A variety of practical gardening topics in handy small-format books that can be kept by one’s side while working in the garden.

The series was inspired by the author’s numerous visits and lecture tours to gardening clubs across the country. With South Africa’s variable climate and topography, each region presents its own set of unique challenges that make gardening a truly specialist hobby. But in spite of these problems, almost every South African town boasts exquisite gardens. This series aims to inspire and equip gardeners across the country with the knowledge and know-how to create a beautiful garden of their own.

In each book the secrets of successful gardening are summarised in ten key concepts.

Planned topics in the series include:

• Planning the garden
• Choosing plants for the garden
• Preparing the garden for planting
• Irrigation systems
• Composting and other types of nourishment
• Pests and diseases
• Water features and ponds
• Creating focal points in the garden
• Lighting for the garden
• Pruning
• Bulbs
• The winter garden
• And many more

Die tien uit tien tuinmaakreeks dek 'n verskeidenheid tuinonderwerpe in 'n gerieflike klein formaat wat sommer byderhand gehou kan word terwyl jy tuinmaak. Die reeks is 'n uitvloeisel van die skrywer se besoeke en lesings aan tuinbouklubs op dorpe wat strek van Pongola in die ooste tot Lambertsbaai in die weste, en vanaf Vryburg in die noorde tot by Caledon in die suide. In elke dorp is daar unieke uitdagings wat werklik van tuinmaak 'n spesialisstokperdjie maak - dink aan die kalkgrond in die Vryburg / Mafikeng area, die brakwater by Olifantshoek en Kimberley, en die ysige winters en warm, droe somers van Middelburg in die Karoo om maar net 'n paar voorbeelde te noem. Maar ten spyte van die magdom probleme is daar in elke dorp asemrowende tuine, en wonderlike tuiniers wat 'n passie vir tuinmaak het. Hierdie reeks wil alle tuiniers, reg oor die land, inspireer en toerus met die kennis om self 'n pragtuin te skep. In elke titel word die geheime van suksesvolle tuinmaak in tien sleutelbeginsels saamgevat. Onderwerpe in die reeks sluit in:beplanning van die tuin; die keuse van plante vir die tuin; voorbereiding van die tuin; besproeiing in die tuin; dammetjies in die tuin; fokuspunte in die tuin; kompos in die tuin; beligting in die tuin.

Die tien uit tien tuinmaakreeks dek 'n verskeidenheid tuinonderwerpe in 'n gerieflike klein formaat wat sommer byderhand gehou kan word terwyl jy tuinmaak. Die reeks is 'n uitvloeisel van die skrywer se besoeke en lesings aan tuinbouklubs op dorpe wat strek van Pongola in die ooste tot Lambertsbaai in die weste, en vanaf Vryburg in die noorde tot by Caledon in die suide. In elke dorp is daar unieke uitdagings wat werklik van tuinmaak 'n spesialisstokperdjie maak - dink aan die kalkgrond in die Vryburg / Mafikeng area, die brakwater by Olifantshoek en Kimberley, en die ysige winters en warm, droe somers van Middelburg in die Karoo om maar net 'n paar voorbeelde te noem. Maar ten spyte van die magdom probleme is daar in elke dorp asemrowende tuine, en wonderlike tuiniers wat 'n passie vir tuinmaak het. Hierdie reeks wil alle tuiniers, reg oor die land, inspireer en toerus met die kennis om self 'n pragtuin te skep. In elke titel word die geheime van suksesvolle tuinmaak in tien sleutelbeginsels saamgevat. Onderwerpe in die reeks sluit in:beplanning van die tuin; die keuse van plante vir die tuin; voorbereiding van die tuin; besproeiing in die tuin; dammetjies in die tuin; fokuspunte in die tuin; kompos in die tuin; beligting in die tuin.

Die tien uit tien tuinmaakreeks dek 'n verskeidenheid tuinonderwerpe in 'n gerieflike klein formaat wat sommer byderhand gehou kan word terwyl jy tuinmaak. Die reeks is 'n uitvloeisel van die skrywer se besoeke en lesings aan tuinbouklubs op dorpe wat strek van Pongola in die ooste tot Lambertsbaai in die weste, en vanaf Vryburg in die noorde tot by Caledon in die suide. In elke dorp is daar unieke uitdagings wat werklik van tuinmaak 'n spesialisstokperdjie maak - dink aan die kalkgrond in die Vryburg / Mafikeng area, die brakwater by Olifantshoek en Kimberley, en die ysige winters en warm, droe somers van Middelburg in die Karoo om maar net 'n paar voorbeelde te noem. Maar ten spyte van die magdom probleme is daar in elke dorp asemrowende tuine, en wonderlike tuiniers wat 'n passie vir tuinmaak het. Hierdie reeks wil alle tuiniers, reg oor die land, inspireer en toerus met die kennis om self 'n pragtuin te skep. In elke titel word die geheime van suksesvolle tuinmaak in tien sleutelbeginsels saamgevat. Onderwerpe in die reeks sluit in:beplanning van die tuin; die keuse van plante vir die tuin; voorbereiding van die tuin; besproeiing in die tuin; dammetjies in die tuin; fokuspunte in die tuin; kompos in die tuin; beligting in die tuin.

Known as the guru of no-dig, Charles Dowding has updated his definitive book on salad-growing in this beautifully illustrated new edition: how to have tasty salad leaves all year round in a garden, balcony or windowsill; how to grow micro leaves and how to serve them in delicious recipes, all using organic or permaculture principles. Great for food lovers keen to eat tasty food with a low carbon footprint. This compendium of practical methods for growing a wide variety of salads throughout the year, will inspire you to grow your own, whether on a windowsill, in your garden or on the allotment. Here is all the information you need for productive, healthy and tasty salads. Learn the subtleties of salad seasons and virtues of different leaves throughout the year. And when your table is groaning with the abundance of your harvests, there are delicious and imaginative recipes by Stephanie Hafferty, exploiting the fantastic flavours, colour and vitality of home grown salad leaves.

Increased awareness of the environment and an ever-present interest in curb appeal means that homeowners are eager for more sustainable, natural landscaping. And why shouldn't they be? In addition to supporting local flora and fauna, ditching grass for lush, native plants helps lower water bills and results in self-sustaining gardens long-term. In John Gidding's At Home with Nature, homeowners will find thorough blueprints to reap these benefits and bring their dream garden to life. Complete with specific information for every US bioregion, a glossary of native plants, illustrated yard renderings and photos and detailed explanations of suburban codes, this book has examples and techniques to build responsible natural spaces. And as an HGTV star with over a decade of design experience, Gidding is the landscaping expert readers need to get the job done. At Home with Nature is the ultimate resource for creating beautiful and beneficial home gardens.

This early work is an absorbing read for any amateur or professional gardener. Contents Include: Preface; Introductory; The Cultivation of Herbs; The Harvesting of Herbs; The Drying of Herbs; Uses of Herbs; Herb Gardens and Farms; and Short Notes on Individual Herbs arranged alphabetically. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

For most people, creating a garden, or caring for and nurturing a garden, is of far greater significance than just gardening itself. Modern-day gardens tend to be more personalised as an expression of individual lifestyle choices. However, with so much information available on the broad subject of gardening and what to plant, it's not surprising that many garden lovers feel intimidated and choose the route of blissful ignorance, while all the time wishing there had been an accessible way of knowing how to do it right the first time.

In this concise and systematic publication, the authors have pooled their cumulative knowledge and wisdom of their own practical experience, as well as their respective, proven teaching methods, into a book which will help the beginner and even the more knowledgeable gardener to navigate his or her way through the process of creating a successful garden. The illustrations are visually stunning, and in their own right present a veritable treasury of inspirational ideas.

Most importantly, Making Sense of Garden Design (Sinvolle Tuinontwerp) it is a companion to help you create or recreate your garden. It offers practical exercises and hints, and is a practical, interactive reference and guide to the fundamental topics relating to planning and creating your own garden, including the basic steps in developing a long-term master plan; important considerations such as appropriate choices of styles and plants, water consumption, labour-saving techniques, and security, all shared within a local, South African context, which will also contribute to building confidence and pride in the development and evolution of a uniquely South African gardening style.

The New England Gardener's Book of Lists contains essential information for anyone gardening in the unique climates of the upper northeast. This vital guide provides expert advice on choosing appropriate annuals, biennials, and perennials, tending bulbs, roses, shrubs, and vines, and selecting trees, native plants, ferns, grasses, and groundcovers for particular conditions.

This first full study of Erasmus Darwin's gardening, horticulture and agriculture shows he was as keen a nature enthusiast as his grandson Charles, and demonstrates the ways in which his landscape experiences transformed his understanding of nature. Famous as the author of the Botanic Garden (1791) and grandfather of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) was a larger-than-life enlightenment natural philosopher (scientist) and writer who practised as a doctor across the English Midlands for nearly half a century. A practical gardener and horticulturist, Darwin created a botanic garden near Lichfield - which galvanised his poetry - and kept other gardens, an orchard and small "farm" in Derby. Informed by his medical practice and botanical studies, Darwin saw many parallels between animals, plants and humans which aroused hostility during the years of revolution, warfare and reaction, but helped him to write Zoonomia (1794/96) and Phytologia (1800) - his major studies of medicine, agriculture and gardening. Captivated by the changing landscapes and environments of town and country and supported by social networks such as those in Lichfield and Derby, Darwin avidly exchanged ideas about plants, animals and their diseases with family, patients, friends such as the poet Anna Seward (1742-1809), farmers, fellow doctors, huntsmen and even the local mole catcher. The is the first full study of Erasmus Darwin's gardening, horticulture and agriculture. It shows him as keen a nature enthusiast as his contemporary Rev. Gilbert White of Selbourne (1720-1793) or his grandson Charles, fascinated with everything from swarming insects and warring bees to domestic birds and dogs, pigs and livestock on his farm to fungi growing from horse dung in Derby tan yards. Ranging over his observations of plant physiology and anatomy to the use of plant "bandages" in his orchard and electrical machines to hasten seed germination to explosive studies of vegetable "brains", nerves and sensations, the book demonstrates the ways in which Erasmus Darwin's landscape and garden experiences transformed his understanding of nature. They provided him with insights into medicine and the environmental causes of diseases, the classification of plants and animals, chemistry, evolution, potential new medicines and foodstuffs and the ecological interdependency of the natural economy. Like the amorous vegetables of the Loves of the Plants (1789) which fascinated, scandalised and titillated late Georgian society, the many living creatures of Darwin's gardens and farm encountered in this book were for him real, dynamic, interacting and evolving beings who helped inspire and re-affirm his progressive social and political outlook.

This early work is a fascinating read for any amateur or professional horticulturalist or historian of the profession, but it contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Contents Include: Foreword; Acknowledgements; Plants and Their Environment; Aspects of Soil Cultivation; The Principles of Plant Nutrition; Soils for Special Purposes; The Plant in Relation to Light, Air, and Temperature; The Life-Story of Garden Plants; Flowers and Fruits; Pruning and Training; Vegetative Propagation; The Different Forms of Garden Plants; The Plant in Sickness; Classifying and Naming Plants. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

A practical, easy-to-follow manual, Gardener's Fitness includes conditioning exercises, postural guidance for moving correctly and safely, therapeutic stretches to relieve discomfort, and a variety of gentle exercises designed to relax tired muscles and restore energy after laboring in the garden. Pearlman explains each exercise through simple directions and photographs. She also provides solid information on precautions to take in the gardening environment, where both major and minor dangers lurk: the sun, insect bites and bee stings, inclement weather, and many others.

Eat homegrown food all year round and save money on your weekly shop by following a simple plan for self-sufficiency.

Huw Richards and Sam Cooper have spent the past two years planning and trialling their very own self-sufficiency garden in a 10x12.5m plot and now they've worked out the perfect formula. Grow six portions of nutritious veg a day per person following their month-by-month growing plan, which is realistic and flexible with cost, space, and time in mind.

• Learn about Huw's self-sufficiency ethos, goals and approaches
• Create your garden and learn how to build all the growing spaces you will need, such as hot beds and polytunnels
• Follow month-by-month planting plans with guidance on key tasks throughout the year
• Discover useful kitchen tips meal prep, storage, and preserving ideas along with base recipes so you can make the most of your crops

Tuberous begonias are sensational flowers--their abundant blooms capture everyone's heart and eye. This authoritative guide introduces the best varieties and celebrates the great range of colors grown. Written by Jack Larter, who has devoted many years of love and toil to the plants, it covers everything that both novice and veteran need to know to grow blooms for the home, garden, and show bench.

You can grow all the fruit and vegetables your family needs, raise animals for meat and eggs, keep fish and bees, and even produce firewood on a plot of land of just one acre or less - alongside your work and family life. Whether you have a garden, a paddock or perhaps the corner of a field, Sally Morgan guides you through: How to lay out your plot - including fencing and polytunnels or greenhouses Managing soil fertility Growing fruit and vegetables throughout the year Keeping livestock: poultry, pigs, sheep and goats Producing fish with aquaponics Filled with practical advice, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to be more self-sufficient and live a more sustainable life.

Concrete and steel may weigh as much, but nothing can rival stone for its beauty and durability. Building With Stone is an introduction to the art and craft of creating stone structures and projects by a man who has made stonework his vocation.

Throughout the book is Charles McRaven's stonebuilding philosophy -- that careful craftsmanship and time well spent during construction will repay itself many times over. The physical challenges will be offset by tremendous satisfaction and the knowledge that long after the builder is gone, the structure will stand as a personal and historical monument.

Based on years of experience, this book will educate the novice and inspire the seasonal artisan. A stonebuilder at any level will learn how to evaluate each stone and undertake each step in the procedure with an eye toward aesthetics and useful permanence.

In addition to introductory material on acquiring stone and what tools will be necessary, there are chapters with step-by-step instructions on how to build:

-- walls

-- buttresses

-- stone fireplaces

-- a barbecue pit

-- a stone dam

-- a stone bridge

-- a spring house

-- even a home or barn

The final chapter is on proper restoration techniques for stone structures.

Not just a how-to book, but also a good read, Building With Stone is sure to be a reference book and constant companion for all manner of stone journeymen, and will prove to be as enduring a volume as the structures it recommends.

Summer can be a glorious time when a garden glows with continuous color, and this practical guide will show you the way. Planning and follow-through are clearly spelled out in simple instructions that cover every step to success. Ten varied garden styles are showcased in over 130 beautiful full-color photos and watercolor illustrations that demonstrate the ways to use different groups of plants. Detailed plant lists and timetables help create variety with trees to give height, shrubs to give structure, foliage to give breadth, and flowers to create flashes of color. And the flowers See how to highlight roses, the stars of the summer garden, as well as perennials, ornamental grasses, borders, herbs, and plants in containers, plus decorative features such as arches and pergolas. Get tips on adapting the plans to your climate, and turning problem-area eyesores into eye-catchers. It's just the kind of planning guide needed to bring sweet dreams on cold winter nights.