The Spare-Time Gardener

July 1, 2006
These two titles offer excellent information on minimizing gardening chores and getting down to essentials; those who have a limited amount of time to garden need look no further to find the realistic plans they need. Both Flowerdew, author of several gardening books and a widely recognized organic gardening expert in Britain, and Freeman, a master gardener and professional writer who lives in Maine, agree on certain key ideas (e.g., that maintaining lush turf is very labor-intensive). Indeed, both advise against being a botanical perfectionist and encourage going with the flow of nature whenever possible (planting native species results in fewer diseases and infestations because those plants are already adapted to the environment). Both authors also offer similar guidelines for reducing drudgery, such as applying mulch for weed control and moisture retention, and both do a thorough job of explaining away nonessential tasks and emphasizing the importance of performing crucial tasks correctly at the outset to avoid remediation later. Either title would be very useful in a public library's gardening collection. Flowerdew's comprehensive book is filled with striking color photographs and illustrations, although it is a bit of a stretch to promise a -no work - garden. Freeman's book, with its emphasis on good management practices, landscape plans, and wise purchases, should get a novice gardener off to a good start." -Deborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll.Lib., Dunwoody, GA"

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