Garden Guides

The ultimate, fully illustrated guide to plant selection and gardening in the Prairie State. With its northeastern edge seated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois offers some of the United States' most fertile farmlands. But as any Midwesterner knows, the entire region's weather can turn on a dime, and keeping plant life alive in such a widely varying climate can be difficult for gardeners of all skill levels. In Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide, born-and-bred Midwestern gardener Shawna Coronado showcases more than 150 plant species destined for success throughout all of Illinois--from flowers and shrubs, such as the blazing star and the beautiful early-spring-flowering witch-hazel, to trees and vines, such as the ginkgo and the exquisite clematis. Each entry features full-color photography, plant-name pronunciation, helpful icons denoting sun/shade requirements and plant qualities, instructions for how to bring the plant from transplant to maturity, and even recommendations for what you should plant nearby. If you're not sure where to start, official color-coded USDA maps let you know your plant hardiness zone. So whether you're planting in a windy Chicago suburb, prepping for a frigid winter in Galena, or anticipating a rainy spring in Mt. Vernon, Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide gives you all the information you need for a colorful, diverse home landscape.

Even beginner gardeners can select plants to create a stunning garden as unique as the Carolinas - with expert help to ensure success! Carolinas Getting Started Garden Guide is a plant selection guide, perfect for when you're choosing plants and starting a garden in a climate that can be as challenging as it is beautiful. Choose the right plants and care for them properly with help from an expert. Toby Bost, one of the area's most highly respected and experienced gardeners, shares his deep knowledge of the region, gardens, and plants in a lively, upbeat style. The author's top picks for plants that will thrive in (or in spite of) the Carolina's heat, humidity, coastal conditions, clay and sandy loam soils, and other unique growing conditions guarantee success for the area gardeners and home landscapers. Plants are divided into easy-to-browse chapters, including Annuals, Bulbs, Groundcovers, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Lawns, and Vines. Each plant is highlighted in its respective chapter with a large full-color photograph and tips on how, when, and where to plant. Carolinas Getting Started Garden Guide doesn't stop at plant selection. Methods for preparing soil, watering, fertilizer application, and pest management are also covered in detail. Along with the "nitty-gritty" of tending your garden, Toby shares his inspiration for garden design, offers ways to incorporate your plants into the landscape, and names some favorite cultivars or species. His sound, practical advice is clothed in beautiful descriptions of each plant that will inspire you to get your hands dirty!

Even beginner gardeners can select plants to create a stunning garden as unique as the mid-Atlantic region - with expert help to ensure success! Mid-Atlantic Getting Started Garden Guide is a plant selection guide, perfect for when you're choosing plants and starting a garden in a climate that can be as challenging as it is beautiful. Choose the right plants and care for them properly with help from two of the area's most highly respected and experienced plantsmen, Andre and Mark Viette, and horticulture writer Jacqui Heriteau. The authors' top picks for plants that will thrive in (or in spite of) the region's heat, humidity, winter cold, soil, coastal climate, and other unique growing conditions guarantee success for the area gardeners and home landscapers. Plants are divided into easy-to-browse chapters, including Annuals, Bulbs, Groundcovers, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Lawns, and Vines. Each plant is highlighted in its respective chapter with a large full-color photograph and tips on how, when, and where to plant. Mid-Atlantic Getting Started Garden Guide doesn't stop at plant selection. Methods for preparing soil, watering, fertilizer application, and pest management are also covered in detail. Along with the "nitty-gritty" of tending your garden, the authors share their inspiration for garden design, offer ways to incorporate your plants into the landscape, and name some favorite cultivars or species. Their sound, practical advice is clothed in beautiful descriptions of each plant that will inspire you to get your hands dirty!

Prairie & Plains States Getting Started Garden Guide contains all of the information you need to choose the best plants in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Novice gardeners, new homeowners, and those new to the area will find it invaluable, but more experienced gardeners and home landscapers will also fall in love with this book. Prairie & Plains States Getting Started Garden Guide features the region-specific plant palette unique to this area, including plants that can withstand cold winters and drying winds. Gardeners in this wide geographic space share many problems and concerns. Annuals, bulbs, groundcovers, lawns, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, and vines are profiled, in detail, with four-color photos showing each plant's attributes. Basic gardening chapters cover the information beginning to intermediate gardeners need to know to garden with confidence.

Even beginner gardeners can select plants to create a stunning garden as unique as the Rocky Mountains - with expert help to ensure success! Rocky Mountain Getting Started Garden Guide is a plant selection guide, perfect for when you're choosing plants and starting a garden in a climate that can be as challenging as it is beautiful. Choose the right plants and care for them properly with help from an expert. John Cretti, one of the Rockies' most highly respected and experienced gardeners, shares his deep knowledge of the region, gardens, and plants in a lively, upbeat style. The author's top picks for plants that will thrive in (or despite of) the Rockies' fluctuating temperatures, altitude, dryness, rocky soil, and other unique growing conditions guarantee success for area gardeners and home landscapers. Plants are divided into easy-to-browse chapters, such as Annuals, Bulbs, Groundcovers, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees (deciduous and conifers), Lawns, and Vines. Each plant is highlighted in their respective chapter with a large full-color photograph and tips on how, when, and where to plant. Rocky Mountain Getting Started Garden Guide doesn't stop at plant selection. Methods for preparing soil, watering, fertilizer application, and pest management are also covered in detail. Along with the "nitty-gritty" of tending your garden, John shares his inspiration for garden design, offers ways to incorporate your plants into the landscape, and names some favorite cultivars or species. His sound, practical advice is clothed in beautiful descriptions of each plant that will inspire you to get your hands dirty!

Renowned Southwest gardening experts Mary Irish and Judith Phillips share their firsthand experiences with gardening in Arizona and New Mexico. The southwestern United States is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and formations in the entire country. Alongside its famed attractions-the Grand Canyon, Rio Grande Gorge, and Havasu Falls among them-the region caters to a vast array of unique plant life, specially adapted to thrive in warm, dry climates as well as at high elevations. In Arizona & New Mexico Getting Started Garden Guide, authors and local gardening legends Mary Irish and Judith Phillips feature region-specific advice on planting, growing, and caring for more than 150 of the best-performing and most desirable plants across Arizona and New Mexico. Flowers and grasses, desert perennials and trees, shrubs and vines... this plant-by-plant guide includes useful information for the novice and the experienced gardener alike, paying special attention to low-water-use species that enjoy the specific climates of these two states. From the spectacular blooms of the claret-cup hedgehog to the puffballs of the Baja fairy duster, each plant is featured with full-color photography, detailed planting and care instructions, and recommendations for plants that can peacefully coexist with them. With an intuitive layout, pronunciation guides, a custom icon key for readily accessible plant facts, and color-coded USDA zone maps, Arizona & New Mexico Getting Started Garden Guide is the simplest, most foolproof plant manual for gardening everywhere from Carlsbad to Kingman.

Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening and the increase in their home's property value. This book contains easy-to-use advice on the top landscape plant choices. It also recommends specific varieties, and provides advice on how to plant, how to grow and how to care for the best plants.

Have you ever wondered which plants and flowers to grow in Texas, and how to do it? The Texas Getting Started Garden Guide features region-specific advice on planting, growing, and caring for more than 150 of Texas' top ornamental plants. From flowers and grasses to trees and native plants, this step-by-step guide includes useful information for the novice and experienced gardener alike, geared exclusively toward the particular climatic concerns of Texans. With gorgeous full-color photos of each plant, this book will increase the enjoyment and satisfaction of any gardener hoping to learn about-and master-the natural environment of Texas.

Gardening experts Georgia Tasker and Tom MacCubbin offer foolproof advice on gardening within the diverse landscape of Florida. The Florida Getting Started Garden Guide features region-specific advice on planting, growing, and caring for more than 150 of Florida's top ornamental and native plants. From flowers and grasses to trees and tropical plants, this step-by-step guide includes useful information for the novice and experienced gardener alike. With gorgeous full-color photos of each plant, this book will increase the enjoyment and satisfaction of any gardener hoping to learn about-and master-the natural environment of Florida.