The Garden PrimerThe most comprehensive, entertaining, down-to-earth one-volume gardening reference ever, and highly praised: "Barbara Damrosch delivers the goods."ÑChicago Tribune "Best of the crop."ÑHouse Beautiful "Barbara Damrosch's writing has the snap of a good snowpea and the spice of an old rose."ÑThe Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer "Covers just about everything you could think of and then some." Ñ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "An extraordinarily comprehensive guide." Ñ The San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle "Takes your soaring visions of garden splendor and plants them firmly in the ground."ÑThe Toronto Star Now the beloved classic is revised front-to-back. The new edition has gone 100% organic, which in Barbara Damrosch's hands also means completely accessible. It reflects the latest research on plants, soils, tools, and techniques. There is updated and expanded information on planning a garden, recommended plants, and best tools. Ecological issues are addressed much more extensively, covering lawn alternatives, the benefits of native species, wildlife-friendly gardens, and how to avoid harmful invasive species. More attention is paid to plants appropriate to the South, Southwest, and West Coast, while cold-climate gardeners are given detailed advice on how to extend the growing season. Simply put, the book is a richer and fuller compendium than ever before, with more text, more illustrations and garden plans, expanded plant lists, and gardener's resources. But Barbara Damrosch's core of practical, creative ideas and friendly style remainÑshe is still an "old-fashioned dirt gardener" at heart. |
Contents
A Note on the Second Edition | |
Green Side Up | |
What Plants Need | 1 |
Planning Your Landscape | 73 |
Gardening Gear | 89 |
How to Buy Plants | 119 |
Annuals | 131 |
Perennials | 165 |
Ground Covers | 557 |
Vines | 575 |
Shrubs | 597 |
Trees | 653 |
Wildflowers | 689 |
Houseplants | 715 |
Appendix | 755 |
Plant Hardiness Zone Map | 756 |
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Common terms and phrases
annuals aphids apple areas arugula azaleas beans begonias bloom blue branches bulbs clumps cold climates cold frame color compost cool cover crops crop cultivars cut back daylilies Deadheading Description digging fork disease early spring especially evergreen fall feet tall fertilizer flavor flowers foliage frost fruits full sun garden give grass green ground covers grow grown growth hardy to zone harvest herbs hole Hosta houseplants hybrids inches indoors insects keep late lawn leaf leaves lettuce light look manure moist moisture mulch native nursery organic matter peas perennial pests phlox pick pink plants pollination pruning purple remove rhizomes rhododendrons roots roses rows rutabagas season seedlings seeds shade shrubs soil sometimes spot spread squash stems summer sweet taproot tomatoes transplant trees types usually varieties vegetable viburnum vines warm weather weeds wild wildflower winter yellow