Few gardens can transport visitors to wild and rugged landscapes as well as rock gardens. Eye-catching rock gardens are among the most challenging—and satisfying—expressions of the gardener's craft. A true rock garden is a specialized habitat that allows the gardener to grow plants that do not flourish anywhere else. This book offers the first comprehensive treatment of building rock gardens in all parts of North America. Topics covered include rock placement, materials, and planting and maintenance. Variations on the rock garden theme, from planting troughs to creating water features are also discussed. The book presents regional styles and techniques and profiles a dozen public rock gardens from Oregon to Newfoundland. This book is only available through print on demand. All interior art is black and white.

AHS Book Award winner Rock gardening —the art of growing alpines and other miniature plants in the company of rocks in order to recreate the look of a rugged mountaintop—has been surging in popularity. Time and space constraints, chronic drought in the American West, and a trend toward architectural plants are just a few of the reasons for the increased interest. Rock Gardening brings this traditional style to a new generation of gardeners. It includes a survey of gorgeous rock gardens from around the world, the techniques and methods specific to creating and maintaining a rock garden, and profiles of the top 50 rock garden plants.

Rockeries are often a simple addition to a garden that can completely change it, providing an interesting focal point and giving your outside space a bit of much-needed variety. “The Modern Rock Garden “ is a classic guide to creating a beautiful rockery, with chapters on what and how to plant, general design, propagating shrubs and alpine plans, common problems, and much more. Highly recommended for keen gardeners and DIY enthusiasts. Contents Include: “Preparation", "Construction", "The Moraine or Scree Garden", "Sinks and Troughs", "The Rock Bed", "Planting and After-care", "Propagation", "Shrubs and their Uses", "Alpine Plants", "Bulbs", and "Some other Treasures, and Conclusion”. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the history of gardening.

Delve into landscape design and construction with this comprehensive guide, offering insights and techniques to craft stunning outdoor spaces. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring landscaper, discover invaluable guidance to transform any landscape into a masterpiece. Starting with an introduction to landscape design principles, explore various landscape types, drawing inspiration for your projects. With a focus on aesthetics and functionality, learn to conceptualize and plan effectively, covering every step from drafting blueprints to material selection. Prioritize safety with essential guidance for maintaining a secure work environment. Master site surveying and mapping for optimized construction efficiency. From drainage systems to stone structures, follow step-by-step instructions for building durable and visually striking features. Learn plant selection, care, and maintenance, ensuring thriving gardens and turf areas. Explore soil improvement techniques and add finishing touches with timber structures and landscape lighting. Embrace sustainable practices for eco-friendly designs. Whether envisioning a tranquil retreat or a large-scale project, this book is your provides a resource, promising inspiration and practical wisdom for landscape enthusiasts of all levels.

Shows how to use rock garden plants in a variety of garden situations, including mixed borders, window boxes, raised beds, and patio pots.

Offers advice on buying and growing different kinds of plants with an emphasis on the use of native plant species and the techniques of organic gardening.

Designing a garden is a complex task. Where do you start? What kind of skills do you need? What are the logical steps in creating a design? How do you communicate your ideas to a client, and how do you accommodate a client’s requests while maintaining the integrity of the project? The answers to these questions, and many more, can all be found in Understanding Garden Design. Most books on garden design focus on only one or a few aspects of garden design—choosing plants or creating a hardscape, for example. This comprehensive, accessible book lays out the entire process from start to finish in clear, precise language that avoids the pitfalls of “designspeak.” In fact, garden owners and clients of garden designers who want to understand more about the designer’s craft will be able to profit from the book’s lessons. Among the many topics covered are how to document a site, how to determine what a client needs and wants from the garden, how to take architectural features into consideration, how to think about circulation and lay out paths, how to use basic design principles, how to work with plants, and how to create a final design. Practical aspects are clearly laid out, including working with contractors and staying on top of the various phases of construction. This thorough handbook is profusely illustrated with helpful photographs and diagrams. A particularly interesting tool is the hypothetical garden plan that appears in each chapter to show how to apply the topics at hand. A practical, logical approach to the planning, design, and installation of a garden, this volume will be an invaluable resource for students, landscape professionals, and garden designers.