Black & Decker the Complete Guide to Lower Midwest Gardening

March 15, 2012

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.--Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Birmingham

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