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Title: The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques
ISBN: 0881928038
Author:
Tracy DiSabato-Aust
Publicate Date: 2006-07-01
Publish: 2006-07-01
List Price: $34.95
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $19.08
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $20.89
Amazon Merchant Price: $23.07
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Complete instructions for most perennials
This book tells you what and when to do things to most perennials. It has made me a much better gardener and made my garden look better. I loved it so much that I bought a copy for my Sister-in-law.
I recommend it for gardeners on all levels.
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2: Great Resource
I am in agreement with all of the other very positive reviews on the "Well Tended Perennial Garden", this has quickly became my new bible on perennials. The writer is very knowledgeable and opinionated; though at times her personal tastes on plants come through loud and clear. Though there were some instances when I strongly disagree with her, for instance her view on irises not being worth the effort, but that did not take away from the usability of this book.
The Encyclopedia of Perennials is a great resource, one place that you can go for information on a plant including not only the usual details regarding size, exposures, zones etc but also details on how to prune, the level of maintenance you should expect and related plants.
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3: Fabu!
Great overview of perennial care. Easy to read. Great pruning, growing, staking, fertilizing, and overall care tips. Great for novice to expert gardeners.
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4: A classic
As the creator of a now three year old garden of shrubs, bulbs and perennials, I got this book just in time for the pruning lessons, but sadly too late for the soil preparation lessons!
I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to move beyond the glossy magazine spreads and into the realm of truly effective techniques that do require hard work, but that also have long-term results.
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5: Perennial Favorite about Perennials
I work as a perennial salesperson in a large, family-owned garden center in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Any time a customer asks for a book on perennials or gardening in general, I always recommend this one.
It provides a wealth of general gardening information on soil preparation, watering, diseases, pruning techniques and more. The plant encyclopedia section is the most valuable part of the book. In it, Ms. Aust discusses the most widely available and popular perennials individually and in detail. For each plant, there is a picture next to which she lists the latin name, the common name, the light, water and soil requirements, the height, width and bloom-time. After those details are presented, she discusses when to prune, cut back, dead-head, divide and fertilize that plant. She has gathered this information over a lifetime of gardening experience.
The appendix of the book contains many valuable lists of plants under headings such as "Plants to Pinch for Height Control" or "Clay Busters". I can't imagine selling perennials to others or tending to my own garden without this bible.
One complaint that customers have mentioned to me about this book (after I have recommended it)is that Ms. Aust uses the Latin nomenclature for everything. This was intimidating to me at first, too. I had to learn the Latin for my job as a perennial salesperson so I was forced to "embrace" it. I am glad that I did because it makes reading a book like this easier. My advice to anyone interested in gardening: learn the Latin! It's intellectually challenging and fun. It will open up a wide world of plants to you. Carpe diem!
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