How, when, and where to prune? The questions that beset every gardener never change, but the solutions do. The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers recommends the best pruning techniques and practices. This unique encyclopedic treatment details the best pruning methods for more than 450 genera of trees, shrubs, conifers, and woody climbers. The A-Z format covers several thousand species, yet remains a manageable and practical reference. Kirkham clearly explains the reasons behind pruning techniques as well as how to apply them.

Proper pruning will keep your landscape beautiful and thriving year after year. This authoritative guide includes more than 300 step-by-step illustrations to clearly demonstrate the correct pruning procedures for a variety of trees, shrubs, hedges, vines, and flowers. Lewis Hill offers expert advice on when, how, and why each type of plant should be pruned, safety considerations, and techniques for maintaining your pruning tools. Encouraging you to get creative, Hill even shows you how to shape your own topiaries and train espaliers.

Well written and easy to understand, An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING, Third Edition is filled with updated illustrations, photographs, and examples designed to help readers understand and implement the appropriate pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable structure in the first 25 years of a tree's life. With coverage of numerous different tree species as well as information about the challenges associated with pruning such as disease prevention, root pruning, mature tree pruning, and restoration following storms, students will be prepared to identify and understand good tree structure and pruning practices. Filled with simple tables, lists, and strategies, this completely updated guide to pruning makes it easy to teach the presented pruning techniques in accordance with nationally recognized ANSI A-300 standards. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Garden like Mother Nature, with an organic system that’s good for plants and good for people. Say good-bye to backaches and weed problems! Lee Reich’s organic Weedless Gardening eschews the traditional yearly digging up and working over of the soil. It’s is an easy-to-follow, low-impact approach to planting and maintaining a flower garden, a vegetable patch, trees, and shrubs naturally. "If you love to knock yourself out digging beds, buy a better shovel. If you're looking for a no-nonsense alternative, buy this book!" -Ketzel Levine, National Public Radio's Doyenne of Dirt) "Thoroughly practical, easy-to-follow guide to good gardening Lee Reich make it sound simple, and if you follow his methods and philosophy, it is." -Dora Galitzki, Gardening Columnist, The New York Times, and Author of The Gardener's Essential Companion "Finally, a book filled with science-based information that insures success and frees us from busywork in the garden." - Dr. H. March Cathey, President Emeritus, American Horticultural Society

Over the years, Japanese gardeners have fine-tuned a distinctive set of pruning techniques that coax out the essential characters of their garden trees, or niwaki. In this highly practical book, Western gardeners are encouraged to draw upon the techniques and sculpt their own garden trees to unique effect. After first discussing the principles that underpin the techniques, the author offers in-depth guidelines for shaping pines, azaleas, conifers, broadleaved evergreens, bamboos and deciduous trees. Throughout the text, step-by-step illustrations accompany the instructions, while abundant photographs and anecdotes bring the ideas surrounding niwaki vividly to life.

Many home gardeners are mystified about when and how much to prune, fertilize, and water their plants. This is especially true of native plants, because many require different approaches to ahieve optimal growth. Eric Johnson, a landscape maintenance troubleshooter with more than 55 years of experience, shares his insights on plant care. Designed especially for gardeners in California and the Southwest, Johnson's guide covers everything a gardener needs to know in order to maintain a beautiful landscape. Johnson tells how to plant and care for more than 300 varieties of native and adapted plants; how to water, fertilize, and combat weeds; how to control garden pests and diseases without chemicals; even how to make compost. A Master Flowering and Pruning Chart shows at a glance when plants flower and when to prune. Color photos and detailed illustrations help take the uncertainties out of plant care and point the way toward more beautiful landscaping.