Creating bonsai, an ancient art form that encourages meditation and contemplation, can be an intimidating art to start because of its intricate and precise nature. But David Squire's new book, Complete Starter Guide to Bonsai for Beginners, is a gentle but complete beginner's guide to the craft. Starting with the definition of what bonsai is, the author discusses the spirit and aesthetics of creating bonsai then continues with the materials needed--including the right species of tree to ge...

The benefits of foraging for food are far and wide. Whether you're looking for ways to become more self-sufficient, save money, or develop healthier habits, A Guide to Wild Food Foraging is an extensive on-the-go directory of more than 100 profiles for wild plants, herbs, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, seaweeds, and shellfish. Each profile provides tips on identification, seasonality, location, what and when to harvest, and how to prepare and use them in delicious recipes. Most of these foods ar...

Home Gardener's Propagation is the essential guide to raising new plants for the home and garden. Buying individual plants can be expensive—but raising your own saves money and gives lots of gardening satisfaction. Every aspect of the art of propagation is covered, from the philosophy behind creating plants to the easiest species to grow to the best materials and equipment. All the major methods receive well-illustrated, in-depth, and easy to follow explanations, including seeds a...

Packed with practical advice from leading cultivation specialists, this concise, easy-to-use book covers virtually every aspect of garden design and maintenance—from choosing a plot to selecting plants, maximizing space and building raised beds. Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden shows how to create productive gardens by selecting the perfect plant combinations. A comprehensive plant directory provides handy information on summer-flowering annuals, herbaceous perennials, sh...

Home Gardener's Herb Gardens is the essential guide to growing herbs and designing, planting, improving, and caring for herb gardens. People now use herbs in their cooking on an everyday basis and there's nothing nicer than being able to go out into your garden, snip some fresh herbs and put them straight into the pot. The beauty of an herb garden is that it does not have to be big - it can be part of a larger garden or it can merely be a window box. More than 330 color illustrati...

Home Gardener's Container Gardens is the essential guide to gardening with attractive urns, troughs, tubs, hanging baskets, window boxes, and wall pots. No matter how big or small a garden is, there is always room for a container. They can be used on terraces and patios to soften their appearance, form a point of interest at the end of a path, or showcase a particularly wonderful plant. Whatever is needed in a garden, a container can be the answer. This amply illustrated guide cov...

Home Gardener's Garden Pests & Diseases is the essential guide to identifying, targeting, and banishing common pests and diseases from the garden. All gardeners know the disappointment of finding their flowers nibbled, or their prized produce riddled with rust. Armed with this essential guide, you can stop the destruction. Get acquainted with all the common pests and diseases that afflict ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, and houseplants, and learn the best ways to deal with them. ...

Home Gardener's Trees & Shrubs is the essential guide to selecting, planting, improving and maintaining trees and shrubs in the garden. No matter what the type of garden or outdoor space, trees and shrubs are usually featured. This is because they are so versatile. Depending on the species chosen, shrubs and trees can form the background to a garden, be a focal point or add height to an overlooked garden. Whatever your garden needs, a tree or shrub can provide it. This book detail...

Home Gardener's Bonsai is the essential guide to the art and craft of growing bonsai in the garden or in the house. With topics ranging from watering and feeding to spirit and aesthetics, it provides an all-in-one guide to this ancient and fascinating hobby. The book features advice on looking for and raising trees; handling pests and diseases; using composts; potting; choosing containers; pruning the plants; and displaying them. A convenient A-Z guide covers virtually every speci...

Home Gardener's Small Gardens is the essential guide to improving a small garden and turning the most modest-sized space into a stunning outdoor area. It offers lushly illustrated strategies for making the most of a confined space—whether backyard, terrace or courtyard. Get started with an informative discussion of small garden types, appropriate plants, problems and opportunities, design, and planning. The excitement truly begins with a look at the wide variety of stylistic optio...

Keeping garden soil in good health is an essential part of gardening, and compost is the home gardener's most effective way to maintain fertile, well aerated, and moisture-retentive soil. This abundantly illustrated book gives gardeners all the guidance they need to start making, storing, and using their own compost. It offers information on the different types of compost and their ingredients, advice on constructing a compost bin, and detailed explanations of wormeries, green manuring, an...

In order to be a successful gardener you have to know how to prune—whether to improve growth, increase fruiting qualities or to enable the plant to grow in space-restricted areas or cold environments. This practical book provides advice on pruning garden plants, from infancy to maturity. Included is detailed advice on renovating neglected plants, from shrubs and climbers to fruit trees and bushes. There is also a fun element, with instructions for creating topiary in the garden.