Tree and Shrub Gardening for Minnesota & Wisconsin [Paperback]

Since we live in the South, but are building a cabin in Northern Wisconsin, we were at a loss for landscape ideas. General gardening books and catalogs do not specify a broad range of trees and shrubs to successfully grow in this climate. Rather than giving the reader generalized information about a specimen, this author provides detailed facts about the necessary soil, water, sunshine, and other care. Included are types of problems including temperature, susceptibility for diseases, insects, fungi, and any other difficulties the specimen may attract. In addition, ideas for placement and the positive aspects of each item are detailed. The pictures and clear prose make this a must for even the practiced gardener.

After moving to Wisconsin I purchased the whole series of these gardening guides (xxx for Minnesota and Wisconsin) so as to prepare for fall in my new 5 acre "garden". I already wrote a lengthy review for Perennials for Minnesota and Wisconsin, describing my deep disappointment in the series. I will give a summary here:

1. The choices are ordinary, and bring nothing special: I did not find a single "interesting" choice that I was not already aware of (I don't know that much abt gardening btw).
2. There is little or nothing that is truly specific to Minnesota or Wisconsin, no section/ selection of native plants, and little discussion of them, although when a plant is native the authors will often mention that fact in the description.
3. Some choices are outright dangerous due to their invasiveness. In addition, I feel that some problems and pests are greatly understated and misrepresented. I will give the example of red oak, highly susceptible to oak wilt, which has ravaged many counties and cost many millions of dollars along with much heartache to gardeners of these two states.

in summary, I find the works of the whole series disappointing at many levels. Their only interest (and the reason for my 2-star rating) is due to the quasi-total lack of alternative publications on the topic. I just ordered two more books on the subject (Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin and The Vegetation of Wisconsin: An Ordination of Plant Communities, the only two others I found),and will report on them when I have received them.

You may feel that you have no choice but to order these books due to lack of alternatives. If you do you will probably be disappointed.