Gardening Basics For Dummies

Introduction 1

Part 1: Preparing Yourself (and Your Garden) for Planting 5

Chapter 1: Getting Ready for Gardening 7

Chapter 2: Creating a Landscape That You’ll Love 25

Chapter 3: Getting into the Zone – Your Garden’s Zone 51

Chapter 4: Live Long and Prosper: Giving Plants What They Need 65

Chapter 5: Gathering Your Gardening Gear 87

Part 2: Flowers and Foliage: Growing for Color 113

Chapter 6: Adding Yearly Variety to Your Garden with Annuals 115

Chapter 7: Growing Perennials: Plants That Make a Comeback 131

Chapter 8: Brightening Up the Garden with Bulbs 155

Chapter 9: Coming Up Roses 181

Chapter 10: Multiplying Your Plants 207

Part 3: Stretching Your Garden beyond Its Boundaries: The Permanent Landscape 227

Chapter 11: Growing a Perfect Lawn 229

Chapter 12: Reaching New Heights with Trees 253

Chapter 13: Going Low with Shrubs 275

Chapter 14: Climbers and Crawlers: Growing Vines and Groundcovers 289

Part 4: Producing Your Own Produce 311

Chapter 15: Food, Glorious Food! Raising Your Own Veggies 313

Chapter 16: Taking Your Veggie Garden to the Next Level 337

Chapter 17: Adding Flavor to Your Garden with Herbs 351

Chapter 18: Sweet and Crunchy: Growing Fruits, Berries, and Nuts 363

Part 5: Designing Special and Fun Gardens 391

Chapter 19: Mini Gardens and Microcosms: Gardening in Containers 393

Chapter 20: Taking the Plunge: Gardening with Ponds and Fish 411

Part 6: The Part of Tens 433

Chapter 21: Ten Great Perennials for Northern Climate Gardeners 435

Chapter 22: Ten Garden Projects for Children 439

Appendix A: Basic Gardening Resources 443

Appendix B: English-Metric Conversion Tables 449