Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive.......2006-02-25
Very complete and up to date information on Arboriculture. Chapters are well organized, highlighting what you need to know. Does a great job of covering the basics, but also gets into details and is fairly technical, without becoming unreadable. A must have reference book for the Landscaper.
Overflowing with information.......2003-06-24
Arboriculture is a science and art that is made up of many different contributing factors. This book does a very good job of covering them all. Any one of the chapters could be expanded into a book in itself. This thoroughly researched and written book is for the person who wants all of their information in one place. It is a textbook for the technically minded arborist, tree surgeon, tree farmer, or hobbyist. Don't look for this book to be entertaining or philosophical. Instead, buy this book for the knowledge held within. There is a lot to be learned from it. Every single page is filled with facts, figures, methods, and recommendations. You will find yourself reading every page a second or third time in order to catch it all. I refer back to this book on a regular basis, because there is no way I can remember it all. If you have any questions about the management of trees or shrubs, you will likely find it in this book.
The Book.......2000-01-09
Harris wrote the first edition of this book when trees were "trimmed" by the same people who patched asphalt and repaired park benches. It was a breath of rationality in a field that relied mostly on anecdotal information.
The new edition reinforces this work as the compendium of current thinking about how to care for trees. Clark and Matheny build eloquently on Harris's solid foundation.
The public participates actively in caring for trees and demands to know information found in this book. Why not plant the biggest caliper tree you can find? Can't you do something about the tree roots "breaking" up my sewer? Open the book and show them the brief but definitive answer that is easily found here.
I wish more citizen tree advocates would read this book. For that matter, I wish more arborists would too.
Amazon.com
Tracy DiSabato-Aust's Well-Designed Mixed Garden provides sound direction for plant lovers looking to free their garden from the doldrums and fashion a rich tapestry of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines, grasses, and bulbs. Encyclopedic in scope yet unfailingly attentive to essential details, The Well-Designed Mixed Garden effectively summarizes an array of basic garden design considerations and fundamentals. There are particularly useful chapters on color theory and on drawing up a plan, with precise instructions on what size plants to purchase and how to space them. As with her highly regarded Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting & Pruning Techniques, DiSabato-Aust delves eagerly into plant maintenance, a topic too many garden writers overlook. Though many examples are from the author's own garden or other American Midwest locations, they're largely applicable to other plant hardiness zones. Of particular appeal are a nicely photographed section on attractive plant combinations and a series of handy appendixes for plant selection. Beginners may be overwhelmed by this book's wealth of information, but its comprehensiveness renders it all the more valuable for seasoned gardeners seeking greater practical know-how and a surer grasp of the art of gardening. --Jennifer Wyatt
Book Description
The Well-Designed Mixed Garden is a design book with a difference. Written for gardeners who are passionate about plants of all kinds (hence the "mixed garden" of the title), it reflects decades of professional experience and artistic innovation. As with her bestselling book The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, master designer and plantswoman Tracy DiSabato-Aust provides not only inspiration but also scrupulously organized information on design and connoisseur plants — all from original research dating back to her degree work in horticulture.
Her new offering is a master class of design fundamentals, with an emphasis on often-neglected topics, such as site evaluation, color theory, and planning for maintenance. It is also a gallery of detailed design plans that show how ideas are put onto paper and then translated into three dimensions. Lessons learned in its first two parts are strengthened in an "Encyclopedia of Plant Combinations"; each entry notes the design considerations at play and provides tips on how to keep the combination looking its best. And the lifetime care needs and unique design characteristics of featured plants are summarized in the useful charts and lists that conclude the book. The result is a nearly foolproof guide to every aspect of designing superior gardens with superior plants. With more than 250 color photos and illustrations, this book is as much a feast for the eyes as it will be a trusted reference for the library shelf.
Customer Reviews:
A Flower Gardener's Companion.......2007-09-03
Comprehensive and very user friendly. A book every home flower gardner would want to have.
OK, but not as good as I thought it would be.......2007-05-16
I've heard other gardeners talk about Tracy's books and what an inspiration they are, so I bought "The Well-Designed Mixed Garden" expecting to learn some GREAT ideas for my gardens. It has some good information on principles of design and how to work with color, texture, and so on. But I was disappointed at how weak and uninspiring the section is on plant combinations. She calls it an "encyclopedia of plant combinations," and the section is full of photos of flowers and plants she thinks are winning combinations. The combinations mostly have no real visual appeal, the photos (in that section) are plain, and it's a wasted section of the book. I think there was only one of these combinations that actually looked beautiful. Most of these photos were from her own garden, and perhaps she let her personal affection for her own gardens cloud her judgment on what to include.
I like the rest of the book, however, and her examples of garden designs in other parts of the book have good photos and design layout drawings that are quite useful.
Useful no matter what your garden needs.......2007-05-13
This book is so helpful in figuring out how to mix flowers and plants in border-type gardens. It details color combinations and tells what flowers go well together. It provides pictures of various gardens in different season to provide an idea of how the landscape will look in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Very good information and easy to understand.......2007-02-05
This is the first book I would recomend to anyone! Ms. Disabato-Aust compiles a vast amount of quality information in one book, and she explains abstract concepts in a way that regular people who aren't master gardeners can understand. She also includes insights from her vast experience; it's not a dry recitation seen in other sources. She explains when and why to break the generally-accepted guidelines.
I've been a hard-core gardener for about three years, and I've already gleaned some of the information from other sources. But I had to read a lot of different books and articles to get it, and it was often contradictory. The book not only ties it all together in a cohesive manner, but gives very detailed examples.
I particularly enjoyed the section on combinations, where Ms. Disabato-Aust explains why certain things work together in a converational tone. Far from being a preening dilletante, the author's manner is friendly and warm.
I only had two complaints, and they are possibly unique to me. As you might expect, the "example" gardens shown used Ms. Disabato-Aust's style of gardening. It's wonderful, but I have a different style, and would have appreciated seeing the gardening principles illustrated using different styles. Second, I garden in North Florida. A fair number of the plants that look so beautiful in her Ohio garden wouldn't make it in North Florida.
Destined to be a classic garden reference........2006-03-24
I'm a master gardener from Illinois,and have heard Tracy Disabato-Aust on a number of occasions. Her book The Well-Tended Perennial Garden has long been our bible for perennials. In this new book, she makes accessible for all gardeners the depth of her experience and research in incorporating many kinds of plants in a mixed border. The book is worth buying for the appendices alone: plants by design and maintenance characteristics as well as common/scientific name cross-references. A must-have garden reference book!
Book Description
This bestselling encyclopedia, illustrated with brilliant photographs, describes the best woody plants adapted to cooler climates, showing both habit and details of more than 500 species, and including some 700 additional cultivars and varieties. Brief cultural information is supplied for each plant, as well as Dirr's perceptive comments and opinions.
Customer Reviews:
Great Photos and Descriptions.......2007-06-12
Highly recommended for its many lovely photos, sometimes 2 or 3 photos of each species. Also recommended for its loving and detailed descriptions of each species and variety. Unlike many books of this type, there are no planting or pruning instructions, just a catalog of shrubs and trees. Dirr is sometimes quirky in his opinions: for example, he doesn't like the usual varieties of lilacs and honeysuckle (!). He does point out some unusual varieties often neglected. He helped me to identify a bush in my backyard that I've been wondering about for many years as an unusual species of Lonicera.
Honest opinions in addition to great descriptions.......2007-03-12
What makes this book stand out from all of the other encyclopedias describing plants and trees for the gardens is the candid opinions as to the relative merits of specific trees and shrubs. Dirr does not hesitate to extoll the virtues of a particular tree while exclaiming that he would never allow another to set foot in his garden. Equally helpful are the author's comments about his preferences for one cultivar of a particular species of plant, when there may be many cultivars to choose among. The pictures shrubs and trees are also excellent, often showing important plant characteristics (i.e. flowers or bark) in addition to the plant in its entirety.
I've come back to this book more than any other in my garden library over the past several years, and expect to continue doing so.
very good!.......2007-03-09
For starters, my order was shipped in a very timely manner. I received the book much sooner than I expected.
Dirr's Illustrated Encyclopedia is an excellent book! It is very helpful whether you're someone who works in the landscaping/green industry or someone who just admires nature. The descriptions for each plant are very well written and very informative, and the corresponding pictures are wonderful!
A great purchase and well worth the money!
Almost perfect.......2007-03-08
This book is a helpful, but not perfect reference guide. It would have been perfect if it consistently provided a plant's rate of growth, expected life, and the height and width each plant could be expected to reach in a home garden. Also, a greater number of photos of plant subspecies would have made this book more helpful as well.
For instance, I bought a Corkscrew Willow to quickly shade my house in the next five years, while a 100 year old maple tree that is on its way out finally dies. After the maple is down, I will plant a nice long lived oak it the Maple's place.
In the meantime I'd like to know how much growth per year I can expect from the Corkscrew Willow, how long the darn thing will live, and what it will look like. None of this information is available in this book.
I'd also like to know which Oak tree will do best, maybe even in the shade of my maple in the next few years? Which Oak tree will be a real legacy -- long life -- tree? Which Oak tree will produce the least amount of litter? This information is also not available in this book.
good.......2007-02-22
the item when i got it was in very good condition and i was very pleased.
Book Description
Many common native trees are just as beautiful as cultivated exotics. Since they have evolved with local conditions and are well adapted to their climate, they often require less maintenance and won't escape to invade a balanced ecosystem. The authors' extensive horticultural knowledge is distilled in this comprehensive cross section of trees native to North America, from the Atlantic to the Rockies and from northern Canada to the Gulf Coast. The main section of the book is divided into tree profiles, each describing flowers and fruit, native and adaptive range, culture, and problems. The authors also list the best seasonal features — whether a tree has striking bark in winter, for example, or bright fruit in fall. In all, more than 650 species and varieties, and more than 500 cultivars, are discussed.
Customer Reviews:
excellent for serious gardeners.......2007-02-13
Highly recommended for landscape design and
development of native gardens
Represents a lifetime of research and work.......2004-05-03
Guy Sternberg and Jim Wilson's Native Trees For North American Landscapes represents a lifetime of research and work: the authors provide an in-depth technical catalog of detail on native trees and their environments, providing tree 'profiles' which describe flowers, fruit, plant ranges, and culture. Sections outlining best seasonal features are particularly useful, telling gardeners which plants are showiest per season. Stunning photos and outlines of common cultivation problems and solutions make Native Trees For North American Landscapes a solid, invaluable reference for landscapers, libraries and home gardens alike.
A Garden Book Classic.......2004-03-17
I am a plant freak, and I am a gardening book freak. I have many, many books, probably too many. Literally. So many books that I've bought that looked interesting at the store have wound up sitting on the shelf, never to be opened again. This is one that will never even get to the shelf.
This book is so comprehensive, so informative, so beautiful to look at, and so danged readable that I find myself seeking it out whenever I've got a free moment. How many gardening books have you bought lately that poured forth all the information you could possibly want? How many have you bought lately that were a lot of fun to read? Now, how many can you name that do both at the same time? A precious few, but this one does.
Timber Press celebrated their 25th Anniversary this past year, and I did something I never do, I wrote the company a letter. In essence, what I said was this, "I never mind buying a Timber Press Book, often sight unseen, because I know it will be good." This book is excellent, even by Timber Press standards.
If you have any interest in trees or gardening, you will find this book a "must have." Informative, enjoyable, beautiful. What else could you want?
This will become a premier reference on woody plants.............2004-03-17
This outstanding new book will become one of the primary references for all kinds of information about native woody plants of North America. Many of the plant descriptions have far more detailed information on culture, diseases, and ornamental characteristics than the widely known reference books by Michael Dirr (the 'standards' by which all other woody plant references are judged). While the intent is to provide information and promote the ornamental characteristics of native woody plants, for home gardeners and landscape professionals, this will also prove to be a valuble reference for naturalists and others mainly interested in these plants in the native, rather than the cultivated, landscape. The photographs are outstanding, and will certainly promote interest in many little known and underutilized woody plants. I never knew there were so many native North American oaks! As a botanist and later home gardener with a life-long interest in woody plants, there are few books in the past decade which have been published with this level of detail and value.
Outstanding book for tree lovers and everyone else, too!.......2004-03-16
Guy and Jim have done it again!
I have one of Guy and Jim's other books: Landscaping with Native Trees and I am so excited to finally have their new book: Native Trees for North American Landscapes.
This book is well written and is written in a style that both the plant-person and the novice gardener can easily understand and appreciate.
Guy and Jim provide a breakdown for each of the trees listed in the book. This is a listing of the information given for each tree:
-Description (includes size)
-Leaves
-Flower and Fruit OR Cones and Seeds
-Best Season
-Native and Adaptive Range
-Culture
-Problems
-Cultivars
-Similar and Related Species
-Comments
The above information makes it very easy for anyone to decide whether a particular tree is suitable for their site (and USDA growing zone) and how they want to use the tree, whether it be as a specimen, screen, etc.
I read Ben Johnson's review of this book and I don't quite understand his vendetta against Guy and Jim and this book.
Ben had (has) some problems with some of the technical words that Guy and Jim have used periodically through the text. Ben must not be able to use the glossary that is included in the back of the book because all of the words that he has a problem with are included there along with their definitions. Don't be frightened by Ben's fear of new words. If you find a word that you are not familiar with, then check the glossary in the back of the book for the definition - it's that easy. It's how we learn.
After reading Ben's review of this book it is clear that he is not really reviewing the book so much as trying to attack Guy's character. This is not the place for that sort of thing.
I, too, frequent the forums on GardenWeb and I have found Guy to be very generous with his advise and help. I read the thread on GardenWeb regarding the removal of a tree because of a problem with the birds pooping on vehicles and, again, Ben has twisted and taken words out-of-context to attack Guy. I have never met Guy in person, but I have the utmost respect for Guy because of all of the help I have received from him through the forums on GardenWeb.
If you want help sorting out which native trees you might want to include in your landscape or you simply want to learn more about the wonderful native trees that grow in this great country of ours, then this is the book for you!
Guy and Jim have written this book about native trees because of their love for our native trees and to get people to, hopefully, include some native trees in their home landscapes.
The photography in the book is outstanding, too.
You will not be disappointed if you purchase this book.
Mike
Average customer rating:
- Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs!
- Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help.
- It genuinely does make a few mistakes
- A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source
- Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps
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Easy Care Native Plants: A Guide to Selecting and Using Beautiful American Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees in Gardens and Landscapes
Patricia A. Taylor
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co.
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Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation
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Native Plant Primer, The: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers for Natural Gardens
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Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants
ASIN: 0805038612 |
Book Description
North America's magnificent plant life has a peculiar history in that it is generally regarded as weedy material in its native meadows and woodlands and viewed as a horticultural treasure trove abroad. In Easy Care Native Plants, Patricia A. Taylor seeks to change this situation by emphasizing the elegant beauty, rather than the common naturalness, of American flora and by urging gardeners to capture the exquisite essence of its blossoms and foliage in artistic compositions.The book is divided into three sections, each filled with color photographs and containing special lists of plant recommendations from horticultural experits in the United States, Canada, and Europe. These suggestions include natives for city patios and decks, shrubs for winter interest, colorful flowers for drought situations, and prairie plants for a formal front yard display.The first section reviews the history and current use of native American plants and includes a brief primer on garden design. The second presents profiles of eighteen public and private gardens in Canada and the United States and highlights the crucial role of horticultural organizations and garden clubs in spreading the good news about native flora.The last section is devoted to detailed descriptions of over 500 plants, chosen not only for their handsone appearance but also for their ability to flourish without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. With them, gardeners everywhere will have yearlong beauty requiring minimal maintenance.While many of the plants cited in the book are little known, all are commercially propagated and available. The Appendix lists sources for each plant category and describes a select number of mail-order firms, including ordering information.Easy Care Native Plants has been written and designed to be a usable, definitive resource for the full specturm of those who love and appreciate beautiful plants, from weekend gardeners to landscape designers and architects.
Customer Reviews:
Great for "regular people" despite a couple of goofs! .......2006-08-24
The outstanding characteristic of this book is that it is USABLE by regular, non-professional busy people who love gardening and nature and especially want to respect native plant communities and plant with sensitivity to their own region.
The Bittersweet confusion is terrible, but it is offset by good organization, good photos, and short descriptions on the outside of pages.
Another outstanding feature is that the author includes trees, shrubs, and vines, as well as flowers. This increases the value of this book significantly.
Flowers are wonderful, but people need to get a bit beyond flowers--flowers--flowers. For example, many butterfly species depend upon TREES as host plants and then use flowers for nectar. The distinctive Red Admiral uses trees at all stages of life and leaves the flowers for others.
Thanks to the author for a good down-to-earth reference that answers practical "ordinary" questions. I have recommended this book to a number of people in "wildlife/habitat gardening" classes and have given several as gifts . . . inserting a note about the Bittersweet :-)!
P.S. Yeah, I really should change that ridiculous name. I was under the influence of busy visiting grandchildren when I first reviewed a book here. . . and we do have a great goofy time!
Mostly good for garden formation ideas, but needs help........2005-04-03
I bought this older used book (1996) and find it remains quite relevant. One of the reasons we gardeners end up planting invasive species is because they are easy to grow. In EASY CARE NATIVE PLANTS Patricia Taylor addresses one of the biggest issues for gardeners... "I would grow native species, but I don't have time."
Well, Taylor suggests low maintenance creatures that will be no more work than the invasive plants you intended to install. With Taylor, we visit public and private gardens where individuals are making a difference one plant at a time. From these gardeners, we learn how to construct various gardens including a woodlands garden, a drought tolerant native garden, and a front yard native garden. Taylor provides lists of plants for each of these gardens. For a complementary book, you might consider buying both Taylor's book and 100 EASY-TO-GROW NATIVE PLANTS by Lorraine Johnson which is a kind of annotated plant directory (although it focuses mainly on non-woody plants, whereas Taylor includes trees, shrubs and plants). Alternatively, you can contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service for a free monograph on plant invaders and substitutes at www.nfwf.org. Do that and you are sure to find 'Celastrus orbiculatus' or Oriental Bittersweet on the "No-no" list. Also the latter monograph suggests several native alternatives to bittersweet, such as 'Campsis radicans' (trumpet vine) and 'Passiflora incarnata' or Passion Vine.
It genuinely does make a few mistakes.......2001-06-26
Not to belabor a nitpicker's criticism, but this book does include a few gaffes that compromise its use as a reference. I do very much enjoy the book, and my review below reflects that. But it just gets some things wrong.
For example, the species of Bittersweet southern gardeners have trouble with is Celastrus Orbiculatus -- oriental bittersweet. Yep, it's highly invasive, and yes, it can "consume entire forests" as this author says "bittersweet" does. The native American Species is Celastrus Scandens. The two differ in the position of the berries on the vine, partly... and they also differ in that the native one isn't swallowing entire forests. They're hard for an intelligent amateur to tell apart when looking at an individual plant... which is exactly the problem that this book has, too.
There's a HUGE difference between American chestnuts -- enormous trees now nearly gone from their native range due to blight -- and the shrubby asiatic Chestnuts that were brought in by nurseries and that carried the blight into this country in the first place. That's exactly the sort of distinction a gardener interested in native plants wants to know about, and it's basically the one this book misses with the two Bittersweets. In a lot of cases it's that sort of thing that got us into native gardening in the first place. So, see, it's bad to make this kind of error in a book on native plants.
Again, this is a decent book that just slips up in a few spots.
A Real Keeper and Invaluable Source.......2001-03-05
This is a top-notch gardening book, one that all gardeners can use to enrich their properties. While some may find recommendations by plant experts to be a disadvantage, I like knowing that top horticulturists have carefully selected the plants in this book (southern gardeners tell me that Taylor is right on the mark in describing the American bittersweet). The garden profiles, particularly, for me, the California one, are not only good reads but also packed with useful information. The book is designed to be useful - very easy to look for a yellow flower that blooms all summer or a small shrub with white spring flowers. I turn to it again and again to learn about and find beautiful, interesting and low maintenance plants. I have bought and given 14 of these books as gifts to friends and have received unanimous 5 star reviews from the recipients!
Engaging, well written reference... with a few gaps.......2000-02-26
This is a good choice for the beginning native gardener who needs a sense of the range of native plants available. It's a pleasant browse, and provides a representative sample of the choices you might make with natives. I appreciated the straightforward tone of the writer, who studiously avoided the pretensions of some of the more unctious coffeetable books. Let's just say she's gardening in urban New Jersey, not in northern California, and leave it at that.
On the other hand, there are some gaps in Ms. Taylor's knowledge that make this a less than definitive reference. The short version is that she's often recommending a plant based on the sendup of an arboretum or public garden with which she's corresponded, and that sometimes she hasn't done the research to back that recommendation up. For an egregious example, she describes the American form of Bittersweet (Celastrus Scandens) in a way that clearly demonstrates that she doesn't know the difference between it and the invasive asian form. That sort of slip is a real problem, both philosophically and practically, for someone who's into native plants. Oops.
All in all, I'd say this is a useful book that gets you interested in the plants, but that you should do a healthy amount of leg work elsewhere before you plant. The research is half the fun anyway...
For another native plant reference, with less species but more reliable context and detail, try C. Colston Burrell's A Gardener's Encyclopedia of Wildflowers.
Book Description
Trees, shrubs, and hedges are the bones, or essential framework, of any landscape design. Complete Trees, Shrubs Hedges explains how to select the finest plants for specific growing conditions, as well as plants that look good together. Over 550 color photographs and 165 illustrations provide instruction and inspiration to landscape for four-season interest, color, and beauty. Descriptions of over 1,000 of the best plants are included best because they are beautiful, low-maintenance, pest- and disease-resistant, and available at local nurseries and home centers. Complete Trees, Shrubs Hedges provides all the necessary information to add privacy, shade, color, and texture to the landscape all year round
Customer Reviews:
A primer worth owning.......2007-03-08
This book is a little distracting because it groups descriptions of trees by their scientific name, which sort of promises a thorough examination of each type of tree, but this book is not very comprehensive in its coverage of either the species it covers or the species readily available to the home gardener. This book has good information on garden design and sincerely beautiful photos. I am consistently happy with any gardening book from this publisher, and although this book provides little more than a cursory overview, it does contain helpful information and attractive illustrations.
Stay woody.......2006-03-02
Jacqueline Heriteau tells how to choose woody plants. She also tells how to get COMPLETE TREES, SHRUBS & HEDGES off to a good start. Then she tells what'll be needed for a healthy, long life.
The way to do that's by answering three questions. [1] Do I have the correct plant for what I have in mind? In other words, do I want a woody plant because of its ability to fence off spaces, such as acanthus and yew shrubs do so well? Or its bark such as eastern ninebark shrub, hickory, and Kentucky coffee? Or fall color such as American sweet gum, ash, birch, black gum, Franklin, hornbeam, shumard oak, smoke, and tulip? Or flowerings such as cinquefoil and summersweet shrubs, redbud, sourwood, swamp magnolia? Or fruits such as serviceberry shrub? Or leaves such as live oak Virginiana, and leucothoe and oak leaf hydrangea shrubs? Or winter interest such as incense cedar? [2] Do I have it in the correct soil, as part of the correct environment? Of course, a woody plant such as American yellowwood, like lavender, makes not-so-correct, poorer soils better. It`s friendly to nitrogen-fixing bacteria which naturally make soils fertile. [3] Will I give it the correct care?
For in landscaping it's important to balance evergreen with deciduous plants, as well as present and future size with space. Then it just comes down to following a pruning schedule; meeting light and water needs; using compost and mulches; and watering. But there'll be constant worries over diseases and pests, of which the most challenging will undoubtedly be deer!
The author offers readers a beautifully illustrated, organized and written book. She fills each page with clear, helpful information and interesting stories. She ends with a much-appreciated glossary and a fine index. What's not to like?
Average customer rating:
- excellent, well-illustrated, and right-to-the-point book
- Excellent
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Trees, Shrubs & Hedges for Home Landscaping: Secrets for Selection and Care
Jacqueline Heriteau
Manufacturer: Creative Homeowner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Product Features:
- Secrets For Selection & Care Of Plants That Create A Landscape's Essential Framework, How To Improve Property Value, Save Money & Effort, Match Plants To Growing Conditions, Plant, Transplant & Prune, Over 500 Photos & Paintings.
ASIN: 1580110525 |
Product Description
Secrets For Selection & Care Of Plants That Create A Landscape's Essential Framework, How To Improve Property Value, Save Money & Effort, Match Plants To Growing Conditions, Plant, Transplant & Prune, Over 500 Photos & Paintings.
Customer Reviews:
excellent, well-illustrated, and right-to-the-point book.......2001-01-31
This is an excellent book, which helped me decide on which trees and shrubs would benefit my landscape. Many of the trees and shrubs in the book are now in my yard, and there are trees described in the book to accomodate anyone's lanscaping aspirations. The colored illustrations, easily understood culture requirements for the trees and shrubs mentioned, and the organization of each section makes this book an essential tool for every gardener, whether they are beginners, or are expereinced gardeners. Trees and shrubs for every locale and region are mentioned, so every gardener will find this book extremely helpful.
Excellent.......1999-10-25
This is an excellent book for anyone with a yard or garden. The book starts out explaining basic design principles, helping you decide where to place plants. Size, shape, balance & lighting conditions are also discussed here.
Next are detailed illustrations, charts & step-by-step instructions on selecting, planting, transplanting, fertilizing, mulching, composting, pruning & training the plants. Site preparation & soil testing are also included.
Profiles of over 50 tree groups (such as the maples or birches) follow. In each group there are clear photos of several species. General information is given on habitat, size, shape, zones, soil, pH, moisture & light requirements.
Plants are indexed by both botanical & common name making them easy to find. A chart helps find the right tree for flowers, fruits, bark, fall color, or winter interest. This is a great book to help beautify any outdoor area.
Book Description
The most comprehensive guide to trees and shrubs on the market. This is an extraordinary reference and a practical, hands-on manual. The authoritative plant directory is arranged alphabetically and comprises more than 4,000 plants from more than 400 genera.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent encyclopedia of woody plants, plus more........1999-06-09
There is a pocket version of this magnificent book, but I can't imagine not wanting the real thing. This is a book lovingly written by members of the renowned Hillier Arboretum. The book can be considered an excellent reference for all woody plants, not only trees and shrubs. Many vines are included as well as woody perennials and herbs.
The design is easy to use, laid out in order by genus, and includes many good color photos. All the major chapters include culture tips and information not easily found elsewhere. With more and more cultivars available each year, this work does not strive to be all-inclusive, but instead will stand the test of time as a guide to the real backbones of the garden: the trees, shrubs, vines, and woody perennials. This is a book for the beginner eager to learn more but will also capture the fascination of the more seasoned gardener. I continually reach for it when coming across an unfamiliar name, or enjoy perusing it after a trip the arboretum.
My favorite reference for woody plants.......1999-02-06
Simply put, I love this book! Its listings are extensive, and I can usually find the specific cultivar that I am looking for. The pictures are a good balance between close-up detail shots and distance shots that show the overall structure of the plant. The information is quite detailed and often includes such tidbits as, "This cultivar is beautiful, but quite susceptable to fireblight...". My one complaint is that they don't give estimates on the eventual size of the trees/shrubs. They do tend to clasify them as small/ medium/ or large, however they don't give a definition as to what size ranges these catagories correspond to. Other than that, however, I have no complaints what-so-ever, except for lack of funds to by all of the fantastic specimins I fall in love with in this book!
Superb! Better than Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs.......1998-12-28
Every connoisseur of ornamental trees & shrubs will love this book. Containing more than 3,000 crisp, very detailed color photos, including the most awesome Cedar of Lebanon photo one can imagine, it is the single best illustrated encyclopedia on the subject of woody ornamentals. Although it is based on ornamental plants that can grow in the United Kingdom, and therefore incomplete for the U.S. gardener (ex., Lagerstroemia (Crapemyrtle) was not included), it more than makes up for these few omissions in rich horticultural detail. Beginning with some basics (glossary of terms, U.S. and Canadian climate zone maps, basic biology of trees & shrubs, etc.), it quickly moves to topics of greater interest to the common gardening enthusiast, such as selection, care & maintenance, propagation, and pests & diseases of woody ornamentals. In the Plant Directory, the Latin and Common names of each plant are listed, followed by a detailed description of its character, its geographic derivation, the date that it was introduced into the nursery trade, the northern extreme of the U.S. and Canadian hardiness zone that it will live in unprotected, and whether or not it has received the Award of Garden Merit (AGM), given by the Royal Horticultural Society to recognize plants of outstanding excellence for garden use. A sample entry in the Plant Directory is "Prunus Sargentii (Sargent Cherry) Considered by many people to be the lovelist cherry, this is a round-headed, small deciduous tree with chestnut brown bark and bronze-red young foliage. The single pink flowers open in early spring, and the small, almost black fruits ripen in midsummer. It is one of the first trees to color in fall, when its leaves turn orange and crimson. Japan, Korea. Introduced 1890. Zone 4 U.S., 5b Can. AGM". The Plant Selector is of great value to the gardener, containing detailed listings of plants and trees for various soil types and growing conditions, plants of pendulous and upright habit, plants with ornamental bark, bold foliage, good Fall color, ornamental fruits, fragrant flowers and foliage, and flowering plants with typical time of flowering, just to name a few. In short, if you could only have one book on Ornamental Trees & Shrubs in your library, this should be the one.
Book Description
Presenting all the methods of formal plant shaping and introducing simple, fun, and fanciful techniques for creating informal indoor topiaries, Totally Topiary is clear, comprehensive, and written with an irrepressible passion for the art of making plants into living sculpture.
From hedge sculpture and espalier to indoor creations and an entire chapter on ivy, all major topiary styles both new and old are covered. Over 100 specific projects in the eight different styles are offered for a variety of skills and purposes, accompanied by handsome line drawings that serve as step-by-step models and elegant inspiration.
Each chapter is complete unto itself, recommending plants (Japanese yew is the hardiest for outdoor sculpture, but azalea can be coaxed into a startling pink flamingo), sharing design hints (espaliered fruit trees provide privacy from the neighbors with practical elegance), noting ideal times to plant. They also offer specifics on tools and hardware need, plus pruning and maintenance tips. A wealth of fascinating stories and charming anecdotes places each style in historical context, and helpful features list plant sources nationwide, along with topiary showcases worth visiting. 97,000 copies in print.
Customer Reviews:
Thoroughly Enjoyable!.......2002-05-21
I found this book to be absolutely delightful, insightful, and a keeper. A real treasure of information and inspiration!
More than just a dry, step-one-step-two, how-to book........1999-05-19
Featuring interesting historical information, this book includes many backgrounds of formal gardens and topiary, offered as sidebars and archive drawings. There is extensive information on creating forms and shaping topiary. The illustrator's drawings echo the whimical sentiment of topiary, while the authors' offering of botanical information help the hobbyist understand the science of what they are doing. I cannot imagine anyone reading this book and not bursting with ideas to make their own gardens come to life.
A Satisfactory Introduction to Topiary.......1998-08-27
Before reading this book I had no experience with topiary. After reading this book I felt like I knew a little. I found that the text focuses on the history of the use of topiary. There were some sections on what plants to use and there was a LONG section on creating different wire forms. The illustrations are all hand drawn while I would have prefered to see actual pictures of the plants. This book is probably better for someone who knows a little about gardening basics instead of someone like me who knows nothing.
I was disapointed to say the least.......1998-01-27
As difficult as it is to find information on the art of topiary, this disapointing book gives a very vague picture. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the book is the illustrations. It seems more like a comic strip than an information resource. For instance the 3 or 4 pages given to standards shows hand drawn renderings that look like my 5 year old drew them. It is interesting that they devoted so many pages to different types of wire shapes. It seems obvious to me that vines will grow on a rack shaped like a bird, and they will grow on a rack shaped like an elephant. I just didn't "get" showing us all the different shapes, and giving them all their own page. Good book for the novice, check it out at the library however, there isn't much reason to own it.
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