Hypertufa containers - also known as troughs - are rustic, striking, versatile, and perfect for small, Alpine plants. A mix of cement, perlite, peat, and water, they are simple and affordable to make at home. Hypertufa Containers details everything a home gardeners needs to know to make their own troughs and successfully garden in them. Readers will discover the amazing variety of plants that thrive in troughs. Plant portraits include growing and cultivation information along with potting tips. The book features step-by-step instructions for making hypertufa containers in a variety of shapes and sizes. The instructions are easy to follow and feature colour photography. Hypertufa Containers is for container gardeners, rock gardeners, and people looking for a new DIY project.

The Royal Horticultural Society's definitive guide to propagating, nurturing, and designing with more than 200 cacti and succulents.

How can you encourage your bunny ear cactus to flower and flourish? What is the best method for propagating an echeveria or kalanchoe? What exactly are living stones, and where do they grow in the wild?

RHS Practical Cactus & Succulent Book is the ultimate reference book for cactus and succulent enthusiasts. An extensive illustrated plant directory profiles more than 200 succulent and cactus varieties, with instructions on how to grow each one.

Show off your plants with inspirational display ideas and step-by-step projects. Follow simple propagation steps to increase your cacti and succulent collection for free. Keep your plants healthy with advice and tips for care and cultivation.

Drawing on the unrivalled expertise of the Royal Horticultural Society, RHS Practical Cactus & Succulent Book is everything a cactus-lover needs.

My Rainbow Unicorn Garden is bursting with crafts and activities perfect for children. Created with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK's leading gardening charity, this amazing book is packed with fun things to make and do both indoors and outdoors. It's time to get your green-hooves ready with your favourite rainbow unicorn friends! Grow flowers and vegetables, from sunflowers to pumpkins Create sweet-smelling petal jars to give your room a lovely fragrance Make your own mini rainbow unicorn garden Discover the wonderful secrets of gardening with creative, colourful unicorns! These unicorns are off on a garden tour to learn all about plants, wildlife and top gardening tips. The unicorns can't wait to start exploring - and you can join them! This book is packed with fun facts and activities, so you can become a gardening expert, too. Step-by-step gardening activities - perfect for families to enjoy the garden together Easy-to-follow instructions for growing your own plants Colouring in, spot-the-difference, and make your own paper rose wreath!

GARDEN MEDIA GUILD PRACTICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2012 Fruit and vegetables have formed a fundamental part of the Scottish diet for thousands of years. This fascinating and practical book explores the history of fruit, vegetable and herb growing in Scotland, and provides a contemporary guide to the best techniques for growing produce, whether in a garden, allotment, patio or window box. Packed with hundreds of colour photographs, drawings and descriptive diagrams, this is a detailed and comprehensive bible for the gardener. In addition to advice on climate and soil conditions, it has contacts for organisations, specialist societies, nurseries and suppliers, as well as a detailed bibliography and list of useful websites. This is an essential reference book for anyone aiming to get the best possible results from their garden produce north of the border.

A History of Zinnias brings forward the fascinating adventure of zinnias and the spirit of civilization. With colorful illustrations, this book is a cultural and horticultural history documenting the development of garden zinnias-one of the top ten garden annuals grown in the United States today.The deep and exciting history of garden zinnias pieces together a tale involving Aztecs, Spanish conquistadors, people of faith, people of medicine, explorers, scientists, writers, botanists, painters, and gardeners. The trail leads from the halls of Moctezuma to a cliff-diving prime minister; from Handel, Mozart, and Rossini to Gilbert and Sullivan; from a little-known confession by Benjamin Franklin to a controversy raised by Charles Darwin; from Emily Dickinson, who writes of death and zinnias, to a twenty-year-old woman who writes of reanimated corpses; and from a scissor-wielding septuagenarian who painted with bits of paper to the "Black Grandma Moses" who painted zinnias and inspired the opera Zinnias. Zinnias are far more than just a flower: They represent the constant exploration of humankind's quest for beauty and innovation.

Written by a hard-working horticulturalist for fellow gardeners, the aim of this diary is to jog people's memories, share plant stories, demystify gardening and most importantly make the reader smile. You'll find a personal year-long diary of gardening along with favourite seasonal plants, timely reminders and entertaining tales of moving sheep, visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show and speaking at garden clubs. Tamsin's open garden is at the heart of a working farm, so her book reflects the twists and turns of the countryside. For anyone just about to embark on a life in the country, or whose town garden is never tidy and who wonders how the professionals do it, it's a must read. Pick up tips on how to keep warm whilst gardening, get rid of chilblains and grow seasonal food from someone who lives, breathes and eats country gardening.

Plant is a stylish, practical, modern guide to the world of house plants by the Guardian houseplant columnist, Gynelle Leon. House plants can change a home in an instant. A flash of colour, a calming influence, they are adaptable, affordable and - if you know how - easy to care for. In Plant, horticultural expert and author of Prick, Gynelle Leon, gives you all the knowledge you need to help your plants thrive. Featuring: - A plant gallery showcasing some of the very best house plants - A chapter of styling ideas to inspire you to show your plants and their best - A care guide with all you need to know to help your plants thrive

No longer do we need a walled vegetable garden to grow succulent fresh produce for the kitchen. Large patio pots and grow bags can bring this useful hobby to the smallest of spaces. This is a book that introduces the basics in a picture-packed format. Everything that you could want for your new personal eating experience is here, from veggies through herbs and fruits, to the kitchen and the recipes to use for it all. It's all very accessible and simply laid out. It guides you one step at a time to become a real gardener.

Peony features growing advice for one of the most beautiful and popular flowering plants. Enthusiastic home gardeners and peony collectors alike will learn the history of the plant, discover the different types of peonies available, and enjoy profiles of the best 194 varieties. Growing information includes details on climate, soil, light, planting, and water needs. Helpful lists detail the best peony varieties for specific needs, and a resource listing shares the best places to buy peonies and the best public gardens to see them in.

Imagine a garden that is as beautiful as it is productive, that gives you fresh, wholesome, chemical-free food with flavours that go way beyond anything the shops can offer. In Eat What You Grow, Alys shows you how to create a rich, biodiverse garden that feeds not only you, but supports a wide range of pollinators, bees and butterflies, as well as other wildlife. From perennial vegetables that come back year after year, to easy-to-grow delights, she has selected plants that hold their own in both the garden and on the plate. And tells you how to raise these plants, guiding you through the process of feeding your soil, saving seed and taking cuttings to increase your supplies. She also teaches you simple and effective design tools that will ensure your garden looks striking and wild, brings joy to your world and feeds you day after day.

One of the most exciting aspects of gardening is growing your own plants from scratch. In this definitive guide, Alan Titchmarsh shows how simple it is to propagate plants by following a few basic techniques. Learn how to produce a flourishing garden filled with ornamental and edible plants, at very little expense. * Demystified, down-to-earth approach to propagation * Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step diagrams * A-Z directory with recommended propagation techniques for each plant * Key tips on taking cuttings, sowing seed, layering and division * Guidance on promoting growth of young plants

No flower surpasses orchids for beauty and diversity, and with the expert advice, practical instructions, and beautiful how-to photos found here, even nervous newcomers can grow them with confidence. In addition to an extensive illustrated directory of the specialized and popular orchid groups, detailed explanations cover all the techniques needed to keep orchids in good shape. There are hints and tips on watering, feeding, lighting, and temperature conditions, as well as information on propagation, hybridization, caring for orchids in pots, and handling pests and diseases. Stunning close-up color images provide an amazing view of many of the loveliest plants. With this guide by your side, your orchids will flourish the first time and every time.

Indoor plants have gotten a bad rap and are often associated with dusty and dowdy African violets, languishing philodendrons, and bloom-free orchids. No longer It's time for plant lovers to dust off their houseplants, update their image, and discover just how exciting, trendy, and crucial plants can be in the home.

"The Unexpected Houseplant," by renowned plant authority Tovah Martin, isn't your typical, old-fashioned, dowdy houseplant book. Martin's approach is revolutionary--picture brilliant spring bulbs by the bed, lush perennials brought in from the garden, quirky succulents in the kitchen, even flowering vines and small trees growing beside an easy chair. Along with loads of visual inspiration, readers will learn how to make unusual selections, where to best position plants in the home, and valuable tips on watering, feeding, grooming, pruning, and troubleshooting, season by season.

Martin also brings an evangelist's zeal to the task of convincing homeowners that indoor plants aren't just a luxury--they're a necessity. In addition to the design flair they add to a home, houseplants clean indoor air, which can be up to ten times more polluted than outdoor air.

Comprehensive, up-to-the-minute, and illustrated with gorgeous photography by Kindra Clineff, "The Unexpected Houseplant" is for beginners, green thumbs, decorators, and anyone who wants to infuse a bit of surprising green into their decor

Prick is a stylish, practical, modern guide to the world of cacti and succulents. "A comprehensive guide" BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Cacti and succulents are the plant of the moment. Beautiful, affordable and - if you know how - easy to care for, they're a short cut to creating brighter, calmer, more relaxing spaces in the home and office. In Prick, cactus and succulent expert Gynelle Leon gives you all the knowledge you need to help your plants thrive in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Featuring: A plant gallery, showcasing the many weird and wonderful varieties A chapter of styling ideas to show off your plants A care guide to help your cacti and succulents flourish As an RHS-award-winning plant photographer and founder of London's only shop dedicated to cacti and succulents, Gynelle is the perfect guide on your path to cactus know-how.

Discover how easy it is to harness the natural goodness of plants with over 50 homemade beauty recipes that can help you feel better, look better and have a healthy year! Most of us use lipbalms, body scrubs and cosmetics every day, but these can be full of chemicals and harmful to your skin and health. This book teaches you how to confidently make your own homemade remedies and natural beauty products using plants and herbs that are readily available, and often free, such as nettles, dandelions, herbs and hawthorn berries. Our gardens and hedgerows contain much of what we need to keep mild ailments at bay and it's fun giving it a go - instead of weeding the dandelions in your lawn, pick them and use them! Or plant marigolds, not just for their cheerful colour, but to make wonderful skin oils. With a helpful 'Season by Season' layout, you will know at a glance what to gather and when to gather it. Inside, you'll find homemade beauty recipes, including camomile bath soak, chocolate lip gloss, lavender bath bombs, mint lip balm, and more! Plus, plenty of healthy recipes for homemade remedies, from treatments for colds and overindulgence, to witch hazel spot gel, burn salves, skin-toning ointments, and even hay fever relief. This book is a source book for mind, body and soul, as well as a testament to the natural power and beauty of herbs. Get out there, keep your eyes open and discover the many widely available plants that you can use for your health - with the added bonus that they're not costing you anything. With Treat Yourself Natural you will feel empowered to explore the wonderful world of making healthy remedies and homemade beauty products, either for yourself or as gifts for your friends and family; after all, there is nothing nicer than a lovingly made present. "This book is full of brilliant ideas for things to make for yourself, or as wonderful gifts. Year in year out this will be an invaluable resource for a rainy day or a country walk, written by someone who really knows what she is talking about as well as living the same busy life as you and I." From the foreword, by Kirstie Allsopp

A food forest is a productive landscape developed around a mix of trees and perennials. Rooted in permaculture principles, this integrated approach to gardening incorporates a variety of plants such as fruit and nut trees, shrubs, vines, and perennial herbs and vegetables. Food forests can help increase biodiversity, protect valuable habitat for beneficial insects, and promote food security and resilience, all while providing an abundant harvest. The Food Forest Handbook is a practical manual for the design and management of a home-scale perennial polyculture garden. Simple, straightforward instructions guide the reader through: Getting started - site assessment and planning Tending the forest garden - maintaining soil health, succession planning, , mulching, pruning and more The fruits of your labor - crop profiles, harvest, storage, nutrition and recipes. This timely book makes the concept of food forests accessible to everyone. Focusing on the potential of perennial polyculture to enhance local food systems, The Food Forest Handbook shows the reader how to mix and match plants in unique combinations to establish bountiful landscapes and create genuine self-reliance in years to come. Darrell Frey is the owner and manager of Three Sisters Farm, a five-acre permaculture farm, solar greenhouse and market garden located in Western Pennsylvania. He has been permaculture teacher for thirty years, and is the author of Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm. Michelle Czolba is co-owner of Pittsburgh Permaculture and co-founded the Hazelwood Food Forest. She has extensive experience in the design and maintenance of perennial polyculture.

The text reflects the passions of the author and gives full details of the plants, from the latest nomenclatural changes to revisionist thinking on the ever-expanding limits of cold hardiness. Mike Dirr is a legend in the horticultural world, widely acknowledged as a leading expert on trees and shrubs for landscapes. Add to that more than 3500 color photographs, and indispensable backmatter lists for choosing exactly the right plant for the right purpose, and you have an unsurpassed resource for tree and shrub identification and selection, one that will be embraced by garden designers, landscape architects, urban foresters, park managers, nursery professionals---anyone who values hardiness, disease resistance, and beauty in their woody plants.

One of the most popular and successful gardening writers of the Victorian era, Shirley Hibberd (1825-90) was editor of three bestselling gardening magazines. He was highly influential - one of the first to highlight issues such as environmental conservation, water recycling and cruelty to animals - and he helped to establish what is now the vast consumer industry of amateur gardening. First published in 1871, this is one of many books he wrote on the subject, intended as a 'handy guide' for the creation of attractive flower gardens. In it Hibberd offers advice on such topics as bedding plants, border flowers, rockeries, and annual and biennial plants. He also presents methods for managing various types of garden, such as subtropical, alpine and rose gardens. Highly detailed and extensively illustrated, this book remains useful and relevant to both amateur enthusiasts and seasoned horticulturists.