Rejuvenating a Garden

by Stephen Anderton and stephen-anderton

Book Overview

A generously illustrated guide to renewing a struggling garden -- and maintaining it against future decline This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579590578
• ISBN13: 9781579590574
• Release Date: January 1900
• Publisher: Soma Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.3" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

A truly useful book

Penelope Hobhouse's quote on the front cover of this book says it all - "An amazingly original book, tackling a useful subject in a very practical way."The writer sets out to help you, the reader, to tackle a garden that someone else has made, but is new to you. So many garden writers seem to assume that their writers have a new garden that is like a blank sheet of paper - something you can plan for afresh, bringing in your own choice of new plants and starting from scratch. For many of us, this not the reality. We move into a house with an existing garden that may be anywhere on a spectrum from bland to a complete disaster.. This book is for us. It explains where (and when and how) to start, how to assess soil, existing plants and structure, it reminds the reader about possible local restrictions and guides our understanding of personal and gardening needs.From there the writer takes the reader step-by-step through all the necessary tasks, from clearing away old hard landscaping to pruning trees, reviving lawns and replanting. It even offers suggestions to help limited finances be used in the most effective ways. There is an extensive directory of plants and resource lists for finding further information.The writer, a professional gardener for 20 years, became National Gardens Manager for English Heritage. He brings both breadth and depth of knowledge to this topic and enhances it with a writing style that is enthusiastic, literate and eminently readable.If you've ver faced the task of salvaging a neglected or boring garden you'll enjoy this book. Or buy it as a gift for someone who has just moved into a new house.

just what you need...

when faced with "what to do?" with old, overgrown, or neglected landscaping; without bulldozing. The author is very clear and very honest about the process of rejuvenating a garden. He has great infomation and advice about evaluating what is there, looking for the potential, determining what stays and what goes, plus lots of practical tips. What I really liked about this book is that is is geared to anyone; I connected right away with the gardens and his message. Some gardens books feel inaccessibile to us regular folks, showing designer gardens that probably cost thousands of dollars....not here. I felt very right at home with the gardens, photos and advice given.In addition, there is a wonderful rejuvenation guide for hedges, shrubs and trees, practical information on scheduling work so as to not be overwhelmed ( what to do first....) suggestions for budgeting, and working with what you have as compared to starting from scratch.