A Year in the Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide to Vital Gardening Tasks Through the Year

Table of Contents

Introduction     6
New introductions     10
Planting bulbs     12
Planting annuals and biennials     16
Perennials     21
Project: summer bedding     24
Planting vegetables and fruit     28
Planting herbs     38
Project: making a hanging basket     40
Planting hardy trees and shrubs     44
Using trees and shrubs in containers     51
A shrub bed for year-round interest     56
Project: making a tapestry hedge     58
Planting climbers     62
Project: making a rose arch     64
Caring for new plants     68
Project: constructing a rock garden     70
Propagation     74
Seed     76
Collecting seeds and bulbs     78
Sowing seeds outdoors     80
Project: making a cold frame     82
Sowing seeds indoors     86
Taking hardwood cuttings     88
Taking softwood cuttings     90
Taking semiripe cuttings     92
Division     94
Bulb scaling     98
Layering     100
Grafting     103
Seasonal pruning     104
Selecting and using your tools     106
Annuals     108
Shrubs     110
Project: making a topiary design     118
Climbing and wall plants     122
Project: installing a trellis     128
Roses     132
Trees     138
Hedges and screen plants     144
Fruit     148
Project: training fruit trees     150
Lawn care     154
The essentials     156
Mowing     158
Weeds and pests     160
Watering     163
Feeding     164
General maintenance     165
Project: making an ornamental grass garden     168
Creating a new lawn     172
Project: planting ground cover     174
Lawn repairs     178
Introducing plants into your lawn     180
Project: making an herb walkway     182
Pond care     186
Pond maintenance     188
Project: making a small pond     192
Introducing new plants     196
Summer planting     197
Propagation     198
Project: making a pebble pond     202
Care of established plants     206
Fall and winter care     208
Controlling weeds     210
Fish care     211
Routine care     212
Forms of winter protection     214
Patio and container-grown plants     216
Project: making a raised bed     218
Feeding     222
Watering     226
Controlling weeds     229
Methods of weed control     230
Spring protection     232
Project: making a decorative path     234
Summer protection     238
Pests and diseases     240
Repairs     242
Project: making a sink garden     244
Soil management     248
Improving your soil     250
Soil cultivation     252
Project: making a compost bin     254
Glossary     258
Useful addresses     262
Credits     265
Index     266
Acknowledgments and conversion table     272