3 comments about Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges: Secrets for Selection and Care (Complete).

1. 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?



2. 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.



3. Well, there's nothing "Complete" in this book. Yes, you will find a very good index of trees, shurbs & hedges. Yes, you will see nice pictures for everyone. And yes, you will get some details about each species. But that's about all you'll get. Each specie has 1-2 pages allocated to it. And that includes pictures. So you can imagine how much information there is. It's kinda like a bread book would say "in order to make bread mix flour and water and bake in the oven".
   
   Try the "Surpise me!" feature from the Amazon Online Reader to check different sections in the book.

1 comments about 400 Trees and Shrubs for Small Spaces.

1. This is a nicely produced reference book authored by an Englishwoman who has been much honored by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. The book is beautifully illustrated with numerous color photographs and the descriptions of the small trees and shrubs are concise and informative. However, if you are looking for a practical resource for the more northerly temperature zones of the US (Zones 4 or less), the book is of somewhat limited value. For example, of the 400 plants described, only a very few are hardy in Zone 4.

No comments about Gardening with Hardy Heathers.

4 comments about Taylor's Guide to Shrubs: How to Select and Grow More than 500 Ornamental and Useful Shrubs for Privacy, Ground Covers, and Specimen Plantings.

1. I purchased my first Taylor's Guide 20 years ago. I have since purchased most in the series after realizing I always always reach for Taylor's Guides first, before any of my other gardening books. We have homes in 3 different hardiness zones-3,6 and 9. Taylor's is comprehensive and accurate. My gardening failures have occured only when I couldn't resist
   a shrub, tree, plant etc. and chose to ignore the Taylor's planting, maintenance or hardiness zone recommndations. As I type, we are replacing sun shrubs with "Taylor ecommended" shade shrubs beneath maturing trees in zone 9.



2. This is one of my favorite reference books that I refer to quite often, and it is very enjoyable just to look through it and to reread it with reference to what you are intersted in.Lots of good pictures and many,many plants.Chances are, what you are looking for is in this book.



3. Good book, although did not have as many photographs or plant selections as I would have liked.



4. Taylor's Guides are the best around. So is this new addition to my gardening library.

1 comments about Month by Month Gardening in the Deserts of Arizona (Month-By-Month Gardening in the Desert Southwest).

1. Mary Irish separates all the different plant groups of the southwest, such as Cactii, Perennials, Annuals, Bulbs, Vegetables, etc, and then writes a 12-month calendar for each subject. It is very handy to look up the particular month in question to see what needs to be done, or to get information on planting during the colder months. She talks about planting, watering, fertilizing, possible pests, pruning, and other helpful hints for each group. A very informative book for anyone in the Arizona southwest.

5 comments about Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.

1. I am still waiting for a reference book like this for Southern California. This book largely ignores us. Virtually nothing on Eucalyptus. Half our palms aren't there. NO bamboo at all. No Agapanthus even. Lots of holes. Suprising that there is still only Gordon Courtwright's books.



2. Well, the name pretty much says it all for this book. There are some wonderful photographs throughout the book with small descriptions beside each photo. As a reference book, this is great but I would not recommend it if you are looking for a good book to read on those long winter evenings.

   Another drawback is that many trees that will thrive in warmer climates are not listed. It seems to list the more commonly known ones instead of the ones that very little information is available on.

   I do feel that this book will be a great help to those who either know or suspect which plant they have and want to make a positive identification. The photos are definitely the best part of this particular book.




3. I don't know what the above reviewer expected...by way of clarification; bamboos are grasses, and agapanthus are herbaceous perennials NOT shrubs or trees. If you are expecting to find a comprehensive acount of all warm climate plants this is not the book for you (as the title clearly states)

   If you are someone who is looking for a good primary survey of trees and shrubs for this zone this is an extremely useful book. Professional and non-professional alike. It may not have every esoteric specie but it will serve as a solid foundation of what performs best.




4. In this book, our leading expert on woody plants gives brief descriptions and excellent photos of many of those suited for warm climates. As noted by another reviewer, the selection is more complete for the humid Southeast (of the U.S.) than it is for California and other Mediterranean climates. However, I expect that all warm-climate gardeners will find much of value.
   
   It is important to note that this book complements Dirr's two other major efforts on woody plants: his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and a photographic volume (similar to this one) called Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs. The Manual provides more detailed taxonomic and cultural information (including info on propagation), but has line drawings of foliage only. The two photographic books cover most woody plants suited to the U.S. There is no overlap between the photographic books, which is why redbud and dogwood aren't found in this volume, as noted by a previous reviewer. They are hardy, and they are in Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs.
   
   This book is invaluable for seeing what mature specimens of these plants will look like and for Dirr's always interesting comments on suitable uses and culture. Highly recommended.



5. I was impressed with Dirr's Manuel of Woody Landscape book and really looked forward to this one. I live in Zone 8/B in south Georgia and so many plants labeled to grow in this area do not. Since Dirr is from Georgia I thought this book would be just what the doctor ordered. Well, not exactly.
   I loved having the color photos but was not impressed with the number of plants he excluded or included for that matter. I was hoping for the same format as his previous book, listing all the qualities and pros and cons. What I got was some pics with a paragraph or two (some without pictures at all) describing a few things about it. Some of the plants listed are common, even weedy. My main beef is that it is sometimes hard to tell exactly where they should grow because of the way it is written. Example: Zones (8)9 to 10. New Zealand,Australia, Tazmania. I assume the countries are where the plant originated but I can't tell if it grow in Zone 8 or not. There are also problems when he describes a plant that grows on the west coast. Example:Zones 6 to 8, 9 to 10 on the west coast. Does this mean 6 to 8 anywhere and also in 9 and 10 on the west coast or all the zones on the west coast only? I think my biggest problem occured in thinking since he was from Georgia he would be talking about the warm, humid climate in the southeast. It seems like a majority of the plants are for the Pacific Coast region. Like I said, my mistake. I got some good ideas but having decided on a holly that I want, have not been able to find it anywhere, even online. I am not sorry I spent the money but if I had had an actual copy in hand, say at the library or in Barnes and Noble, I would have just copied down the names of what interested me and jumped on the computer at home.

5 comments about Ortho's All About Pruning (Ortho's All About Gardening).

1. This book explains pruning in easy to understand illustrations and pictures. It shows how to prune nearly anything and does it in a way that is easy to understand and easy to remember. Anyone can correctly prune their shrubs, vines, and trees by following this book. A good index makes it easy to find a specific plant that needs pruning.



2. I've been looking for a good pruning book for three years and have been disappointed with all of them. This is the first book that actually explains ALL aspects of the why and how to prune with just the right amount of technical detail. The encyclopedia section lists each tree/shrub with a picture and does something that no other book I've found does, it tells you when to prune EACH tree instead of just providing some broad generic statements like so many other books. If you need to prune anything in your yard, get this book.



3. I don't know if this book is for those who are experienced gardeners, but it was a great comprehensive introduction for this novice.



4. I was surprised to see everyone liked this book. I purchased this book and it was terrible so I went to my local library and rented several books on pruning. One of the books, "Pruning Made Easy" by Lewis Hills is far superior to all the others for a basic pruning book. The Ortho book talked about a subject or would mention a term that they already expected you to know. The book by Hill is basic but indepth.



5. I bought this book for myself and my neighbor say it and loved it so much I purchased one for him, also. If you know nothing about pruning this book will get you started.

3 comments about Insects That Feed on Trees and Shrubs (Comstock Book).

1. When trying to identify a particular problem with growing trees or shrubs knowing what kinds of insects are possible culprits is a major step. This book gives us, in color photos and descriptions, most of the common larvae that can be found feeding on the particular plants. Even Entomology texts often refuse to deal with larvae of insects, keeping only the adults in the keys and descriptions (even though the adults are often not pests!). This guide will be a welcome addition to any plant clinic, grower, or Entomology professor or student's bookshelf.



2. This book is on my "short list" of essential references. Species are covered in clear, concise descriptions. This well organized volume makes hunting for similar species as easy as turning a page. The photos? I can't say enough about the clear, photos that make insect identification a good deal easier!

   While an excellent book for the landscape professional, scientist, or advanced gardener, beginners might be a bit overwhelmed by the technical language and scientific names.




3. This book is a definitive study of insects that feed on trees and shrubs. We are a horticultural family and need to know "the inside dope" on bugs. Excellent info!

5 comments about Taylor's Guide to Shade Gardening: More Than 350 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers That Thrive Under Difficult Conditions, Illustrated with Color Photographs and Detailed Drawings (Taylor's Guides).

1. Having recently purchased a condo in Houston with a north-facing porch, I eagerly awaited delivery of this book. However, I was quickly disappointed. This book should be titled "Shade Gardening in the North," since virtually all of the plants listed are for Zones 5 and lower...not much help for my Zone 9 garden. It did contain a couple of pages of information for shade gardening in the South (which they consider to be North Carolina!), but I was really looking for specific information on the types of shade plants I could plant here. This would have been a great book if I lived in Ohio, but not so good for us Texans.



2. The Taylor's Guides are very reliable sources for gardening information and great pictures, and the Shade Gardening Guide is one of the best. Shade gardening is difficult for many reasons. There are not that many very showy flowers for seasons other than Spring, and there are many types of shade. The descriptions are very specific and helpful: light shade, dappled shade, "the more shade, the less moisture is needed," and so on. The soil and shade descriptions for each plant are excellent and detailed.

   Although the plants are listed alphabetically for the cultural requirements, the pictures are listed by groups: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, summer bulbs, ground covers, vines, grasses, and ferns. I would recommend that people using the book for plant selection read the "Encyclopedia of Plants" part as well as the brief but good descriptions with the color pictures.

   Keep in mind too that the flowering times are primarily for New England (zone 5). Furthur South you may get earlier and more flowers. For example, Ceratostigma is listed as an Autumn bloomer, while in PA, it blooms from July through October. So you get more than the book suggests. Not bad. Anyone with shade should experiment with the plants in this book. As a gardening professional, I see so many great and underused plants listed and described in this book.




3. This wonderful little book (thick, but only 4.27" wide) is an absolute necessity for anyone who wishes to do some gardening in a shady area. In fact, this book is really three books rolled into one. The first section looks at shade and shade gardening, it is straightforward and highly informative. The second section is entitled The Color Plates, and gives a long list of shade-loving plants, including a very nice color picture, and a highly informative description. The third section goes hand-in-hand with the second, and gives more in-depth information.

   This book is really great, a must have for those of us who wish to do some gardening in a shady area. I highly recommend this book to all gardeners!




4. This is a great reference for those gardening in shade. It is organized in a logical format and can be easily used. The photos are nice and the information helpful as plants are considered for a shade garden. While it may not be adequate for those gardening in the deep south, it is very well suited to zones 5,6, and 7.



5. Provides lots of interesting gardening information if you are planting only trees and shrubs. Book does not detail anything for vegetable gardeners. Title should be changed to include the word "Forestry" rather than the broad term 'gardening".

5 comments about How to Make a Forest Garden.

1. You will like it if the title interests you. Buy one now.



2. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to make a forest / woodland garden then this book has everything and more.
   
   When the realisation of low-maintenance gardening can produce such an incredible variety of produce, in such a sustainable way, it defies belief that this way of gardening is not implemented all over the world.
   
   Absolute value for money, and, as the principals of forest garden can be easily applied to the smallest garden space, there is no excuse for anybody not to give it a go.
   
   This book will give you all the help and guidance you need to make this vision a reality and the plants will just keep on giving. Truly inspirational.



3. I bought this book for my wife who is an avid gardener and who has been studying permaculture for several years. We wanted a good book that would explain basic concepts of "forest gardens" that we have only begun to study. She loves the book, and while traveling recently, she read the first two chapters to me. I found the author's explanations to be very clear and concise. He presented some ideas which got me thinking differently about the way we develop and use our small yard. We are anxious to try out many of the ideas he presented. Overall, we are both very happy with this book, and it well fulfilled our expectations. If there is one downside to the book at all, it is the fact that he bases his explanations on the circumstances and climate of Great Britain. We would love it if he had his forest garden here in our area, and mentioned plants specific to our area. That makes it a bit of a challenge to interpret the specific methods to our own climate, but the general principles are useful anywhere. Yes, we highly recommend this book!



4. First I want to say that I very much agree with the approach to gardening presented in Mr. Whitefield's book. That said the title is very misleading. The reason for my 3 star rating. The book has little to do with actual "Forest Gardening". Multi-layer planting or poly culture, more accurately describes his approach. He does use these terms periodically to describe this way of gardening. Early on Whitefield makes a brief comment on the idea that if you don't have much room, you might try a "forest garden" in a container. Perhaps in England they have forests in a pot, but in the part of the U.S. where I live people maybe have several acres of actual forest to work with. He also tells the reader to be aware of full day shade caused by nearby buildings. Important information if your forest exists between two multi-story buildings. But that is not a concern in a forest. This book does offer some constructive information for those who have a city lot or small yard to work with and wish to have a fruit tree or two, some berry bushes, combined with a vegetable garden. What I did learn from this book is that for gardening in a real forest a fair amount of the fruit trees and plants suggest by Whitefield probably won't work due to the light condition created by the forest canopy. Also the reader should know the hardiness of some of his suggestions are defined in general terms like, "can withstand cold temperatures". He does mention ability to withstand frost relating to some plants. One will need to check with other sources for plant hardiness, as cold for someone in England may be different than for someone living in Wisconsin. If you are actually wanting to garden in a forest you would might be better off researching native plants that may already be in your local forest environment, do some experimenting with plants to check their light requirements, or checking with your state university. They may have information on agri-forestry or other alternative approaches for food production in a forest environment. Bottom line... If you are planning for your back yard you might consider this book as a good starting place. It will give you some good information and designs for a progressive way to produce your own food. If you are planning to co-existing in a forest setting, in a way that allows you to produce a variety of fruits and vegetables I don't believe this book is your best place for ideas.



5. I made a mistake when I ordered this book -- I didn't realize it was centered in Britain and as a result it was less useful for me. I did learn a few things, but I don't plan to keep the book. I have since seen it referenced in other texts and suspect it is an excellent book for someone in the UK.