Plant the garden of your dreams! Even if you’ve never sowed a seed nor pulled a weed, Gardening Basics For Dummies contains everything you need to know about flowers, beds, borders, trees, shrubs, and lawns to create your own private paradise. This friendly and informative guide also covers all of the tools and additives available to make gardening easier. You’ll discover: Clear definitions and descriptions of the different types of plants Tips on choosing the type of garden you want How to create a garden plan Easy-to-follow instructions for soil preparation Advice on planting, growing and caring for annuals and perennials Step-by-step plans for organic and edible gardens Plans for butterfly and children's gardens Packed with helpful tips on controlling pests safely, managing weeds, and correcting common gardening problems, Gardening for Dummies turns your brown thumb green in a hurry.

"God almighty first planted a garden: and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures." --Sir Francis Bacon National surveys show that gardening has become the most popular, least exclusive hobby nationwide. From the balconies of Manhattan to the patios of Malibu to the backyards of Chicago, anybody with a few square feet of earth is doing their best to make their little corner of the world more gracious and beautiful. And the best thing is, you really don't have to be born with a green thumb to give life to a glorious garden. Anybody can do it with a little coaching. Which is where Gardening All-in-One For Dummies comes in. Puzzled by pruning? Baffled by bulbs? Can't tell a hosta from a hyacinth? Don’t worry! This all-in-one reference delivers the know-how you need to transform your little patch of the outdoors into a blooming paradise. Drawing upon the expertise of the National Gardening Association, it gets you up to speed on: Basic gardening skills—from understanding your microclimate to using gardening tools to managing pests and common plant diseases How to design, plan and build a garden landscape that reflects your unique sense of style Selecting, planting and maintaining stunning roses Building a raised bed for your perennials and making them bloom in any climate Choose, grow and maintain annuals From amaryllis to spider dahlias to wood tulips—coaxing beauty from homely bulbs Enjoying nature’s bounty by growing you own vegetables and herbs A veritable encyclopedia of gardening, this Gardening All-in-One For Dummies is an indispensable resource for novices and experienced gardeners alike. It brings together between the covers of a single volume seven great books covering: Gardening Basics Garden Design Roses Perennials Annuals Bulbs Vegetables and Herbs Your one-step guide to a beautiful garden, Gardening All-in-One For Dummies shows you how to experience the “purest of human pleasures” in your own backyard.

Beginner's Illustrated Guide to Gardening is a one-stop, easy to understand, beautifully designed book with step-by-step instructions and photographs for every important gardening and landscaping technique. New homeowners with no prior knowledge of landscape care will learn how to turn their yards from weedy, overgrown patches to gorgeous landscapes that are the envy of their neighbors. Young gardeners or new gardeners will learn - the right way - how to take care of everything from perennials to shrubs to their vegetable gardens, ensuring success the first time around. This is the one book that every gardener should have on their bookshelf.

Are you surrounded by weeds? Is your lawn forlorn? Are your bushes diseased? Do you long to create an outdoor space you can enjoy with friends – a garden you can proudly show off? Beginner Gardening step by step shows you the basics needed to get your green space under control and keep it that way. Drawing on the world-renowned expertise of the Royal Horticultural Society, the book is packed full of creative ideas with lots of simple step-by-step instructions and clear images to help you realize your garden’s potential, no matter the size and scale. Get to know your garden and choose plants that will grow well in particular soil types and conditions year after year. From planting and training decorative climbers to designing seasonal hanging basket displays and growing your own tomatoes, these are the small jobs that will make a huge difference to how your garden looks and feels. Get your gardening gloves on and dig in to discover: -Bitesized visual content broken down into sections such as flowers, lawns, shrubs, and herbs, the book contains over 100 photographic step-by-step sequences. -A gardening book ideal for first-time gardeners looking for guidance and inspiration as they start out on their own gardening Take the anxiety out of planting, potting, and pruning, and make the most of your precious patch of land.

Includes 8 pages of full-color garden photos Your green-thumb guide to planning, planting, and cultivating a garden With some basic knowledge, a few trips to the local garden center, and a little work, anyone can transform a boring old yard into a beautiful garden. This friendly guide tells you how. From improving your soil to selecting plants and caring for them, you get just the information you need to start playing in the dirt. Discover how to Know what you can and can't grow Work with basic garden tools Select flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetables Make the best of your soil Water, fertilize, and control pests and diseases

A hands-on guide to the ins and outs of raising and using vegetables Want to grow your own vegetables? You can do it the fun and easy way with this practical guide. From selecting the right spot to preparing the soil to harvesting, Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition shows you how to successfully raise vegetables regardless of the size of your plot or your dietary needs. You'll discover how to plot your garden and get the soil in tip-top shape; select the types of vegetables you want to grow; plant the seeds properly; and care for them as they grow. You'll also know the right time to pick your vegetables and the best ways to enjoy them. Plus, you'll get tips on preserving foods grown at home. Expert advice on planting, caring for, harvesting, and enjoying the fruits of your own vegetable garden Features environmentally friendly ways to combat pests in your garden Charlie Nardozzi is senior horticulturist and spokesperson for the National Gardening Association; he's also been the gardening expert on such programs as HGTV's Today at Home and Way to Grow and the Discovery Channel's Home Matters Whether you have a green thumb or you've never grown a plant before, Vegetable Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition has all the information you need to create a healthy garden.