Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges: Secrets for Selection ... (ISBN 1580112595)

Book Description:
Trees, shrubs, and hedges are the "bones," or essential framework, of any landscape design. Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges explains how to select the finest plants for specific growing conditions, as well as plants that look good together. Over 569 color photographs and 128 illustrations provide instruction and inspiration to landscape for four-season interest, color, and beauty. Descriptions of over 1,000 of the best plants are included - "best" because they are beautiful, low-maintenance, pest- and disease-resistant, and available at local nurseries and home centers. Complete Trees, Shrubs & Hedges provides all the necessary information to add privacy, shade, color, and texture to the landscape all year round.

Stay woody:
Jacqueline Heriteau tells how to choose woody plants. She also tells how to get COMPLETE TREES, SHRUBS & HEDGES off to a good start. Then she tells what'll be needed for a healthy, long life. The way to do that's by answering three questions. (1) Do I have the correct plant for what I have in mind? In other words, do I want a woody plant because of its ability to fence off spaces, such as acanthus and yew shrubs do so well? Or its bark such as eastern ninebark shrub, hickory, and Kentucky coffee? Or fall color such as American sweet gum, ash, birch, black gum, Franklin, hornbeam, shumard oak, smoke, and tulip? Or flowerings such as cinquefoil and summersweet shrubs, redbud, sourwood, swamp magnolia? Or fruits such as serviceberry shrub? Or leaves such as live oak Virginiana, and leucothoe and oak leaf hydrangea shrubs? Or winter interest such as incense cedar? (2) Do I have it in the correct soil, as part of the correct environment? Of course, a woody plant such as American yellowwood, like lavender, makes not-so-correct, poorer soils better. It`s friendly to nitrogen-fixing bacteria which naturally make soils fertile. (3) Will I give it the correct care? For in landscaping it's important to balance evergreen with deciduous plants, as well as present and future size with space. Then it just comes down to following a pruning schedule; meeting light and water needs; using compost and mulches; and watering. But there'll be constant worries over diseases and pests, of which the most challenging will undoubtedly be deer! The author offers readers a beautifully illustrated, organized and written book. She fills each page with clear, helpful information and interesting stories. She ends with a much-appreciated glossary and a fine index. What's not to like?

A primer worth owning:
This book is a little distracting because it groups descriptions of trees by their scientific name, which sort of promises a thorough examination of each type of tree, but this book is not very comprehensive in its coverage of either the species it covers or the species readily available to the home gardener. This book has good information on garden design and sincerely beautiful photos. I am consistently happy with any gardening book from this publisher, and although this book provides little more than a cursory overview, it does contain helpful information and attractive illustrations.

Really disappointing:
Well, there's nothing "Complete" in this book. Yes, you will find a very good index of trees, shurbs & hedges. Yes, you will see nice pictures for everyone. And yes, you will get some details about each species. But that's about all you'll get. Each specie has 1-2 pages allocated to it. And that includes pictures. So you can imagine how much information there is. It's kinda like a bread book would say "in order to make bread mix flour and water and bake in the oven". Try the "Surpise me!" feature from the Amazon Online Reader to check different sections in the book.