Look Inside
Read all about what gardeners do, and how those things can be done better. Whether amateur or professional, these are things every gardener needs to be aware of! Surprisingly, even people who work as gardeners make mistakes, often through ignorance; such as cutting a lawn too low, watering plants too much or using mulch inappropriately. John Mason has been gardening for 50 years since he started his horticulture diploma in the late 1960’s; and many of his staff have similar extensive experience. This book brings all of that experience together and distils it into an easy and informative read for anyone who wants to garden better.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: APPROACHES TO GARDENING
Ways to Garden
Garden Planning
CHAPTER 2: TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Selecting and Using Tools and Machines
Types of Gardening Tools and Equipment
Equipment
CHAPTER 3: PLANTS AND PLANTING
Plant Names
Plant Groups
Planting in Garden Beds
Taking Care of Young Plants
Greenhouses and Shadehouses
CHAPTER 4: GROWING MEDIA AND POTS
Soil Composition
Problems with Organic Materials
Potting Media
Plant Containers
CHAPTER 5: WATERING AND FEEDING
Applying Water to Plants
Trickle Irrigation in Easy Care Gardens
Water Saving Measures
Feeding Plants
CHAPTER 6: PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS
Biological Competitors
Environmental Problems
The Importance of Healthy Soil to Plant Health
Garden Hygiene – Keeping the Garden Healthy
How Water Affects Plant Health
Air, Soil Temperature, Light: Importance to Plant Growth
Biodiversity: The Path to Garden and Plant Health
Plant Protection
Protecting from Cold and Heat
Using Organic Sprays and Dusts
What Makes a Weed?
Using Weedkillers
Weed Identification
Weed Control Methods
CHAPTER 7: PRUNING AND MOWING
Pruning Plants
Grass Surfaces
Maintaining Lawns
CHAPTER 8: GARDENING TECHNIQUES
Organic Gardening
Permaculture
No-dig Gardening
No-Till Planting in Turf
Making Compost
Crop Rotation
Seed Saving
Environmental Horticulture
Integrated Pest Management
Hydroponics
Bonsai