Introduction | p. 9 |
Starting Out | p. 13 |
Know Your Hardiness Zone | p. 13 |
Sun or Shade? It's Crucial Informationt | p. 18 |
How Much Siinhght Do Plants Need? | p. 20 |
What to Do about Dry Shade | p. 21 |
Why Some Plants Won't Grow under a Black Walnut Tree | p. 24 |
Buying Plants | p. 27 |
How to Shop at a Garden Center | p. 27 |
What Kind of Plant to Buy: Annual or Perennial? | p. 30 |
The Different Types of Bulbs | p. 31 |
Buying by Mail Order | p. 34 |
Be Wary of These Invasive Plants | p. 36 |
Soil Basics | p. 41 |
How to Tell What Kind of Soil You Have | p. 42 |
Understanding Soil pH | p. 43 |
Ways to Improve Soil | p. 44 |
What Fertilizers Can and Can't Do | p. 49 |
Which Is Best: Organic or Chemical? | p. 53 |
Some Plants That Benefit from Chemical Fertilizers | p. 54 |
Tips about Some Popular Plant Care Products | p. 55 |
The Magic of Manure Tea | p. 57 |
Planting | p. 59 |
Where to Plant | p. 59 |
When to Do It | p. 61 |
If Jack Frost Makes a Return Visit | p. 62 |
How to Plant Most Things | p. 64 |
Important Planting Tips | p. 65 |
Planting under Trees | p. 67 |
The Problem of Wind | p. 68 |
Different Bulbs Need Different Treatment | p. 69 |
Planting in Containers | p. 72 |
Planting Roses in Cold Climates | p. 74 |
The Marvel of Mulch | p. 75 |
Ongoing Plant Care | p. 81 |
Take a Tour of Your Garden | p. 81 |
The Touchy Issue of Watering | p. 83 |
Weeding: The Inescapable Task | p. 85 |
Getting Rid of Weeds | p. 87 |
Deadheading | p. 92 |
Shearing | p. 94 |
Staking | p. 96 |
Pinching | p. 99 |
Thinning | p. 100 |
Dividing Plants That Have Grown Too Big | p. 100 |
Volunteers: A Mixed Blessing in Many Gardens | p. 103 |
What to Do When Winter Comes | p. 106 |
When Spring Rolls around Again | p. 110 |
When Roses Won't Produce Flowers | p. 110 |
Protecting Plants from Problems | p. 113 |
How to Cultivate Good Gardening Habits | p. 113 |
What IPM Means and How It Affects You | p. 116 |
Beneficial Bugs in the Garden | p. 117 |
Does Companion Planting Work? | p. 119 |
The Different Kinds of Pesticides Sold at Garden Centers | p. 121 |
Chemical Pesticides: Know What You're Using | p. 123 |
Organic Pesticides Can Be Toxic Too | p. 126 |
Common Garden Pests and How to Combat Them | p. 134 |
The Four Kinds of Plant Diseases | p. 149 |
Common Diseases That Affect Plants | p. 151 |
Ways to Keep Critters Away | p. 156 |
Acknowledgments | p. 162 |
Photo Credits | p. 162 |
Bibliography | p. 163 |
Index | p. 165 |
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |