Still looking for gifts for your gardener? The three books in today’s article cover hot topics in gardening. Many gardeners are trying to reduce the amount of lawn that they have to maintain. Growing food while still having a pretty garden in the city can be hard to do. And gardeners are starting to really focus on using less water in the landscape.
The first book, “Groundcover Revolution” by Kathy Jentz, is for homeowners who want to swap out the work of fertilizing and mowing their lawn for sitting in a “lawn” chair while enjoying flowers in the groundcover.
Groundcover plants are usually low-growing without having to be mowed. Many have flowers that attract pollinating insects, and many grow better in the shade than does grass. They all need less fertilizer, weedkiller, and watering than lawn grasses.
The book includes profiles of 40 species of plants including some that are evergreen and some that are deer resistant. Also included are step-by-step instructions on how to remove the lawn and replace it with groundcover plants.
The urban landscape is notorious for being ugly and drab. Urban areas that do have flowers, shrubs, and trees are known to have less crime as well as other benefits. A garden that can be pretty while also supplying some food is fantastic.
In “The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City” by Kathy Jentz and Teresa Speight, you‘ll find dozens of inspiring and creative ways to grow flowers, shrubs, vegetables, herbs, and other plants in small spaces and with a limited budget. Whether you want to grow on a balcony, rooftop, front stoop, or tiny urban patio, turn your growing dreams into reality and build a gorgeous and unique garden that showcases your style while still being functional and productive. With the ingenious ideas and resourceful tactics found in this book, you’ll be maximizing yields and beauty from every square inch of your space, while also making a lush outdoor living area that you'll crave spending time in.
If you’ve visited any town in the southwestern United States, you’ve seen gravel and dirt landscapes barren of plants. They might be using very little water, but they’re ugly, and they aren’t helping native wildlife. Plants native to that region aren’t all the same color of green, and many have beautiful flowers.
“Hot Color, Dry Garden” by Nan Sterman provides home gardeners with a joyful, color-filled way to exuberantly garden in low-water conditions. Ms. Sterman is a California native and dry-climate gardening expert. The book highlights inspiring examples of brilliant gardens filled with water-smart plants. Gardeners will find advice for adding color to the garden, information about designing for structure and texture, and a plant directory that features drought-tolerant plants that dazzle. “Hot Color, Dry Garden” is a must-have guide for gardeners in the U.S. Southwest and other areas affected by drought and low-water conditions.
