Series:
Black & Decker Complete Guide
Biographical note:
Lynn Steiner has been a professional garden writer, photographer, and speaker for 30 years. She has a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Minnesota. For 15 years, she was the editor of Northern Gardener magazine, the official publication of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Under her direction, Northern Gardener received several Overall Excellence awards from the Minnesota Magazine & Publication Association, and several individual contributors received Garden Writers Association Media Awards. She now writes a column titled “Northern Natives.”
Lynn practices responsible gardening at her home in Minnesota, using native plants, avoiding pesticides, and planting to attract native wildlife whenever possible. She has written and provided the photography for five other books, including Prairie-Style Gardens: Capturing the Essence of the American Prairie Wherever You Live, Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota, and Rain Gardens: Sustainable Landscaping for a Beautiful Yard and a Healthy World.
Main description:
This book offers a didactic, practical approach that allows novice-to intermediate residential gardeners to experience success with their vegetable, fruit, and ornamental gardens. This is not an attempt at a comprehensive "Bible" of gardening information, but a complete but focused treatment of plant species and simple, time-saving techniques that maximize the homeowners likelihood of succeeding with his or her garden. Contains regional information for the following states in USDA zones 3,4, and 5: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, western Massachusetts, northern Connecticut
Review quote:
Adding to Black & Decker’s line of DIY books, The Complete Guide to Gardening is divided into seven region-specific volumes. All include the same instructions and general information, but Steiner (Rain Gardens; Prairie-Style Gardens) tailors the plant suggestions and climate data. Strengths include an excellent introduction on the importance of botanical names, soil type, and soil pH as well as definitions of key terms such as herbaceous and dioecious. Easy-to-follow instructions and copious color photographs cover the preparation, planting, care, and maintenance of various garden types; other topics include the basics of good design and propagating methods. Steiner does mention some of the benefits of using native plants, but it would have been helpful to highlight them so they could be recognized at a glance. She also mentions the importance of avoiding invasive plants; the information is not region-specific, but checking invasiveplantatlas.org is suggested. A handy reference card listing websites of state extension offices and native plants is also included. VERDICT: Overall, these books provide a very good introduction to and broad overview of gardening with excellent step-by-step instructions. The handy index of plants’ common names is also helpful for beginners. - Library Journal
