Includes index.

"First published in Great Britain in 2008"--Colophon.

"Previously published as Learn to garden"--Cover.

Assessing your space. How to assess your space ; The weather ; Sun, shade, and the seasons ; Your microclimate ; Your soil ; Landscape inspiration -- Flower beds & borders. Designing beds and borders ; Size, shape, and layout ; Choosing your plants ; Making a planting plan ; Sunny sites ; Shady sites ; Wet, sticky soils ; Dry, free-draining soils ; Exposed sites ; Rock gardens ; Choosing and buying plants -- Perennials, annuals, & biennials. Growing perennials ; Growing annuals and biennials -- Bulbs. Growing bulbs -- Shrubs. Growing shrubs ; Pruning shrubs -- Climbers. Growing climbers ; Pruning climbers -- Roses. Growing roses -- Grasses, bamboos, & ferns. Growing grasses ; Growing bamboos ; growing ferns -- Lawns, meadows, & gravel gardens. What sort of lawn? ; Looking after your lawn ; What's wrong with my lawn? ; Making a new lawn ; Alternatives to grass ; Wildflower meadows ; Gravel gardens -- Trees. Trees ; Caring for trees -- Hedges. Hedges ; Caring for hedges -- Containers. Growing plants in containers ; Care and maintenance ; Growing crops in containers -- Crops. Where to grow crops ; Growing vegetables ; Root vegetables ; Leafy vegetables ; Growing herbs ; Growing fruit ; Fruit trees ; Fruit bushes and soft fruits -- Tools & techniques. The basic tool kit ; Watering ; Mulches ; Feeding your plants ; Compost ; Digging ; Weeding ; Eco-gardening ; Propagating plants -- Garden doctor. What's wrong? ; Garden pests & parasites ; Plant diseases ; Keeping plants healthy -- Garden year planner. Early spring ; Mid- to late spring ; Early summer ; Mid- to late summer ; Fall ; Winter -- Glossary -- Understanding plant names.

Whatever your level of expertise, you'll find everything you need to know in this easy-to-follow gardening guide. This book contains the principles of good gardening - how plants work and how to give them what they need, as well as step-by-step advice, top tips, and essential techniques. Keen on starting your own garden or looking for gardening tips to improve your existing gardening skills? This simple guide will show you where to start, what tools and techniques to use, and how to troubleshoot common garden problems. From bulbs to borders, weeds to watering, pick up gardening techniques, practical basics, and simple skills which will have your garden blooming, this gardening guide is the perfect text to help you master the essentials of gardening.