Dryland Gardening: Plants that Survive and Thrive in Tough Conditions - Softcover

Bennett, Jennifer

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554070317 ISBN 13: 9781554070312

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2005

Synopsis

An essential reference to gardening in hot and cold dry climates.

Gardening where summers are hot and prone to periods of drought, or where winters are snowy one week and freezing rain the next, is best managed by xeriscaping -- dryland gardening techniques that favor not only water conservation but also the conservation of time, energy and other resources.

Xeriscaping enthusiasts exist throughout North America wherever the climate calls for dryland gardening, from the Great Plains prairies to the California desert.

Dryland Gardening explains time-tested strategies:

• Coping with limited access to water
• Dealing with invasive plants
• Dealing with trees under stress
• Nurturing groundcovers and grasses
• Starting bulbs, perennials and vines
• Growing vegetables, herbs and annuals.

This book includes both practical advice for dry-climate gardeners as well as an extensive planting list for grasses and groundcovers, bulbs, perennials and vines, vegetables and annuals, herbs, roses and shrubs.

Each plant entry provides:

• Common and botanical names
• Detailed descriptions
• Planting instructions, care and maintenance.

Dryland Gardening celebrates a resilient garden with a beauty that requires fewer resources and less time.

About this title

From the Author:

I am a committed environmentalist, so reducing not only pesticides but also water usage is important to me wherever I garden. As the climate changes and weather extremes become more common, water-wise gardening techniques become even more important. Dry extremes -- droughts -- require plants that can survive without watering, whether for a week or all summer. All the plants in this book are drought tolerant. But these same plants will survive the opposite extreme of extended periods of rain provided they are grown in well drained soil out of the shade. Some prefer almost pure sand or gravel. Most do best on a slope or in a raised bed, so excess water drains away. In about 30 years of gardening in varied conditions and observing gardens in places I've visited, I've found that the plants in this book are among the toughest and most beautiful a gardener can grow. Because they are quite self-reliant once established, they're also good choices for places like summer cottages where gardeners can't always be around for frequent watering or fussing.

About the Author:

Jennifer Bennett lives in Sydenham, Ontario and is the author of several books, including Lilacs for the Garden, and writes for gardening magazines.

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1554070317
• ISBN 13: 9781554070312
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192