American Horticultural Society Gardening Manual (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides)

From preliminary design to everyday maintenance, the American Horticultural Society Gardening Manual covers every gardening topic under the sun. An equal mix of inspirational ideas and practical suggestions makes this a book to read in every season, whether your garden is sleeping under feet of snow or everything is ripe for picking. Each page is covered with the clear, close-up photographs and simple explanations that the Dorling Kindersley publishing company made it's name with, and novice and expert alike will find this style lovely to look at and deeply practical.

You'll find plenty of information on large projects like installing lighting, sprinklers, raised beds, and paved walkways, and ways of incorporating these installations slowly into your garden space. Ideas for spaces and climates of all kinds are included, from water gardens and brick barbecues to flowing natural spaces and practical vegetable gardens. There are fewer plant lists than there are technique descriptions, but the chapter "What Looks Good When" is helpful, and specialized areas include short lists of appropriate trees, water plants, or bulbs to achieve a particular effect. The section of "What to Do When" is especially helpful for new gardeners, as it outlines all those basic steps in proper maintenance, and will save novices (and their plants) the trauma of pruning or transplanting in the wrong season. The section on plant and insect pest management covers both chemical and nonchemical methods, and the authors leave it up to readers to choose their methods. Whether your goal is a smooth stretch of lawn or an intricate herbal knot garden, this gardening manual will get you well on your way to horticultural bliss. --Jill Lightner