The Well-tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques

Description

With more than 180,000 copies sold since its original publication, "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden" has proven itself to be one of the most useful tools a gardener can have. Now, in this expanded edition, there's even more to learn from and enjoy. This is the first, and still the most thorough, book to detail essential practices of perennial care such as deadheading, pinching, cutting back, thinning, disbudding, and deadleafing, all of which are thoroughly explained and illustrated. More than 200 new color photographs have been added to this revised edition, showing perennials in various border situations and providing images for each of the entries in the A-to-Z encyclopedia of important perennial species. In addition, there is a new 32-page journal section, in which you can enter details, notes, and observations about the requirements and performance of perennials in your own garden. Thousands of readers have commented that "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden" is one of the most useful and frequently consulted books in their gardening libraries. This new, expanded edition promises to be an even more effective ally in your quest to create a beautiful, healthy, well-maintained perennial garden.

Tracy DiSabato-Aust, aka "the Queen of Deadheading," has earned international acclaim as one of America's most entertaining and knowledgeable garden writers and professional speakers. She has extensive experience in the United States and abroad, working for over 30 years in the industry, speaking for over 25 years and designing for over 20 years. Her experience includes stints at Longwood Gardens in the U.S., The Montreal Botanical Garden in Canada, the Kalmthout Arboretum in Belgium, and Knightshayes Court in England. She earned a B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture from The Ohio State University. Her first book, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, which has been referred to by many as "the bible for perennial maintenance," has become Timber Press' best selling book in their publishing history. Her second book, The Well-Designed Mixed Garden, brings her trademark exuberance, expertise, and efficiency to bear on frequently daunting elements of garden design, demystifying them with her direct approach. Tracy is a gifted and award winning designer who combines artistic vision with practical horticultural strategies. DiSabato-Aust is a frequent guest on national garden television and radio gardening shows. She is a dynamic speaker, and in great demand nationally and internationally on the lecture circuit. Venues include England's Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The English Gardening School, the Oxford Botanic Garden, the Smithsonian Institute, the Perennial Plant Association, and numerous botanical gardens and professional association meetings. She was awarded the 2004 Garden Media Award from the Perennial Plant Association. This award recognizes an individual whose educational and promotional efforts have resulted in a heightened awareness of perennials and the perennial industry. Tracy has contributed articles or been featured in numerous national and international magazines, books, and newspapers. Magazines include: Fine Gardening (she is a contributing editor), Horticulture, Country Gardens, Garden Gate, Organic Gardening, Midwest Living, American Nurseryman, Real Simple, and Garden Design. The New York Times, the Daily Telegraph in London, England, and the National Post, (Toronto, Canada) have all published articles on Tracy. When she's not out working in the garden, Tracy is working out in the gym. A self-professed "fitness fanatic," Tracy is a competitive triathlete who also appears in fitness training DVDs. She currently resides in Ohio with her husband and son.

A practical book filled with the details of how to care for perennials. ... Perhaps the most useful section is that of lengthy lists in the back that help you determine which perennials you do and don't want to grow, depending on your tolerance for maintenance and where you live, and which perennials are deer-resistant, have seedheads that attract song birds, are short-lived, need deadheading or lots of other categories thought up by this walking encyclopedia of a perennial expert. -- Valerie Easton Seattle Times 20060805 Well worth revisiting, with more than 200 new photos and a 32-page journal section in which you can enter details, notes, and observations about the requirements and performances of perennials in your own garden. -- Suzanne Hively Cleveland Plain Dealer 20060911 This book possesses so much good information, presented in a clear, readable manner, that you might just start to see pruning, deadheading and other routine tasks as fun. ... The most valuable section is an encyclopedia of perennials that includes information about hardy perennials. -- Nancy Brachey Charlotte Observer 20061202 Should be for gardeners what Joy of Cooking is for cooks: every new gardener gets a copy and learns from it over a lifetime. -- Patricia Jonas Plants and Gardens News 20061001 [A] first-rate how-to guide that deserves a place in every gardener's library. ... [One of] the 10 best books of the year. -- Steve Whysall Winnipeg Free Press 20061217 With more than 200 new photographs and a maintenance journal to keep track of your own planting and pruning, it falls into both the pretty and practical categories. -- Irene Virag Newsday 20061217 As always with DiSabato-Aust, the fine writing of this remarkable horticulturalist and teacher makes the text informative and readable. -- Renee E. D'Aoust Idaho Farm Bureau Quarterly 20061001 Her original version published in 1998 took the garden world by storm. ... Though it might not seem possible, the expanded version is even better. -- Jody Headlee Oakland Press 20061203 A revision of a favorite. ... With more photographs, it is a powerful reference book that is fun to read. -- Jack Kerrigan Cleveland Plain Dealer 20061228 There's a whole book about perennial garden maintenance, Tracy DiSabato-Aust's hugely popular The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, which I highly recommend. -- Jane Milliman Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 20070721 Well worth the read, this is a good book for anyone who has a perennial garden or anyone thinking of installing one. -- Thomas Mickey Seacoast Home & Garden magazine 20070901 [A] wonderful perennial-maintenance book. -- George Weigel Harrisburg Patriot-News 20071008 An excellent resource for planting and maintaining perennial gardens. ... Will serve novice and experienced gardeners alike. ... The piece de resistance is an A-to-Z encyclopedia of perennial species, their bloom times and maintenance needs, which, alone, makes this the one book you should keep handy to consult throughout the year. -- Jessica Damiano Newsday 20061114 Perfect for the entry-level gardener, this practical guide is lush with clear, step-by-step advice for good growing. Real Simple 20080101 The best book about growing perennials. Ms. DiSabato-Aust does an excellent job of describing the information needed to have a beautiful, healthy perennial garden. -- Cheryl Cadwell Newport Daily News 20071105 A really helpful book. -- Helen Yemm Daily Telegraph (London) 20080718 An excellent book that details when and how to transplant/divide perennials. -- George Weigel Harrisburg Patriot-News 20080904 Number one on my list of must-read gardening books because it takes the mystery out of how to become a first-class perennial gardener. -- Nancy Szerlag Detroit News 20091106