Table of Contents
Gardening: The Complete Guide 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
