Gardening

Table of Contents

Introduction...8 . Tools, Materials, and Plants . About the Plant Directories

Chapter 1 Gardening Basics...10 . Getting Started . Plant Basics. Buying Plants . Propagation . Seeds . Planting . Watering

Chapter 2 Garden Prep...28 . Making a Plan. Designing for Easy Care . Laying Out the Garden . Soil . Composting . Testing Your Soil . Soil Amendments and Fertilizers . Cover Crops and Green Manures . Climate . Hardiness and Heat-Zone Maps

Chapter 3 Growing Vegetables...58 . Planning Your Vegetable Garden . Keeping Soil and Plants Healthy . Benefits of Hybrids vs. Open-Pollinated Plants . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Vegetables

Chapter 4 Growing Herbs...102 . The Benefits of Herbs. Designing Herb Gardens . Containers . A Garden of Treasures . Herbs for Beauty . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Herbs

Chapter 5 Growing Fruit...126 . Why Grow Fruit? . Fruit Trees . Planting Fruit Trees . Pruning Fruit Trees . Espaliered Fruit Trees . Care of Your Fruit Trees . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Fruit Trees . Choosing Fruiting Shrubs . Pruning Fruiting Shrubs . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Fruiting Shrubs . Choosing Fruiting Vines . Pruning and Training Fruiting Vines . Caring for Your Fruit Vines . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Fruiting Vines . Choosing Bramble Fruit . Planting, Pruning, and Training Brambles . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Bramble Fruits . Strawberries

Chapter 6 Creating Water Gardens...174 . Considering Your Lifestyle . Siting Your Water Feature . Practical Considerations . Liners . Edging . Designing the Pond Configuration . How to Make a Site Plan . Choosing Plants . Beware of Invasive Plants . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Oxygenators . Floating Plants . Plant-by-Plant Directory Recommended Floating Plants . Water Lilies . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Hardy Water Lilies . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Tropical Water Lilies . Lotuses . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Readily Available Lotuses . Marginal Plants . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Marginal Plants . Plants for the Periphery . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Perennials . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Bulbs . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Ferns . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Recommended Grasses

Chapter 7 Growing Flowers...254 . Garden Design. Planning Flower Beds . Bulbs . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Bulbs . Perennials . Deadheading and Trimming . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Common Perennials . Annuals . Cultural Requirements . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Common Annuals . Biennials . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Common Biennials

Chapter 8 Specialty Flower Gardens...310 . Garden Inspiration. Rose Gardens . Gardens for Bees, Birds, and Butterflies . Rock Gardens . Gardens for Dried Arrangements

Chapter 9 Growing Vines...330 . Vine Basics. How Vines Climb . Training and Pruning Vines . Watering and Routine Care . Plant-by-Plant Directory of Vines

Chapter 10 Maintaining Your Garden...346 . Good Management. Weeds . Common "Beneficial" Weeds . Animal Pests . Insect and Mite Pests . Directory of Pests, Including Controls . Diseases . Directory of Diseases

Glossary...384 Index...387 Credits...398