A quick post to alert any fellow Kindle owners of a bargain buy. 'The Well Tended Perennial Garden - Planting and Pruning Techniques' by Tracy DiSabato-Aust is currently available for a mere snip at £2.32 in the U.K and at $3.78 on the other side of the pond. I would have downloaded it but already have a hardback copy of the first edition which is a most practical and hands on how to tome. Described by the publishers Timber Press as "the first, and still the most thorough, book to detail the essential practises of perennial care such as deadheading, pinching, cutting back, thinning, disbudding and deadleafing, all of which are thoroughly explained and illustrated. More than 200 new color photos have been added to this revised edition, showing perennials in various border situations and providing images for each of the entries in the A- Z encyclopedia of important perennial species."
Useful appendixes include a yearly planting and maintenance schedule which although a guide for U.S. Mid-west gardens can be adapted to British gardens. There are also some fascinating lists of the specific pruning and maintenance requirements of perennials. These include a list of perennials which reseed which could either save you much weeding or produce more pass on plants depending which way you look at it. Other lists give guidelines as to the intervals at which perennials are likely to need dividing. I'm reassured to read that my aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard) only requires division every ten years or more - the last time nearly polished himself off. The author warns that the plant has tough roots and resents disturbance and that's an understatement!
Although this could be a very dry book the author's detailed observations and her gentle sense of humour make sure that it's not. It's certainly worth adding to your Kindle's virtual bookshelves at that price.
That sounds like a bargain, pity I haven't got a Kindle. There's one on my wish list for Christmas though.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a really useful book, Anna. I don't have a Kindle - prefer actual books, especially 'how to' books with pictures in - gardening ones bestest!!
ReplyDeleteHmm - might look out for that Anna but, like others before me, in 'real' book format!
ReplyDeleteI have already another one of her books -The well tended perennial garden- and like it a lot! As an old dinosaur I shall remain a real book person though ;)
ReplyDeleteYou've prompted me to try my first ever nonfiction kindle purchase!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments which were much appreciated. I would choose a book any day but have come to the conclusion that there is room in my life for both. My Kindle has been a godsend over the last few years when traveling. Hope that Santa is listening Jo. Glad that you have been tempted Janet - it's indeed a snip at that price :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. I don't have a kindle but will look out for the book version as it sounds so useful.
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