productive is no easy task. An extensive quick-reference chart is included to help with identification and to direct you to the best possible solutions based on both the symptoms you see and the vegetable those symptoms have appeared on. This truly is THE guide every vegetable gardener has been waiting for!

In this global gardener's guide to creating a resilient, climate-wise garden, learn how to adapt your garden to cope with volatile weather extremes and other effects of a rapidly changing climate. It's no longer gardening as usual. Heat waves, droughts, flooding, violent storms…the long-predicted extremes of weather caused by climate change are now on our doorstep, and gardeners around the world are feeling the effects. Certain pests are staying active until much later in the season, many plants are blooming earlier, soils are eroding and degrading at a rapid pace, unpredictable rainfall is water-logging our gardens, and fiercer storms are uprooting trees and snapping branches. Not to mention the effects of prolonged drought in many parts of the world and the water rationing that comes with it. What's a gardener to do? We need to learn how to protect the garden against climate extremes, exotic pests, invasive weeds, and more. The Climate Change Garden is the first book to reveal which types of gardens are better suited to deal with such extremes and which techniques, practices, and equipment can be put to good use in our gardens to help temper the issues. There's no getting away from it; no matter where on the planet you live, the climate and weather patterns are changing fast, and our gardening practices need to catch up. With the aim of building a more durable, robust, and productive garden beneath the shadow of climate change, you'll learn how to: Adapt your plant selections, planting practices, and garden maintenance techniques for the new future Select vegetable and fruit varieties that are more adaptable to weather extremes and more capable of resisting pests and diseases Find ways to manage excess storm water runoff and minimize the heat island effect Foster wildlife and discover the importance of creating a safe haven for these creatures in a changing world Use season extenders like cold frames, high tunnels, and row covers to protect edible plants from weather events Take measures to reduce your garden's carbon footprint, including going no-till, building a green roof, and composting Limit the risks from wind, frost, and snow by taking advantage of microclimates, planting wind breaks, and physically protecting plants Plant more of the right trees for your future climate to help cool your home, slow the movement of water, and hold soil in place The Climate Change Garden is about working with the natural world to create a productive, low-maintenance, climate-savvy garden that's capable of standing strong against the effects of a changing climate.

A Gardener's Guide to Sustainable Gardening is an essential, practical guide to the design, planting and maintenance of truly regenerative and sustainable gardens. Discover a new model of thinking about our outdoor spaces, whether it's simple changes you can make in small gardens, or more challenging solutions that propose a significant departure from traditional gardening practices. This is not a rule book, but a map, guiding the willing gardener towards a better way of working with our natural world.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1975.

This hardworking, actionable guide is a must-have for homeowners looking to fight the risks of wildfire spreading to their homes and property. Wildfires are burning over longer seasons and more intensely than ever before, and everyone living in a wildland-urban interface or wildland-adjacent area should take precautionary steps to mitigate the risk of property damage. In Firescaping Your Home, Adrienne Edwards and Rachel Schleiger provide expert guidance and specific recommendations on how to harden your home against fire and create defensible space that is lush and attractive. They also provide in-depth native plant lists of hundreds of species that have evolved to coexist with fire in the West, and show how and why including these on your property sustains wildlife and can actually be your most powerful defense.

Reconnect with nature from the ground up and nurture not only your garden but your body, mind, and soul.There's a lot of advice out there that would tell you how to do numerous things in your garden. But not so much that invites you to think about how to be while you're out there. With increasingly busy lives, yet another list of chores seems like the very last thing any of us needs when it comes to our own practice of self-care, relaxation and renewal. After all, aren't these the things we wanted to escape to the garden for in the first place? Put aside the'Jobs to do this week'section in the Sunday papers. What if there was a more low-intervention way to garden, some reciprocal arrangement through which both you and your soil get fed, with the minimum degree of fuss, effort and guilt on your part, and the maximum measure of healthy, organic growth on that of your garden? A gardening book unlike anything you've read before:- A celebration of the quiet joy of gardening, and the importance of delighting in nature's wonders.- A season-by-season reflection of the garden's rhythms and our place within them.-An exploration of the natural processes at work in the garden and how tapping into them can transform both your gardening experience and your life.In To Stand and Stare, Andrew Timothy O'Brien weaves together strands of botany, philosophy and mindfulness to form an ecological narrative suffused with practical gardening know-how. Informed by a deep understanding and appreciation of natural processes, O'Brien encourages the reader to think from the ground up, as we follow the pattern of a plant's growth through the season - roots, shoots, flowers, and fruits - while advocating an increased awareness of our surroundings.

A starter guide to cultivating plants that flourish in Florida Ideal for gardeners new to Florida and residents who want to try their hands at gardening for the first time, this starter guide helps readers learn to grow plants in the state's unique natural environment. Botanist and lifelong gardener Ginny Stibolt shares helpful stories, advice, and tips from her own experience moving to Florida, where she discovered that the rules she had followed did not apply.Stibolt tells readers what they can do to avoid the beginner mistakes she made and dispels common misconceptions about which plants to grow and how to grow them in Florida. Introducing Florida's water features, natural areas, and native plant communities, Stibolt shows what a “Real Florida” landscape looks like and explains how working with this knowledge makes gardening easier and more successful. She explores useful topics including gardening for birds and butterflies, growing food, composting, and stormwater management. Stibolt also points to resources for digging deeper into these and related subjects based on the reader's needs and location within the state.Full of friendly, reliable, and commonsense expertise, Adventures of a Transplanted Gardener sets aspiring growers on the fast track to cultivating plants that flourish in Florida. This book is the perfect resource for anyone interested in the challenges, rewards, and beauty of gardening in the Sunshine State.

Discover how to create a weed-free, sustainable, abundant garden with the no-till gardening method! The no-dig or no-till gardening method is an easy and climate-smart technique that is gaining in popularity and revolutionizing the gardening world. This book teaches you everything you need to start and care for a kitchen garden without any digging, watering, or weeding. Too good to be true? Find out for yourself! No-dig gardening is better for the environment, easier on your back, and yields abundant vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Learn everything you need to get started! Layer your garden properly (the lasagna method)Choose the right cover materialsWhen to plant seedlings and when to direct sowHow to compostLearn about permaculture techniquesAttract the good insects and repel the unwanted onesRecognize common plant diseases Chock-full of practical tips and designed with gorgeous photos throughout, this is your guide to a healthy, eco-friendly, abundant garden.

Discover a wide variety of herbs you can grow successfully at home. Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Herbs contains everything you need to know to grow a wide variety of perennial and annual herbs. Learn how to sow, grow, harvest, and propagate your plants, with advice on caring for home-grown herbs as well as tips on making the most of store-bought pots. Explore a huge variety of herbs available to home gardeners with a wide-ranging directory, including popular herbs such as mint, basil, and sage as well as lesser-grown options like shiso and bergamot.Includes practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

Designing, creating, and maintaining a beautiful garden doesn't have to be time-consuming.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Low-Maintenance contains everything you need to create a low-fuss garden without compromising on design or beauty. Ideal for gardeners who are short on time and need to keep things simple, this book shows you which plants require little to no regular maintenance, and features plenty of tips and tricks to keep your garden in top shape with minimal effort, including ways to minimize watering, make the most of vertical space, and reduce the need to weedIncludes practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated colour guide to the plants which farmers, growers and gardeners can use to improve soil structure and restore fertility without the use and expense of agrichemicals. Information based on the latest research is given on how to use soil conditioning plants to avoid soil degradation, restore soil quality and help clean polluted land. There are 11 chapters: 1 to 6 cover soil health, nitrogen fixation, green manures and herbal leys, bacteria and other microorganisms, phytoremediators and soil mycorrhiza (plant-fungal symbiosis). Chapter 7 has plant illustrations, with climate range and soil types, along with their soil conditioning properties and each plant is presented with a comprehensive description opposite a detailed illustration, in full colour. Chapters 8 to 10 examine soil stabilisers, weeds and invasive plants, and hedges and trees and the final chapter, contains 5 case studies with the most recent data, followed by an appendix and glossary. The book allows the reader to identify the plants they need quickly and find the information necessary to begin implementation of soil regeneration.

Keep your garden or container plants in the best of health - and pesky pests away.Before you're alarmed by a dying plant, find out how you can treat it. This gardening help book is filled with advice on reviving plants - and how to prevent common plant ailments and diseases. Maintaining a thriving garden is simple when you have the right garden pest book! Inside you'll find:- Jargon-free guidance on diagnosing and treating plant ailments- Common garden pests and diseases- How to spot an ailing plantClimate control and encouraging beneficial wildlife- How to prevent and treat a wide range of plant pests, diseases, and disorders- A directory of pest, disease, and disorder symptoms grouped by main plant area affected - focusing on five main areas: leaves, flowers and buds, fruits and pods, roots, tubers, bulbs, and stemsIdeal for first-time gardeners, this garden guide is packed with all you need to know about recognizing symptoms of dying plants, how to keep pests away - and encouraging beneficial wildlife and insects. Far more than a simple list of treatments, this gardening reference book shows you how to keep plants in top condition and decide whether or not intervention is needed. The fully illustrated ailment directory is organized by symptom and plant type for quick and easy identification.Grow Pest & Diseases brings joy to your gardening practice by understanding what plants need to thrive! Keep your plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables growing and happy by following the practical, jargon-free advice in this easy-to-use gardening book.Expand your home garden through the DK Grow Series. Each book is packed with insights about growing various plants, vegetables and fruit - and how to keep them flourishing. Add titles like Grow Easy Veg, Grow Eco-Gardening and Grow Bulbs to your book collection.

“Wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated, and everything you need to know to get more productivity out of your food garden.” —Joe Lamp'l, creator and executive producer, Growing a Greener World Discover how to get more out of your growing space with succession planting—carefully planned, continuous seed sowing—and provide a steady stream of fresh food from early spring through late fall. Drawing inspiration from succession in natural landscapes, Meg McAndrews Cowden teaches you how to implement lessons from these dynamic systems in your home garden. You'll learn how to layer succession across your perennial and annual crops; maximize the early growing season; determine the sequence to plant and replant in summer; and incorporate annual and perennial flowers to benefit wildlife and ensure efficient pollination. You'll also find detailed, seasonal sowing charts to inform your garden planning, so you can grow more anywhere, regardless of your climate. Plant Grow Harvest Repeat will inspire you to create an even more productive, beautiful, and enjoyable garden across the seasons—every vegetable gardener's dream.

Just how productive can one small vegetable garden be? More productive than one might think! Colin McCrate and Brad Halm, former CSA growers and current owners of the Seattle Urban Farm Company, help readers boost their garden productivity by teaching them how to plan carefully, maximize production in every bed, get the most out of every plant, scale up systems to maximize efficiency, and expand the harvest season with succession planting, intercropping, and season extension. Along with chapters devoted to the Five Tenets of a Productive Gardener (Plan Well to Get the Most from Your Garden; Maximize Production in Each Bed; Get the Most out of Every Plant; Scale up Tools and Systems for Efficiency; and Expand and Extend the Harvest), the book contains interactive tools that home gardeners can use to assist them in determining how, when, and what to plant; evaluating crop health; and planning and storing the harvest. For today's vegetable gardeners who want to grow as much of their own food as possible, this guide offers expert advice and strategies for cultivating a garden that supplies what they need. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

A guide to creating and growing a backyard garden simply and sustainably—from planning to planting to harvest, with profiles of essential vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative projectsGrowing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or windowsill!) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish yourself, be self-sufficient, and connect with nature in a hands-on way. Here sustainability expert Julia Watkins shares everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs (as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion plants). The book covers all the nuts and bolts of creating and caring for your garden—planning, building, planting, tending, and harvesting—followed by a deeper dive into the plants themselves: demystifying annuals vs. perennials, cold-weather vs. warm-weather veggies, and profiles of favorite crops. Throughout, Julia offers tips for creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden (such as vermicomposting, no-till “lasagna” gardening, and attracting pollinators), plus some fun and unexpected hands-on projects like how to build a bean teepee, make wildflower seed paper, and enjoy refreshing herbal lemonade ice pops.

The soil in your garden or allotment is the most precious asset you have as a gardener – healthy plants start with healthy soil. Written by two soil science specialists, this book explains the fundamentals of soil science in a horticultural context and provides practical guidance on how to optimize the soil in your garden.The main types of soil and their key characteristics are discussed, including the implications for different plants and how the soil can be improved, with an emphasis on working with nature, not against it.Techniques for assessing soil health are described in step-by-step detail, with recommendations for ways this can be enhanced.A detailed overview of the life in the soil, from bacteria to moles, shows how to harness this ecosystem and increase biodiversity.There is a chapter on container growing media tackles patio gardening and the use of raised beds. Finally, detailed examples from around the UK are provided to illustrate the scientific principles in practice.

If you want a vibrant, chemical-free vegetable garden, companion planting is the solution.Did you know tomatoes produce a natural insecticide that can help protect carrots against pests? Or that planting mint near lettuce can repel slugs? Every gardener knows that the key to an abundant harvest in their vegetable garden is controlling pests and disease, while still maintaining a healthy growing environment. But it is possible to have a healthy, thriving vegetable garden without using dangerous chemicals? It is, as long as you know how to pair up the right plants. Organic gardeners have known for years that planting the right plants together is the key to minimizing pests, improving soil quality, and increasing the yield of their gardens, and almost any vegetable you can grow likely has a beneficial companion. Companion planting is the ideal way to avoid using chemicals, while still increasing the efficiency of your garden. Expert organic gardener Brian Lowell will teach you how to use plants to create a beautiful, vibrant vegetable garden that will be free of toxic chemicals. Here's what you'll find inside:Handy companion planting pairings for all of the most common garden vegetablesPractical, simple photography and colorful illustrations for dozens of beneficial planting configurations Expert advice from a master gardener that is specifically designed for beginnersLoads of troubleshooting tips for fixing common issues with companion-planted gardensTips for setting up the perfect vegetable garden, including practical advice on watering, soil management, troubleshooting, and more

•Named one of the best gardening books for 2023 by Gardens Illustrated •2023 GardenComm Media Awards Silver Laurel Medal of Achievement •As seen in The New York Times The easy-to-use resource for growing healthy, resilient, low-maintenance trees, shrubs, vines, and other fruiting plants from around the world—perfect for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers at every scale. Illustrated with more than 200 color photographs and covering 50 productive edible crops—from Arctic kiwi to jujube, medlar to heartnut—this is the go-to guide for growers interested in creating diversity in their growing spaces.'[Levy and Serrano] go way beyond the standard fare.... With their help, you'll be growing persimmons, currants and hazelnuts in no time.'—Modern Farmer Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts is a one-stop compendium of the most productive, edible fruit-and nut-bearing crops that push the boundaries of what can survive winters in cold-temperate growing regions. While most nurseries and guidebooks feature plants that are riddled with pest problems (such as apples and peaches), veteran growers and founders of the Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano, focus on both common and unfamiliar fruits that have few, if any, pest or disease problems and an overall higher level of resilience. Inside Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts you'll find: Taste profiles for all fifty hardy fruits and nuts, with notes on harvesting and uses Plant descriptions and natural histories Recommended cultivars, both new and classic Propagation methods for increasing plants Nut profiles including almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, and pecans Fertilization needs and soil/site requirements And much more! With beautiful and instructive color photographs throughout, the book is also full of concise, clearly written botanical and cultural information based on the authors'years of growing experience. The fifty fruits and nuts featured provide a nice balance of the familiar and the exotic: from almonds and pecans to more unexpected fruits like maypop and Himalayan chocolate berry. Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts gives adventurous gardeners all they need to get growing. Both experienced and novice gardeners who are interested in creating a sustainable landscape with a greater diversity of plant life—while also providing healthy foods—will find this book an invaluable resource.

If you love feeding and watching birds, learn how you can enjoy it even more - and also help address habitat loss, by creating a healthy year-round landscape for your feathered visitors - with 100 Plants to Feed the Birds. This guide offers in-depth planting and care information for 100 native plant species that feed and shelter birds all year long, including during breeding and migrating periods. Some of these plants can be added to your garden, some are helpful wild plants to avoid weeding, and some are trees that you can plant. Color photographs and range maps give you the visual guidance you need to choose the right plants for any location in North America.

Transform your garden into your own and feel at home even when you are renting.Your outdoor space does not need to look dull when you are renting your home. You can still brighten it up with a tailored gardening guide designed especially for your gardening needs. Find some gardening inspiration! This simple, easy-to-follow gardening book will help you achieve an impressive garden. Inside, you'll find: - Three central chapters focus on different rental lease lengths, each showcasing key plant types.- Gallery of inspirational ideas for front and back gardens, balconies and patios, and any other available outdoor spaces the reader can plant up and enjoy.- Essential planning chapter to encourage readers to identify what they can achieve in their rental garden, how much time they have to make it happen, and how much money they want to spend.-'Working with the Seasons'guide to help readers identify what they can do as soon as they move in, depending on the season they start their lease.- Maintenance chapter showing renters how to keep their garden in good shape (including weeding, cleaning and pruning know-how), so that they can enjoy the garden they now have and feel confident that they can get their deposit back when they leave.Your garden will look beautiful and cared for, and your landlord will be impressed with how healthy and lush your plants look! This must-have gardening reference book is packed with plenty of tips, tricks, and techniques for good gardening maintenance. Creating a magnificent garden oasis is achievable and cost-effective with this book about gardening. Discover ways of turning even the most unloved balcony, yard, or urban garden into a lush, welcoming space that you, your roommates and your friends can enjoy for as long as you choose to live there.How to Garden When You Rent will appeal to renters of all ages who want to make the most of their outdoor space, no matter how long they intend to enjoy it. It is also great for landlords interested in encouraging their tenants to tend to their gardens and keep them in shape.

Weed-Free Gardening presents a clear and easy-to-implement plan of attack to get even the most tenacious weeds under control without the need for potentially harmful synthetic herbicides. Let's face it: weeding is far from a homeowner's favorite chore. But not everyone can afford to hire a landscape crew to keep the weeds at bay, and spraying chemical herbicides isn't a smart solution for eco-conscious homeowners or pet parents. If that's the case for you, the weed control prevention and control strategies outlined here by author Tasha Greer will have you growing flowers, vegetables, shrubs, and trees with little to no weed competition. Tasha's organic approach hands you methods for both preventing weeds early in the growing season and managing weedy intruders year-round. By following the practical guidance found in Weed-Free Gardening, you'll: Control annual weeds by disrupting their natural lifecycleLearn the whys, hows, and whens of weed-inhibiting mulching techniquesEliminate deep-rooted perennial weeds by eradicating them at their sourceMeet the best and most effective weeding tools available to homeownersDiscover many ways to keep weeds out of the vegetable garden while ensuring healthy and productive soilImplement a practical plan to gain long-term control over weeds In addition, you'll find resources for weed identification, tips for getting rid of invasive plants, useful ideas for handling areas completely overtaken by weeds, and dozens of “weed hacks” to make life in the garden so much more beautiful.Weed-Free Gardening is here with a plan to save you time, money, and energy, and help you fall in love with your garden all over again. If landscape beds overrun with weeds are making you want to give up on your garden, hope is finally here!

A little plant science grows a long way Plant Science for Gardeners empowers growers to analyze common problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden for optimal plant health and productivity. Most gardeners learn by accumulating rules – water once a week, never dry out snowdrop bulbs, prune lilacs after flowering, plant garlic in October—the list is endless. Rules take years to learn and yet leave you floundering when the unexpected strikes and plants look unhealthy, produce poorly, or die. There is a better way. By understanding the basic biology of how plants grow, you can become a thinking gardener with the confidence to problem solve for optimized plant health and productivity. Learn the science and ditch the rules! Coverage includes: The biology of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers Understanding how plants function as whole organisms The role of nutrients and inputs Vegetables, flowers, grasses, and trees and shrubs Propagation and genetics Sidebars that explode common gardening myths Tips for evaluating plant problems and finding solutions. Whether you're a home gardener, micro-farmer, market gardener, or homesteader, this entertaining and accessible guide shortens the learning curve and gives you the knowledge to succeed no matter where you live. AWARDS SILVER (tie) | 2023 IPPY Awards: Science

Grow oodles of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers with no heavy lifting or digging required! Grow bag gardening utilizes lightweight, eco-friendly, fabric planter bags to grow great plants with minimal space and care. Get all the know-how you need to successfully grow a hearty homegrown harvest in Grow Bag Gardening. Grow bags are perfect for urban, container, rooftop, balcony, and patio gardeners—but those with lots of property will find them useful, too. Grow bags fold flat for easy storage and are 100% frost-proof, so there's no lugging heavy pots indoors for the winter. They can be used for many seasons and their mobility means you can easily move these pots around to maximize sunlight. Fabric grow bags offer gardeners a great way to grow that's cost effective, simple, and beneficial to plants. In the pages of Grow Bag Gardening you'll learn: Why gardening in these special fabric planter bags results in big yields How this no-weed, no-mess method of gardening is a real game changer What makes this method so good for your plants (hint: no root circling!) Where and how to set up your grow bag garden to reap the biggest rewards Step-by-step instructions for continual harvests, sewing your own grow bags, building a specialized trellising system, caring for your grow bag garden, and more. Who can use grow bag gardening? Everyone! From school gardens to urban homesteads, everyone has room to grow their own veggies in a grow bag garden. Kevin Espiritu, author of Field Guide to Urban Gardening and the mastermind behind the popular website EpicGardening.com, offers an in-depth look at this revolutionary gardening method and how it can help feed the world, one grow bag at a time.

Take practical steps to protect the Earth for future generations by creating a sustainable home landscape that is also beautiful, budget-friendly, and low-maintenance. In this updated edition of Grow More With Less, author and horticulturist Vincent Simeone shows us that gardens are living laboratories where we can experiment, grow, and connect with other living things. There are tens of millions of gardeners across the globe. Together, we can create a huge and lasting positive impact on the planet and all the creatures who share it with us. With the well-researched plan found in the pages of Sustainable Gardening, gardeners and homeowners are taught how to: Grow more plants while using fewer resourcesConserve water through plant choice and proper landscape careStop the disposable mindsetMitigate the effects of climate change through intelligent landscapingPlan and plant with low-maintenance in mindBuild healthy soil to sequester carbon and grow healthier plants Create a garden that supports wildlife and soil lifeDesign your garden for resiliency and a long, healthy lifeBanish synthetic pesticides and herbicides for more eco-friendly choicesReduce plastic waste in the garden and the landfillSet your garden on a schedule to reduce maintenance needsHarvest rainwater for future useAdopt a sustainable lawn care program that requires less work and fewer resourcesPlus, discover profiles of some of the best shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses to include in your sustainable landscape. Not only are they beautiful and low-care, they also provide valuable ecosystem services. Sustainability is defined as the capacity to endure, and while the term sustainability may seem a bit overused these days, the truth is that there are few other words that convey the same message. Adaptablity and resilience are close, but they miss the mark in conveying the long-term aspects of true sustainability. Being more mindful of your actions and learning how everything you do in your landscape impacts the ecosystem found there generates a more thoughtful and responsible approach to gardening we all would be wise to adopt.

Healthy soil is key to sustaining life on Earth. While more and more people are starting to see the need for soil restoration, there is very little understanding of just how it can be accomplished. There is a rapidly emerging demand for a “how to” manual for soil restoration. Dale Strickler is an expert on building healthy soil and restoring degraded soil, and in The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil, he presents the science of soil, along with proven methods of restoring depleted soil and agricultural practices from around the world that continue to build soil, rather than cause it to deteriorate. Strickler provides a solid foundation in the science of healthy soil, explaining how soil has become so degraded over time and the dire consequences for the human species, not just in terms of food scarcity but also the social, health, and environmental consequences of growing food in poor soil. He addresses the chemical, physical, and biological principles behind soil function, and presents actual farming practices that can be used to regenerate soil, techniques and strategies for remediating contaminated soil, and agriculture systems both past and present that functioned to build soil, such as the ancient chinampas systems of Mexico and the permaculture systems of today. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

In this age of high technology, GM foods and industrial farming, many people are looking for an alternative way to live, that honours and respects the natural world. The Druid Garden mines the deep seem of gardening through the ages and alternative modern developments, to bring the reader a method of gardening that is truly in touch with the Earth. Drawing on the knowledge of the Druids and other ancient cultures, Luke Eastwood has created a practical guide to organic and natural methods that are proven to work. Advice for the total beginner, through to the experienced, ties together Druidic wisdom with the best of gardening knowledge. Part of this book is a handy alphabetical guide to trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, giving a wealth of information on history and folklore, as well as practical details on plant care and growing from seed. This book is invaluable to anyone serious about organic gardening or those simply interested in how things were done in former ages, Celtic Europe in particular.

Ed Rosenthal has been teaching people how to grow marijuana for decades. Let him help you cultivate bountiful buds, and lots of them.The techniques and tools for growing cannabis have changed over the past five years. Ed shows you the most productive and easiest methods in his new, most comprehensive book. Cannabis Grower's Handbook features the latest innovations in marijuana cultivation that will save you time, money, and energy, including: How to set up different types of home gardens, indoors and out The newest, most efficient LED lights including adjustable spectrum fixtures How to use sustainable regenerative gardening techniques Fast, reliable drying and curing methods Comprehensive integrated pest management Choosing what to grow—find out more about high THC, autoflowers, and CBD varieties Many more tools, tips, and techniques! Cannabis Grower's Handbook is the definitive guide for all cultivators. First-time home growers will learn how to get started and enjoy a successful first harvest. Experienced growers will find new information about lighting, flowering, outdoor CO2, stimulating growth, and harvesting. This book is an essential reference for developing standard operating procedures, whether for micro-operations or large-scale commercial cannabis operations. 600 PAGES OF FULL-COLOR PHOTOS, DIAGRAMS, AND CHARTS. ED ROSENTHAL is a legend—a veteran educator and an outspoken proponent of Full Legalization and The Right to Grow. His books are beloved by growers for their accessible style, accuracy, and innovative content. Ed wrote Cannabis Grower's Handbook with a team of botanists, industry consultants, and scientists to ensure that you have the most up-to-date, accurate information to help you grow. This is the most extensively researched book about marijuana cultivation available. It will be your handy guide, like having an expert in your garden.

Grow, raise, and store your own food with this simple and easy guide to creating a self-sustaining farm right in your backyard!These days we are all looking for ways to become more self-sufficient. Now with Backyard Farming you can create your very own micro farm right in your backyard—no matter where you live! Now you can discover ways to grow, raise, and store your own food year round whether you live in an urban environment, in the suburbs, or out in the country. From raising chickens and beekeeping to growing vegetables and planting fruit trees, this guide to homesteading will help you become more self-reliant in no time!

Josh Volk, author of the best-selling Compact Farms, offers small-scale farmers an in-depth guide to building customized equipment that will save time and money and introduce much-needed efficiencies to their operations. Volk begins with the basics, such as setting up a workshop and understanding design principles, mechanical principles, and materials properties, then presents plans for making 15 tools suited to small-farm tasks and processes. Each project includes an explanation of the tool's purpose and use, as well as the time commitment, skill level, and equipment required to build it. Projects range from the super-simple (requiring a half-day to build) to the more complex, and include how-to photographs and illustrations with variations for customizing the finished implement. Along with instructions for building items such as simple seedling benches, a mini barrel washer, a DIY germination chamber, and a rolling pack table, Volk addresses systems design for farm efficiency, including how to design an effective drip irrigation system and how to set up spreadsheets for collecting important planning, planting, and market data. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Make your green-thumbed dreams a reality with this accessible, practical gardening e-guide.The Grow series is all about helping you make the most of your green space. Tapping into today's most popular gardening topics, including container gardening, growing your own produce, pruning and training, eco-friendly gardening, making your own compost, and caring for houseplants, Grow makes gardening simple for new enthusiasts and confident growers alike. Jargon-free advice and at-a-glance profiles are paired with full-color photography and clear illustrations, all presented in a modern format.Easy to use and written by trusted experts, this new series has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

Approaching organic gardening can sometimes feel overwhelming. It can be hard enough to keep on top of the weeding without having to worry about using less plastic, avoiding pesticides and using too much water.Grow Green is a practical guide and tackles a topic close to Jen Chillingsworth's heart – growing sustainably. Packed with easy tips and advice, this little book reveals how to adjust your outdoor space and create a wildlife haven, while reducing your impact on the environment as you grow your own cut flowers, fruit and veg. Drawing on her wealth of knowledge, Jen will hold your hand as she takes you through all the gardening essentials, teaching you how to get started – no matter how small or big your space might be. From making your own fertiliser with leftovers, planting in pots, reducing energy consumption and conserving water, to dealing with pests and diseases, Jen removes the stress and simply shows you how to garden green.Whether you are a first-time gardener or have seasoned green fingers – discover how to get the most out of your space with Grow Green by gardening with intention.Live simply. Grow Green.

The essential beginner's manual on living a greener, healthier, and more self-sufficient lifestyle.Absolutely all you need to know to provide you and your family with homegrown food throughout the year. Alison Candlin offers easy-to-follow advice on planning, establishing, and maintaining a small-acre farm, an allotment, or a backyard garden. She also includes essential tips for selecting, housing, and looking after chickens, goats, pigs, bees, and other animals. Learn how to collect and recycle water, compost your leftover scraps, and generate renewable energy for your own home in order to save money and minimize your impact on the environment. With step-by-step instructions and more than 350 photographs and charming illustrations, this book is a practical and comprehensive guide to living off the land.

•2022 GardenComm Media Awards Gold Medal of Achievement The first and only complete guide to sourcing and using woodchip—an abundant, inexpensive, and ecologically sustainable material—for savvy growers and landscapers at any scale, from farm to garden to greenhouse. The Woodchip Handbook is the essential guide to the many uses of woodchip both in regenerative agriculture and horticulture. Author Ben Raskin, Head of Horticulture and Agroforestry at the Soil Association, draws on his extensive practical experience using woodchip, provides the latest research from around the world, and presents inspiring case studies from innovative farmers. The book explores and unlocks the tremendous potential of woodchip to enhance soil health and plant growth: As a natural mulch for weed suppression, temperature buffering, and water conservation As a growing medium for propagating plants As a decomposing source of warmth for hotbeds in the greenhouse or hoop house As a carbon-rich compost ingredient that supports beneficial fungi and microorganisms As a powerful soil health booster, when applied as small-sized ramial chipped wood As an ideal substrate for growing many kinds of edible or medicinal mushrooms As a sustainable, versatile, and durable material for foot paths and ornamental landscaping Some of these techniques, like mulching—or the renewable harvest potential from coppicing and pollarding trees—have been around forever. Yet there is always new science to be discovered, such as the role that salicylic acid from willow woodchip can play in preventing tree diseases or promoting livestock health when used as a bedding material. Whether you are a commercial grower or farmer, a permaculture practitioner, or a serious home gardener producing your own fruit and vegetables, The Woodchip Handbook will show you how to get the most out of this readily available and renewable material.

Garden in a more sustainable wildlife-friendly way.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Eco-Gardening contains everything you need to know to care for the planet while you care for your garden. Discover how to minimize garden waste, mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns, and do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint and turn your outdoor space into a refuge for local wildlife with a wide selection of recommended plants including trees, climbers, and wildflowers.Includes practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use e-guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

Keeping your garden in good shape has never been easier!Pruning is an essential part of garden maintenance, as well as one of the most difficult parts of gardening. This is your no-fuss guide to learning basic training and pruning techniques.Do you want to know how to prune the shrubs and climbers in your garden but don't know where to start? This gardening book for beginners will help you care for more than 80 of the most popular pruning plants.Whether you need to prune flowering trees or have a small garden that requires controlling, this complete pruning guide explores all the essential techniques. It also features an illustrated directory that answers all your pruning and training questions to help you put your skills into practice.Let It Grow!You don't have to be a horticulture expert to get started, this indispensable reference book will take you through every single step! It includes: - Easy gardening tips on how to care for more than 80 shrubs and trees- Practical, jargon-free know-how and simple pruning techniques- Easy-to-follow format to help grow your gardening knowledgeGrow Pruning & Training covers everything you need to know to make pruning fruit trees, shrubs, and climbing plants a simple and achievable process. It's the perfect book for first-time gardeners!Complete the Series:Make your green-fingered dreams a reality with the Grow series from DK. Learn how to brighten up even the trickiest areas in Grow Containers, or discover how to garden more sustainably in Grow Eco-Gardening. Alternatively, there are more titles to explore such as Grow Easy Veg and Grow Houseplants.

Discover how to grow it yourself with experts tips, simple step-by-step guides and gorgeous illustrations in this fantastic veg-growing guideGrowing your own vegetables is a rewarding venture that's both affordable and delicious, but a novice gardener might not know where to begin. This is your no-fuss guide to vegetable gardening.Do you want to learn how to start and sustain your own vegetable garden throughout the year? This vegetable gardening book for beginners will help you choose and care for more than 40 different varieties, all specially selected for successful growing. You don't have to be a horticulture expert to get started, this indispensable reference book will take you through every single step! It includes: • Tips on how to care for more than 40 different vegetable varieties • Practical, jargon-free know-how and simple gardening techniques • An easy-to-follow format to help grow your gardening knowledge From vegetable garden must-haves to less-common crops like edamame beans, this is a one-stop guide to growing vegetables that are easy to grow! Discover detailed information on how to sow, plant, feed, water, protect and harvest your vegetables.Let It Grow!Gorgeous, full-color photography provides plenty of inspiration and ideas for your patch! Expert tips and step-by-step instructions on every page help guide you on how to care for your vegetables. Grow Easy Veg covers everything you need to know about growing herbs and vegetables, while expert tips help you troubleshoot as you go. It's the perfect book for first-time gardeners!Complete the Series:Make your green-fingered dreams a reality with the Grow series from DK. Learn how to brighten up even the trickiest areas in Grow Containers, or discover how to garden more sustainably in Grow Eco-Gardening. Alternatively, there are more titles to explore such as Grow Pruning & Training and Grow Houseplants.

Cultivate your passion to grow In a 1625 essay, Francis Bacon called gardens'the purest of human pleasures,'and what was true then is even more so today—gardening can give you a serene refuge from the short-lived (and noisy!) distractions of modern life and a fertile basis for satisfaction that will bear fruit long into the future. To help you get started on your own leafy paradise, the new edition of Gardening Basics For Dummies grounds you thoroughly in the fundamentals of soil, flowers, trees, and lawns—and helps you get to know the names of what you're planting along the way! In a friendly, straightforward style, professional horticulturist Steven A. Frowine distills 50 years of gardening experience to show you how to start growing your expertise—from planning out your own mini-Eden and planting your first annuals, bulbs, and perennials through to laying the perfect lawn, raising tasty crops, and even introducing fish to your landscape! He also digs into the grubbier side of horticultural life, making sure you're as prepared as any seasoned farmer to deal with pests, weeds, and other challenges the earth will throw up at you. Create your ideal garden plan Become an expert on common flora with definitions and descriptions Know how to look after your soil Get creative with butterfly and children's gardens Whether you're beginning with a tiny garden in a box, or beautifying your property with tree-lined groves and flowery bowers, this is the ideal introduction to the intense pleasure of gardening and will make you happy to reap what you've sown!

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn everything you need to know about the various methods of composting and how to adapt them to your home and garden. With full-color photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, this will be an essential addition to every gardener's library.Great compost is one of the most important secrets of successful organic gardening. Topics covered here include:What you can and can't throw on your compost pileHow to balance nitrogen and carbon in your pile for quick decomposition and rich compostBuying or building the best tools and containersVermicompostingHow to compost indoorsTroubleshooting smelly compost, dry compost, and other problemsHow and when to apply the compost to your garden bedsWith growing concerns about the use of pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs in mainstream gardening practices, more and more families are turning to their backyards to grow their own food using methods they know are safe. The need for clear, straightforward instruction on organic gardening techniques has never been greater. With Composting for Absolute Beginners, readers will get the information they need to prepare their gardens for healthy, abundant crops.