- A Must-Have for Novice and Seasoned Gardeners Alike
The Perennial Care Manual – A Plant-by-Plant Guide: What to Do & When to Do It is a no-nonsense, easy to read and understand guide to a wide array of perennials. I can sum up my impressions of this new book by Nan Ondra in three words…Buy this book!
The book offers general advice on design, plant selection, seasonal tips on watering, fertilizing and maintenance, written in a conversational tone that is accessible to all levels of gardeners.
Each plant has its own page (or two) complete with color photo, description and sections on growing tips, seasonal care and troubleshooting. I especially liked the troubleshooting section. It’s nice to know what to look for, whether it’s a particular fungus a plant may be prone to getting, or a tip like minimizing the use of fertilizers can promote stronger stems in one of my favorite perennials, Agastache.
Another favorite section of the book deals with perennial problems such as insects and pests and advice on what to do when your perennials don’t perform as expected. While not as glamorous as the plant profile section, I imagine this is the section many gardeners will refer to time and again.
The photos in the book also add to its appeal. Many gardening books show up close photos of flowers, which are beautiful, but those types of photos do not give you any sense of the plant’s overall growth habit or leaf structure. Since most perennials spend more than their fair share as ‘foliage only’ in a garden, those are critical aspects many gardeners forget and many gardening books gloss over. Rob Cardillo’s photos really give you an idea of what the entire perennial looks like, not just its flowers.
If you’re new to gardening and looking for a comprehensive guide to growing perennials, look no further. And if you already have a few perennial care books on your gardening book shelf, make room for this one. You won’t regret it.
Note: This book was provided to me free-of-charge by the publisher, Storey Publishing.
I’ll add this to my wish list. Thanks.
Joene,
I think you’ll find some very useful information in the book. It’s one of those titles you’ll refer back to again and again.
I ought to check this book out and see if I like it better than Tracy Disabato-Aust’s book on the same topic. I love Nan and Rob’s work. Thanks for the review!
Gen,
While Tracy’s book on perennials is also a good resource, I found Nan’s book offered more specific info on each plant that was very accessible for a wide range of gardeners. Fortunately, I don’t think you can go wrong with either book.