A plain-English guide to the world of herb gardening Starting an herb garden isn't free, but it certainly outweighs the growing costs of buying retail herbs. Plus, adding homegrown ingredients to your meals is a healthy and tasty way to improve upon any dish you whip up at home.This friendly, hands-on guide is an excellent introduction to the world of herb gardening. It gives you tips and advice to grow a thriving herb garden that will add depth and flavor to home-cooked meals-as well as boost your health. How to choose, plant, and care for herbsCovers ready-made versus homemade soil mixes, starting plants from seeds, and other fundamentalsHow to prevent insects, pests, and diseases from invading your containersOver 30 herb recipes for everyday uses, including rubs, marinades, beauty products, and moreWhether you're interested in getting step-by-step instructions for starting on your first herb garden or already have one and want to learn new tips and techniques, Herb Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition has you covered!

Put down roots with the basics of gardening! Don't know your Hosta undulata from your Bellis perennis? Leaf through this fun and easy reference to learn all about gardening! First, find your gardening style and plan the garden you want while staying within a budget, then check out explanations of all those mysterious zones. Still curious? Grab all the right gear and pick out the right plants for you. You'll be growing your own annuals, perennials, and vegetables before you can say Lychnis coronaria!Open the book and find: Guidance on planning your garden Explanations of hardiness and frost zones Descriptions of proper gear The differences between annuals and perennials Tips for growing vegetables Information on what you need to keep your plants happy

The easy way to succeed at urban gardening A townhouse yard, a balcony, a fire escape, a south-facing window—even a basement apartment can all be suitable locations to grow enough food to save a considerable amount of money and enjoy the freshest, healthiest produce possible.Urban Gardening For Dummies helps you make the most of limited space through the use of proven small-space gardening techniques that allow gardeners to maximize yield while minimizing space. Covers square-foot gardening and vertical and layered gardeningIncludes guidance on working with container gardening, succession gardening, and companion gardeningOffers guidance on pest management, irrigation and rain barrels, and small-space compostingIf you're interested in starting an urban garden that makes maximum use of minimal space, Urban Gardening For Dummies has you covered.

Cultivate your passion to growIn a 1625 essay, Francis Bacon called gardens "the purest of human pleasures," and what was true then is even more so today—gardening can give you a serene refuge from the short-lived (and noisy!) distractions of modern life and a fertile basis for satisfaction that will bear fruit long into the future. To help you get started on your own leafy paradise, the new edition of Gardening Basics For Dummies grounds you thoroughly in the fundamentals of soil, flowers, trees, and lawns—and helps you get to know the names of what you're planting along the way!In a friendly, straightforward style, professional horticulturist Steven A. Frowine distills 50 years of gardening experience to show you how to start growing your expertise—from planning out your own mini-Eden and planting your first annuals, bulbs, and perennials through to laying the perfect lawn, raising tasty crops, and even introducing fish to your landscape! He also digs into the grubbier side of horticultural life, making sure you're as prepared as any seasoned farmer to deal with pests, weeds, and other challenges the earth will throw up at you. Create your ideal garden planBecome an expert on common flora with definitions and descriptionsKnow how to look after your soilGet creative with butterfly and children's gardensWhether you're beginning with a tiny garden in a box, or beautifying your property with tree-lined groves and flowery bowers, this is the ideal introduction to the intense pleasure of gardening and will make you happy to reap what you’ve sown!

Vegetables from your own farm to your own tableWe all love good food, and the fresher it is, the better! And what could be fresher than farm-to-table terms than vegetables you've grown at home? The new edition of Vegetable Gardening For Dummies puts you in touch with your roots in a thousands of years old farming tradition by demonstrating how easy it is to grow your own. And there's no need to buy a farm: all you need to become a successful cultivator of the land is this book and a small plot of soil in the yard, or a container set aside for some tasty natural edibles. Add water and some care, love, and attention—et voila!In a friendly, come-relax-in-my-garden style Charlie Nardozzi—leading horticultural writer and guest expert on shows such as Martha Stewart Living Radio—shares the nutritious results of a lifetime of vegetable-growing experience to delve into the nitty-gritty of micro-farming. It's not rocket science—quite the opposite—but you do need a bit of patience before you can reap your first glorious harvest. This book shows you how to master that, as you get down and dirty with the enjoyable work of building soil, starting seeds, controlling pests, and maintaining your garden. And as your early efforts turn to green shoots, you can dig deeper into information on special tips and tricks, as well as hundreds of vegetable varieties—many of which are beautiful to behold as well as tasty to eat! Plan out your gardenKnow your veggies, from tomatoes to chardKeep your plants happy and healthyHarvest, store, and preserve your cropsWhether your thumb is a fertile green or you've never put plant-to-pot before, this book will bring out your inner farmer: you'll find everything required to transform your garden into a self-renewing larder—and complement every meal with a crisp, healthy, home-grown treat.

Create an eye-catching outdoor oasis with this no-nonsense guide to landscaping As families spend more time at home, they're expanding their living space to their yards, decks, and patios. When you're ready to upgrade the look of your landscape, Landscaping For Dummies offers advice on installing fences and walkways, choosing hardy plants and trees, and enhancing natural habitats for the critters and creatures lurking in your neighborhood. You'll find out how to make your backyard a relaxing retreat space and discover the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from working in your yard. Landscaping For Dummies includes: Lists of recommended plants and varieties, including the best ones for privacy plantings, low-maintenance groundcovers, and small gardensAdvice on how to deal with special landscaping concerns, including fire-prone areas, bee and butterfly gardens, and drought-tolerant and native landscapesInstructions on installing permanent features like decks, patios, fences, and morePointers on how to water more efficiently, including the latest tools and technologies that can save you timeWith a little bit of planning and some digging, trimming, or planting, you'll be set to enjoy your yard whenever the mood strikes. Let Landscaping For Dummies be your guide to making the most of your outdoor space.

Become a plant parent to some of the most stunning flowering plants you’ve ever seen Orchids display more beautiful and exotic flowers than you’ll find on other flowering plants, but they do require some love and care to grow well. With help from Orchids For Dummies, anyone can be successful in growing and flowering these gorgeous and fragrant plants in their garden or home! This step-by-step guide shows you how to select orchids that will thrive in your own unique environment and how to water, fertilize, repot, and propagate them on your own. You’ll learn to decipher complicated orchid names (“phalaenopsis,” anyone?) and create spectacular displays. You’ll also discover:  New information about updated plant and orchid classification systems so you can know what to buy at your local garden center or store Expanded info on moth orchids, one of the most popular varieties of the plant sold in the world today Updated instructions on which pesticides, fertilizers, and potting materials you should be using Perfect for amateur gardeners, orchid-lovers, and anyone interested in growing these exquisite flowers on their own, Orchids For Dummies will turn your thumb green in no time at all!

The beginner-friendly guide to creating a lush and thriving lawn With Lawn Care For Dummies you get the know-how you need to grow a great lawn, improve an existing lawn, or keep your lawn healthy. You'll learn all about the different types of grasses, including where they grow best and what they need to thrive. This book also walks you through the process of installing sprinklers and other irrigations systems, so you'll be set up for grassy success. Then, get advice on figuring out the maintenance schedule that works best for you—watering, fertilizing, mowing, dethatching, aerating, overseeding, and beyond. You also get insight into how to do all of this with an eye on minimizing water need and keeping the rest of the environment healthy. Create the best lawn for your climate and your personal lawncare styleOptimize your upkeep with pro tips on when, how much, and how oftenGet troubleshooting guidance for damaged lawns, and get rid of pests, diseases, and weedsImprove the health of your lawn with easy-to-follow adviceThis updated edition of Lawn Care For Dummies is perfect for the everyday lawn owner, soon-to-be owner, and DIY lawn care advocate looking to grow a better lawn without breaking the bank.

Only one thing is standing between you and a fabulous lawn: It's called Lawn Care For Dummies. If you want a spiffy and well-coifed lawn (and not the overgrown, unruly one that people comment on when they pass by your house), you'll find everything you need to know to help you make your lawn the most dazzling spectacle on the block. Let authors Lance Walheim and the gardening experts at the National Gardening Association treat you and your yard to a megadose of lawn care information. In Lawn Care For Dummies, Walheim and the NGA give you the dirt on all the essentials, including how to * Design a low-maintenance or a high-maintenance lawn* Evaluate the pros and cons of planting a lawn from seed or starting one from sod* Discover how often you need to water your lawn without under-watering it or waterlogging it* Choose a mower that's right for your grass type* Deal effectively with wicked weeds and pesky insects* Create alternative lawns, such as ground cover plants, decks, and patiosLawn Care For Dummies also features a beautiful color insert with photos illustrating the various types of lawns found in yards across the world.

A plain-English guide to the world of herb gardening Starting an herb garden isn't free, but it certainly outweighs the growing costs of buying retail herbs. Plus, adding homegrown ingredients to your meals is a healthy and tasty way to improve upon any dish you whip up at home.This friendly, hands-on guide is an excellent introduction to the world of herb gardening. It gives you tips and advice to grow a thriving herb garden that will add depth and flavor to home-cooked meals-as well as boost your health. How to choose, plant, and care for herbsCovers ready-made versus homemade soil mixes, starting plants from seeds, and other fundamentalsHow to prevent insects, pests, and diseases from invading your containersOver 30 herb recipes for everyday uses, including rubs, marinades, beauty products, and moreWhether you're interested in getting step-by-step instructions for starting on your first herb garden or already have one and want to learn new tips and techniques, Herb Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition has you covered!

Put down roots with the basics of gardening! Don't know your Hosta undulata from your Bellis perennis? Leaf through this fun and easy reference to learn all about gardening! First, find your gardening style and plan the garden you want while staying within a budget, then check out explanations of all those mysterious zones. Still curious? Grab all the right gear and pick out the right plants for you. You'll be growing your own annuals, perennials, and vegetables before you can say Lychnis coronaria!Open the book and find: Guidance on planning your garden Explanations of hardiness and frost zones Descriptions of proper gear The differences between annuals and perennials Tips for growing vegetables Information on what you need to keep your plants happy

The easy way to succeed at urban gardening A townhouse yard, a balcony, a fire escape, a south-facing window—even a basement apartment can all be suitable locations to grow enough food to save a considerable amount of money and enjoy the freshest, healthiest produce possible.Urban Gardening For Dummies helps you make the most of limited space through the use of proven small-space gardening techniques that allow gardeners to maximize yield while minimizing space. Covers square-foot gardening and vertical and layered gardeningIncludes guidance on working with container gardening, succession gardening, and companion gardeningOffers guidance on pest management, irrigation and rain barrels, and small-space compostingIf you're interested in starting an urban garden that makes maximum use of minimal space, Urban Gardening For Dummies has you covered.

Cultivate your passion to growIn a 1625 essay, Francis Bacon called gardens "the purest of human pleasures," and what was true then is even more so today—gardening can give you a serene refuge from the short-lived (and noisy!) distractions of modern life and a fertile basis for satisfaction that will bear fruit long into the future. To help you get started on your own leafy paradise, the new edition of Gardening Basics For Dummies grounds you thoroughly in the fundamentals of soil, flowers, trees, and lawns—and helps you get to know the names of what you're planting along the way!In a friendly, straightforward style, professional horticulturist Steven A. Frowine distills 50 years of gardening experience to show you how to start growing your expertise—from planning out your own mini-Eden and planting your first annuals, bulbs, and perennials through to laying the perfect lawn, raising tasty crops, and even introducing fish to your landscape! He also digs into the grubbier side of horticultural life, making sure you're as prepared as any seasoned farmer to deal with pests, weeds, and other challenges the earth will throw up at you. Create your ideal garden planBecome an expert on common flora with definitions and descriptionsKnow how to look after your soilGet creative with butterfly and children's gardensWhether you're beginning with a tiny garden in a box, or beautifying your property with tree-lined groves and flowery bowers, this is the ideal introduction to the intense pleasure of gardening and will make you happy to reap what you’ve sown!

Vegetables from your own farm to your own tableWe all love good food, and the fresher it is, the better! And what could be fresher than farm-to-table terms than vegetables you've grown at home? The new edition of Vegetable Gardening For Dummies puts you in touch with your roots in a thousands of years old farming tradition by demonstrating how easy it is to grow your own. And there's no need to buy a farm: all you need to become a successful cultivator of the land is this book and a small plot of soil in the yard, or a container set aside for some tasty natural edibles. Add water and some care, love, and attention—et voila!In a friendly, come-relax-in-my-garden style Charlie Nardozzi—leading horticultural writer and guest expert on shows such as Martha Stewart Living Radio—shares the nutritious results of a lifetime of vegetable-growing experience to delve into the nitty-gritty of micro-farming. It's not rocket science—quite the opposite—but you do need a bit of patience before you can reap your first glorious harvest. This book shows you how to master that, as you get down and dirty with the enjoyable work of building soil, starting seeds, controlling pests, and maintaining your garden. And as your early efforts turn to green shoots, you can dig deeper into information on special tips and tricks, as well as hundreds of vegetable varieties—many of which are beautiful to behold as well as tasty to eat! Plan out your gardenKnow your veggies, from tomatoes to chardKeep your plants happy and healthyHarvest, store, and preserve your cropsWhether your thumb is a fertile green or you've never put plant-to-pot before, this book will bring out your inner farmer: you'll find everything required to transform your garden into a self-renewing larder—and complement every meal with a crisp, healthy, home-grown treat.

Create an eye-catching outdoor oasis with this no-nonsense guide to landscaping As families spend more time at home, they're expanding their living space to their yards, decks, and patios. When you're ready to upgrade the look of your landscape, Landscaping For Dummies offers advice on installing fences and walkways, choosing hardy plants and trees, and enhancing natural habitats for the critters and creatures lurking in your neighborhood. You'll find out how to make your backyard a relaxing retreat space and discover the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from working in your yard. Landscaping For Dummies includes: Lists of recommended plants and varieties, including the best ones for privacy plantings, low-maintenance groundcovers, and small gardensAdvice on how to deal with special landscaping concerns, including fire-prone areas, bee and butterfly gardens, and drought-tolerant and native landscapesInstructions on installing permanent features like decks, patios, fences, and morePointers on how to water more efficiently, including the latest tools and technologies that can save you timeWith a little bit of planning and some digging, trimming, or planting, you'll be set to enjoy your yard whenever the mood strikes. Let Landscaping For Dummies be your guide to making the most of your outdoor space.

Become a plant parent to some of the most stunning flowering plants you’ve ever seen Orchids display more beautiful and exotic flowers than you’ll find on other flowering plants, but they do require some love and care to grow well. With help from Orchids For Dummies, anyone can be successful in growing and flowering these gorgeous and fragrant plants in their garden or home! This step-by-step guide shows you how to select orchids that will thrive in your own unique environment and how to water, fertilize, repot, and propagate them on your own. You’ll learn to decipher complicated orchid names (“phalaenopsis,” anyone?) and create spectacular displays. You’ll also discover:  New information about updated plant and orchid classification systems so you can know what to buy at your local garden center or store Expanded info on moth orchids, one of the most popular varieties of the plant sold in the world today Updated instructions on which pesticides, fertilizers, and potting materials you should be using Perfect for amateur gardeners, orchid-lovers, and anyone interested in growing these exquisite flowers on their own, Orchids For Dummies will turn your thumb green in no time at all!

The beginner-friendly guide to creating a lush and thriving lawn With Lawn Care For Dummies you get the know-how you need to grow a great lawn, improve an existing lawn, or keep your lawn healthy. You'll learn all about the different types of grasses, including where they grow best and what they need to thrive. This book also walks you through the process of installing sprinklers and other irrigations systems, so you'll be set up for grassy success. Then, get advice on figuring out the maintenance schedule that works best for you—watering, fertilizing, mowing, dethatching, aerating, overseeding, and beyond. You also get insight into how to do all of this with an eye on minimizing water need and keeping the rest of the environment healthy. Create the best lawn for your climate and your personal lawncare styleOptimize your upkeep with pro tips on when, how much, and how oftenGet troubleshooting guidance for damaged lawns, and get rid of pests, diseases, and weedsImprove the health of your lawn with easy-to-follow adviceThis updated edition of Lawn Care For Dummies is perfect for the everyday lawn owner, soon-to-be owner, and DIY lawn care advocate looking to grow a better lawn without breaking the bank.

Only one thing is standing between you and a fabulous lawn: It's called Lawn Care For Dummies. If you want a spiffy and well-coifed lawn (and not the overgrown, unruly one that people comment on when they pass by your house), you'll find everything you need to know to help you make your lawn the most dazzling spectacle on the block. Let authors Lance Walheim and the gardening experts at the National Gardening Association treat you and your yard to a megadose of lawn care information. In Lawn Care For Dummies, Walheim and the NGA give you the dirt on all the essentials, including how to * Design a low-maintenance or a high-maintenance lawn* Evaluate the pros and cons of planting a lawn from seed or starting one from sod* Discover how often you need to water your lawn without under-watering it or waterlogging it* Choose a mower that's right for your grass type* Deal effectively with wicked weeds and pesky insects* Create alternative lawns, such as ground cover plants, decks, and patiosLawn Care For Dummies also features a beautiful color insert with photos illustrating the various types of lawns found in yards across the world.