Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses: Amazon.ca: Michael A. Dirr: Books

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From Library Journal

Serving as an ideal companion to Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs (above), this classic manual offers thorough information on the woody trees and shrubs used in landscaping. Aside from each plant's physical description, there's also an elaboration of hardiness, growth rate, culture, diseases and insects, landscape value, cultivars, and propagation.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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BUDS: Small, ovoid, with about 2 pairs of rather loose scales. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars On my short list of best horticultural references, May 17 2002

By

E. J. Biddinger "ejb190" (Rochester, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses (Paperback)

I have a lot of reference books covering landscaping, plant propagation, identification, and disease problems. Dr. Dirr has done a fantastic job of compiling all of this information (and a few welcome opinions) for a couple thousand landscape plants into one consise work.

When I have a question, this book is usually my first stop. Information on common species is very comprehensive. However lesser used landscape plants are covered in an abbreviated manner, which sometimes forces me to find other resources (which are not difficult to locate thanks to the large number of cited references).

The indexes of both common and scientific names make this sizable volume easy to navigate and usable. The glossary and sections on morphology and identification are handy, espically for beginners or those of us who have been out of college for a while! Additionally, the thoughtful layout and readable type size make this manual more usable than other similar books I have encountered.

Dr. Dirr has created an excellent volume which is on my short list of horticultural reference works.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, April 17 2001

By

J. Cooper (Virginia, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses (Paperback)

I have been an avid gardner since I was a child. My garden library has grown to several hundred volumes by now, but "The Manual" is heads above all the rest. I purchased my first copy of Dr. Dirr's Manual about 10 years ago. It quickly became my favorite reference and was rarely on the bookshelf, most often it lives on my bedside table.

When the lastest edition came out I bought a hardback copy. Quite and investment, but well worth it. I had literally worn my old paperback copy out.

Dr. Dirr offers by far the most complete description of the largest number of shrubs, trees, and vines that I have ever seen in a single volume. The advice on culture and propagtion are particularly detailed and helpful, but his writing style is what really makes this book unique. At first glance The Manual appears to be a whopping and potentially dry tome, (there are no photos, but it is filled with excellent line drawings by Bonnie Dirr. I understand that a photo CD is available to accompany the Manual, but have not seen one) - but read just a few pages and you will be hooked by Dirr's style. This book reads more like a collection of humorous essays than a standard reference manual. Michael Dirr puts much of himself and his personal experience with many of these plants into every page.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the Manual is the number of cultivars Dr. Dirr lists and provides descriptions for under each species. You are almost sure to find a description of any variety that your local garden center carries. With each new edition Dr. Dirr does a masterful job of keeping up with all the new cultivars cropping up in our catalogs and garden centers.

The result is not only the most informative book of it's kind on the market, but a delightful read for cold winter nights. It has become the benchmark by which I judge other garden books, and probably will be for many years to come.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Directory of woody cultivars, Dec 29 2002

By

P. van Rijckevorsel (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses (Paperback)

In spite of all the accolades heaped upon this directory of woody cultivars it is not without a downside. The sturdy size and thick paper which make it stand up to horticulturally engaged hands make for a clumsy book at home or in the library. Not much thought was given to lay-out and typography, with the wrong font chosen for this lay-out. The style of writing is rather dry and a little wordy. The nurseryman's indifference to spelling shines through often enough to make me ache for a corrector's pencil.

The cover claims "Identification" as a primary function of the book, but all the 'Manual' has to offer here is looking up a supposed identity and making a comparison. Pictorial support is quite limited (usually one line-drawing per species, mostly of a single leaf).

What this book does offer is the chance to quickly look up an unfamiliar cultivar, and this is why reviewers call it a "Bible". Any use beyond that will be a bonus.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the Bible of woody plants for any serious gardener
Whether you're a plant collector or an avid gardener, or both as I am, this book is worth its weight in gold (and it weighs a lot). Dirr's work is indispensable. Read more

Published on Aug 29 2007 by Marcel Beauchamp

5.0 out of 5 stars Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Orna
Dirr has the final word on all woody plants. You would be hardpressed to find any tree or shrub commonly used (and not so commonly used) today that is not listed in this... Read more

Published on July 1 2004