Landscape Planning: Practical Techniques for the Home Gardener [Hardcover]

Horticulturist and landscape designer Adam (New City Gardener), who frequently appears on HGTV and the Discovery Channel, offers a comprehensive treatment of landscaping for the home gardener, beginning with an objective assessment of the property and prioritizing a list of improvements. A four-year plan allows the landscaping to proceed as time and budget allow. Both hard landscaping (paths, walls, patios, water features, irrigation, and lighting) and soft landscaping (trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials, annuals, and ground covers) are clearly described. Adam pays attention to installing and caring for plants, and she offers 22 "ten best" plant lists for various situations, such as the ten best filtered shade trees (giving both Latin and common names). Other lists describe the ten steps to a better lawn or the ten essential gardening tools. Step-by-step directions are provided for projects such as installing a pond, path, or mowing strip. This exhaustive treatment is comparable to Rita Buchanan's Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping and could serve as a textbook for a landscaping class. Recommended for all gardening collections. Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Practical is right! Adam covers all the bases in an exceptionally detailed guide to the mechanics of planning and executing every conceivable type of home landscape feature. Whereas countless books explain landscape design (which plant combinations are appropriate for an English country garden look, for instance), Adam does the home gardener a tremendous service with straightforward and user-friendly instructions on every conceivable point to consider before any landscape design can be developed or implemented. Clearly, logically, she breaks down various landscape processes into their most elemental forms: ten points of property assessment, how to measure levels of grade, how drainage tiles work. After mastering the basics, Adam thoughtfully provides essential information to help home gardeners bring their best-laid plans to fruition: how to shop for plants; top 10 lawn-care tips; the 10 best trees for seasonal color. For home gardeners just beginning the landscape process, or for seasoned veterans contemplating a new project, Adam demystifies even the most daunting tasks in a superlative how-to that virtually guarantees success. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Stunning full page photos, and is overflowing with step-by-step projects, lists and how-to illustrations. (Vena Eaton Toronto Sun 20020621)

Best of the best of this year's design books: 'Cuts through confusion' (Homemaker's 20021201)

A good choice for those who have requested an accessible reference to help with planning or revamping a property. (Ann Milovsoroff Pappus [Royal Botanical Gardens] 200209)

Judith Adam to the rescue ... pictures are inspirational, but there are plenty of useful how-to drawings and step-by-step projects. (Bonnie Schiedel Chatelaine Magazine 20020501)

The book is a well-designed, beautifully laid out collection any gardener would be proud to have on his shelf. (Annette McLeod Toronto Sun 20020509)

This book is worth its weight in gold, a clear, easy to understand boon for new garden owners. (Globe and Mail 20020511)

Adam's book has all the necessary details to create a successful design. (Nanci Corrigan Kingston Whig-Standard 20020518)

Approaches an often daunting task in a straightforward manner and provides the homeowner with an thorough primer on landscape management. (Laura-Jean Kelly January Magazine 20020601)

Anyone with a budding interest in gardening or someone looking for a handy 'how to' guide would enjoy this book. (HGTV.com 20030519)

A blueprint of ideas for landscapes both large and small. (Lorraine Flanigan Canadian Gardening 200604)

Exactly the kind of book I wish I'd had when I began laying out my yard. (David Hobson Kitchener-Waterloo Record 20021116)

An exceptionally detailed guide ... Adam demystifies even the most daunting tasks in a superlative how-to that virtually guarantees success. (Carol Haggas Booklist 20020701)

A comprehensive treatment of landscaping for the home gardener ... Recommended for all gardening collections. (Nancy Meyers Library Journal )

In this comprehensive guide, professional landscaper and horticulturalist Judith Adam guides homeowners with the overwhelming task of landscaping their property, from determining and balancing needs and wants, to choosing the best plants. How-to drawings, watercolor illustrations and more than 300 full color photographs simplify the process while bringing it to life, making the myriad choices to be made much easier.

Landscape Planning: Practical Techniques for the Home Gardener covers all the basics, from assessing the current state of a property to constructing steps to choosing plants at the nursery using the techniques used by professional landscapers. Adam includes more than 200 of her favorite plants, shrubs and trees, the outcome of her years of experience. With hands-on projects, expert tips and hints on every page, this book is a must-have guide for the homeowner.

Landscape Planning also includes:

• 25 fully illustrated step-by-step projects
• 59 full color watercolor illustrations
• 63 black and white how-to drawings
• more than 20 fully illustrated Ten Best plant lists
• a questionnaire to help prepare a plan and budget
• numerous sidebars and panels
• hardscaping: steps, sidewalks, fences, lighting
• softscaping: plants, shrubs, trees and lawns
• irrigation, planting, pests, soil, fertilizers
• 10 Elements of Landscape Design
• 10-point Assessment Survey
• sample 4-year Plan
• sequence of events in a landscaping makeover
• how to make a landscape plan
• 10 steps to a better lawn
• the 10 most necessary tools
• glossary
• appendices, and more.

When I was writing Landscape Planning: Practical Techniques for the Home Gardener, I remembered what it was like making my own first garden. I'd been growing perennials and shrubs for some time, but making changes in the whole landscape of the yard was quite a challenge. What I needed was one book that anticipated my questions, offered clear how-to instructions, and included lots of plant choices. Well, sometimes you just have to write it yourself, and I did.

New homeowners making a yard from 'scratch', or gardeners renovating older yards are about to take the leap into landscaping. The changes you make might be small -- a new patio, a full-moon gate, a front-lawn tree -- or you might want to construct stone pathways, hedges and a pond. The most important key to successful landscaping is advance planning, and this book will give you the necessary information to make intelligent decisions.

You'll need to decide how much work you can do yourself and when you should hire a contractor. Choices in plants and materials, when and where steps are needed, knowledge of soil grading and lawn installation, stone retaining walls, concrete paver construction, and how to handle heavy specimen-size plants are skills this book can teach you. You'll also want to learn about lighting, irrigation systems and maintenance techniques to keep what you make looking its best.

I know you'll find this book valuable as you make changes in your garden landscape. I wrote it for you!

Judith Adam is a horticulturalist, educator and landscape designer. She has served as chair of Toronto Master Gardeners and contributes to many magazines. Judith guests frequently on gardening shows presented by HGTV and Discovery networks. Other books by Judith include The New City Gardener, The Hungry Herb Gardener and High Performance Perennials.

Introduction

Almost every gardener understands how one thing leads to another. Buy a new shrub and a perennial plant bed needs to be moved. Change the house downspouts and a dry walkway becomes wet. Install a swimming pool and privacy fencing is necessary. As the garden ages, opportunities for development and renovation are always at hand. But how do you determine what's really needed? If an outdoor seating area is required, should it be a wood deck or a brick patio? To create dappled shade overhead, should you plant a locust tree or a Norway maple? And what about that steep slope in the lawn? Could it have a step, or should the grade be changed? Learning to think about landscape planning is what this book offers to home gardeners.

Landscaping is about making changes and choices in all the areas of your property -- in the front lawn and entrance, the private spaces in the backyard, and the functional areas along the driveway and sides of the house. Increasing the beauty of the garden is an important goal of a landscape plan. But equally important is making sure that all the features of your lot are functional and work well. Every garden has its problems, and landscape planning always starts with an objective assessment of the site. This book will guide you through the process of evaluation, sorting out what should be kept or discarded, and helping to prioritize your lists of necessary improvements and discretionary changes. What comes first, a new set of front steps or a personal hot tub? Should the narrow front path be widened, or is in-ground irrigation more important? Learning to evaluate the need for change is just as important as getting the job done well.

Plants of every kind are the most prominent features in your garden, and also the most complex and diverse. As living components of the landscape, their value is more than aesthetic -- they create a healthy and rewarding context for your outdoor activities. It's important to understand the cultural needs of plants already in your garden, and also the features of plants you will add to the landscape. Understanding the conditions of soil quality, moisture, light and environmental exposure in your garden is an important key to plant selection. This book will show you how to match plant requirements to site conditions, so that new plant purchases will thrive and beautify the garden for many years to come. Making informed choices of plant material is the most crucial step toward successful landscape planning. The many plant lists in this book, with descriptions and photo illustrations, will guide you through a generous selection of plants for every kind of site and circumstance.

It's often the case that gardening careers begin in small ways, with planting a few flowers or vegetables just outside the back door. But as the garden grows, small gestures soon lead to larger efforts and increasing rewards. Landscape planning is the logical extension of gardening, and you're probably doing it already. Most imagined improvements and attempted changes reflect your interest in developing the garden landscape. This book is meant to encourage and support those interests, and show the way to effective decision-making. You may plan changes requiring professional skills, or perhaps your own hands can do the job. Whether the project is small or large, this book will provide information and alternatives for making the best landscape decisions.

Take a good look at your garden today, because it's going to change and grow with this book.