Basics for Good Gardens - Softcover

Creating Good Gardens: Flowers, Herbs, Vegetables, Trees, Shrubs is an environmentally friendly book. Readers will find everything they need to know to develop new gardens and take good care of those they already have. The book explains how to get started with annuals, perennials, bulbs, roses, ground covers, trees, shrubs, herbs and vegetables; and then how to care for them like an expert. You will learn how to select plants to match the growing conditions at various locations on your property. Throughout, the methods are easy to follow, time saving, and safe for the environment. There is also information on garden design, as well as a chapter on creating water gardens and bird-and-butterfly gardens.

Creating Good Gardens-as beautiful as they are useful and as productive as they are kind to the environment-can be easy. In this book, you'll find everything you need to know to develop new gardens and take good care of those you already have. Throughout, the methods are easy to follow, time saving, and safe for the environment. The topics covered include
- Garden design: Working with colors, textures, forms, and blooms through the season; using effective design techniques
- Getting Started: Choosing healthy plants; building soil; preparing good garden
- Garden Care: Maintaining gardens; controlling weeds, pests, and diseases safely and practically; using beneficial insects; controlling common pests and diseases
- Annuals and Perennials: Making good choices; growing, propagating, and caring for flowers; choosing plants from featured portraits
- Roses: Growing healthy roses; pruning; controlling pests and diseases
- Flowering Bulbs: Planting and taking care of bulbs in containers and the garden; choosing plants from featured portraits
- Herbs: Planting, growing, and harvesting herbs; choosing plants from featured portraits
- Ground Covers: Planting and growing ground covers; choosing plants from featured portraits
- Trees and Shrubs: Planting and maintaining trees and shrubs; pruning; choosing plants from featured portraits
- Specialty Gardens: Building water gardens, butterfly gardens, and gardens for the birds
- Vegetable Gardens: Planting and caring for vegetables; choosing plants from featured portraits