Product Description
George Brookbank has distilled nearly twenty years' experience—as an extension agent in urban horticulture with the University of Arizona—into a practical book that tells how to avoid problems with desert landscaping before they occur and how to correct those that do.In the first part, "How to Start and Maintain a Desert Landscape," he provides 28 easy-to-use chapters that address concerns ranging from how to start a wildflower garden to how to cope with Texas root rot.In Part Two, "A Month-By-Month Maintenance Guide," he offers a handy almanac that tells what to do and what to watch out for each month of the year, with cross-references to the chapters in Part One.Homeowners who maintain their own landscape will find in this book ways to make the work more satisfying and productive, while those who hire landscape contractors can make sure the work is done effectively and economically."You'll find all kinds of books on desert landscape design and materials, irrigation system and design, and landscape installation," says Brookbank."So far as I know, however, this is the only book that tells you what to do with what you've got and how to keep it growing."
CONTENTS
Part 1 - How to Start and Maintain a Desert Landscape
1. Desert Conditions: How They Are "Different"
2. Plants Are Like People: They're Not Alike
3. Use Arid-Land Plants to Save Water
4. How to Irrigate in the Desert
5. How to Design and Install a Drip Irrigation System
6. Soils and Their Improvement I: How to Plant in the Desert
7. Soils and Their Improvement II: How to Use Fertilizers
8. What to Do When Things Go Wrong: A Troubleshooter's Guide
9. How to Avoid—and Repair—Frost Damage
10. How to Control "Weeds"
11. Palo Verde Borer Beetle: What to Do
12. How to Avoid Texas Root Rot
13. When You Move Into an Empty House
14. What to Do About Roots in Drains
15. How to Dig Up Plants and Move Them
16. How to Have Flower Bed Color All Year
17. Landscape Gardening with Containers
18. Starting Wildflowers
19. Starting a Lawn
20. Making and Keeping a Good Hedge
21. Pruning Trees and Shrubs
22. Palm Tree Care
23. Caring for Saguaros, Ocotillos, Avages, and Prickly Pears
24. Roses in the Desert: Hard Work and Some Disappointments
25. Landscaping with Citrus
26. Swimming Pools: Plants, Play, and Water-Saving
27. Landscape Maintenance While You're Away
28. Condominiums: Common Grounds, Common Problems

Part 2 - A Month-by-Month Maintenance Guide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Desert Landscaping
Not very happy with this book.The only color photo is the cover. All other photos are black and white, and don't do justice to depecting landscaping and flowers.Book was copywrighted approximaqtely 18 years ago, therefore feel it is somwhat out of date with knowledge.

Finally! A bookk that tells it like it is.
I have lived in and around Phoenix for over 20 years. I have read countless books on Southwest landscaping and learned nearly nothing. My method was trial and tons of errors. This book was given to me and has answered all of my questions. I now live in the rural desert south of Casa Grande and almost every thing I planted died. Mr. Brookbank's book told me why and how to fix it.

This book is a must for anyone who lives in the raw desert!

Hardly about desert plants
I returned this book because it was full of advice about how to plant and maintain plants that are not native to the desert: bermuda grass, citrus, grapes, tomatoes, mums...
Almost nothing about the native plants of the desert Southwest. I would not recommend it.

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING
THIS BOOK APPEARED TO BE WRITTEN IN THE EARLY 1900'S. THE ILLUSTRATIONS WERE SMALL, OR POOR QUALITY, AND IN BLACK AND WHITE.NOT A SINGLE COLOR PHOTO! COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON SOIL PREPARATION, I.E.LEVELING THE SOIL ETC. VERY LITTLE ON ANUALS, COLOR, BALANCE, OR ANYTHING ESTHEITCALLY PLEASING. THIS BOOK WAS A CHORE TO LOOK THROUGH.

very good book
I like this book because it has a lot of information if you are starting out or just adding or changing things.There was a lot of information on soils and fertilizers and ways to plant and what to look for and ways to water and how to save money and on and on.I would have liked a list of plants and information about them but that is all I can think of that isn't here. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book for us New Englanders
This is by far the best gardening book that I have in my collection.Of the over 25 gardening books in my library (I know, I have a problem...) this is the most helpful by miles.So many garden books are based in the South, or in California, where they are blessed with favorable weather and enviable USDA zones.This one is specific to us hardy souls who patiently stare out the window at the mounds of snow and dream about what will arrive come Spring.The plant suggestions are realistic.The layout ideas are numerous, well illustrated and in some cases shown during the different seasons.The glossary of plants is great -- pictures, descriptions, instructions and what to expect.Also included are detailed project plans and directions (walkways, patios, arbors, etc...) that are inspiring.I lent it to my dad, who "doesn't believe" in gardening books and I have been informed that I may well not be getting it back.In case it's not clear, I love this book.Highly recommended for gardeners in the Northeast.

Gardening/Landscaping in the Northeast
We bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband's daughter who lives in Maine.She LOVED it and can't wait for the snow and ice to melt so she can get out in the yard and start gardening!

specific to area
I enjoyed this book because it is specific to the northeast.I am a very amateur gardener who needs things spelled out for me.

Wonderful source of home landscaping information!
I am currently in the midst of a major home landscaping project (the installation of terraces, shrubs, flowers, tall trees and irrigation combined with masonry and outdoor lighting) and had no idea what my landscape architect was talking about until I purchased this book.It's a simple and easy reference guide that really gives a novice a thorough education of home landscaping.This book will tell you "what" to have planted "where" and "why".The garden design layouts are also very helpful for anyone seeking site design guidance. My landscape architect was very impressed with my newfound knowledge of plantings and it's completely due to this book.This is a must purchase if you're looking to do any type of landscaping in the Northeast!

Landscaping for novices
I poured over my mom's copy of this book for several weeks, and after returning it to her, decided it was time to buy my own.I'm a new homeowner who would love to beautify the yard with low maintenance plants that will thrive in my climate.This book is filled with lots of sample plans, pictures of plants, descriptions, and tips on how to care for / prune plants.I love it!!!I've developed my own plan for the front of the house based on ideas from the book, and I feel like I now have a decent idea of what plants to buy and how to group them to make a beautiful front yard.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Helpful Native Landscaping Info
Very thorough book with details of so many types of WI native plants (flowers, grasses and sedges, ferns, and trees).Great info about using native plants in your home landscape.It is an important part of my landscaping references as I plan and execute my landscaping around my new home.

Concise information on native plants for Wisconsin
I am pleased with this book, the information is clearly presented, nicely organized and the photography is outstanding. I appreciate the fact that it gives me grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees to select from with detailed descriptions of each species. Ms Steiner also makes suggestion for use of plants that are non-native but not a threat to our environment to use in conjunction with the natives if desired. I read the entire book and will definitely be using it for reference again and again.

Exceeded Every Expectation
This book without question exceeded all expectations I may have harbored. I have a dream of both creativity and restoration on the land for which I am now caretaker. With the assistance of theis book I will do so.

It is a great publication
I bought two "Landscaping with Native Plants of WI, one for me and one for my daughter's birthday.99.9% of the pages have colored pictures.It give about a half page for each plant providing a good description and concise info on native habitat, uses, good compantions, site prep. It covers flowers, grsses, ferns, vines, evergreens and desicuous shrubs and trees.I would recommend the book.

The definitive and strongly recommended reference for any Wisconsin gardener or landscaper
Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photography, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" by Lynn M. Steiner (one of the Midwest's most respected garden writers with a life-long interest in native plants) is an essential instructional guide to successful native-plant gardening in Wisconsin. This is the first gardening and landscaping guidebook to focus specifically on the use of Wisconsin's native plants and native-plant communities in home gardens and landscapes. All the basic information is provided, including how to determine what level of native-plant landscaping is appropriate for where the garden is to be located in the Badger state. This thoroughly "user friendly" compendium of expert advice on the process of designing, implementing, and maintaining a natural garden includes plant lists, solutions to commonly encountered landscaping issues ranging from deer-resistant plants, to shade gardens, to water-wise gardens, what native plants work best in different garden styles, water gardens, rock gardens, humming bird gardens, butterfly gardens, and so much more. With descriptions of some 500 Wisconsin native-plant species, varieties, and cultivars of flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, evergreens, grasses, ferns, and groundcovers, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" is the definitive and strongly recommended reference for any Wisconsin gardener or landscaper wanting to utilize and incorporate Wisconsin native plants. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows how to beautify 23 common landscape situations such as front and back entries, walkways, borders, slopes, and patios. Readers learn all they need to know to install paths, fences, walls, arbors, and trellises that make up the designs. Step-by-step instructions show how to tackle each project. Plant descriptions also explain planting and care. Plant descriptions also explain planting and care. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A must have book.
This book is wonderful, I bought one then after I read it and bought another one to keep just in case I damage the other one from reading it too much.

NW Gardening for Dummy's?Nope.
My Mom was a master gardener, and I grew up in a wonderfully landscaped home.However, once I bought my own home I found that gardening talent was not genetic, it was earned.So I bought a ton of books related to Northwest gardening, and read each one diligently.I put into pratice Home Landscaping because is was extraordinarily practical and straightforward, the rest tend to be coffee table books.Conceptually, this is just a fantastic book, and while it puts out "bulletproof" gardening plans with specific plants and locations, the concepts of what goes where and why are the most useful.Experimentation is great, but with the concepts used, it's just a little less painful.

Lovely Book!
This book has colorful drawings suggesting gardens [to scale] for all kinds of settings - shade, sun, slopes, corners, and narrow strips, as well as color photos of the plants and suggested varieties of specific species.
Included are directions for supporting structures such as paths and trellises, general plant care, and soil preparation.
It's a thorough book with lots of ideas in an attractive format.

A surprise, excellent
I had low expectations for this when I ordered it.I figured it would be one of those overly general "how to" books that leave out much of the important information.I was surprised to find that it has very specific plans for a variety of garden situations, plans which already show specific groupings of specific plants.

I found this very helpful because I'm not particularly experienced in designing a landscape, nor am I wealthy enough to afford a landscape designer.There is a design for every corner of my new house, tailored to sunlight, etc.I can follow the plans verbatim and end up with a landscape that looks like it was professionally designed, or I can make small changes to personalize it.This is, as the previous reviewer commented, much easier than starting from scratch.

Definately worth the money.

One Stop Shopping for NW Garden Landscaping
THE BACKGROUND: I know next to nothing about plants, and what little I do know is mainly for plants that grow well in the Deep South, where I grew up. I now have a cute house with a remarkably boring yard 2500 miles away from the "Deep South" - in Seattle, to be exact.

THE GOAL: create some nice-looking, *low maintenance* landscaping for the yard, but without having to become an avid amateur gardener, carpenter or landscape designer.

THE TECHNIQUE: as is my style, I go in for complete overkill and immediately buy a dozen books on the subject of landscaping and gardening - must be thorough in my research, you understand. I pour through them, make lists, check with local nurseries, draw detailed plans, etc., and after many hours of work and decision-making, finally decide what to buy and where to plant them.

THE RESULT: 90% of the plants I finally choose as appropriate to the area, low maintenance, and nifty looking, are in this ONE BOOK already, and there were plenty of others in this one book that could have substituted for the remaining 10%. My planting layouts also fairly strongly resemble several of the suggested layouts detailed in this book.

THE LESSON: Should have started and stopped with this one. I coulda fit in tuba lessons or something!

Buy this book, Cascadia gardeners and landscapers! It's what you need! Oh, and it also has tons of useful information on creating walls, fences, gates, paths, garden layouts, pruning, planting, etc.

VERY highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description

Clean, tight book. Index. Extensively illustrated. 432pp. Ranges from detailed landscape plans and installing sprinklers to Garden Pools and Deciding on the best tress and shrubs.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Native Plants
Exactly what I was looking for in trying to determine which plants do well in Dallas, Tx during heat and drought.

Native Texas Plants
Wow! What a fantastic reference book. I keep this book out all through the growing season and frequently check facts when I consider changing a plant out in my garden. The book has a lot of information pertaining to various growing regions of TX and that alone makes it a favorite of mine.

Each region has an assigned number and plants listed within the book are categorized as well, whether they are wildflowers, shrubs, groundcovers, trees, and so on. So if you're living in an area numbered 4 but you're searching for a certain plant with specific characteristics, you'd need to look for that plant and see if it will grow in your area. It's amazingly easy to use as a reference book and the photos are very nicely done too so you'll know what you'll be getting if your plant grows to maturity.

Successful gardening in TX is not always easy and if you're one of those who is adapting your landscape to year round water restrictions, this is a book that will help you through those transitions to a beautiful native TX landscape.

Butterfly Garden
The book provided the necessary information that allowed me to design a landscape butterfly garden for a local school project.It assisted in the selection of plants that both attract butterflies and provide food for their larva.The book was clear and comprehensive in the information provided.

fabulous
There are some books that are more than good--they are fabulous.And what makes this one so great? Pictures!And the right pictures...this is how it really looks...in a typical "garen" or landscaped area.That's what makes this book so fabulous. The book shows you what it could look like, shows you variances, and then how to do it.Buy it!

Landscaping Book
Order was quickly received.Book was a gift and the person really likes it. ... Read more

Product Description
Sunset's newest title in its highly popular regional-landscaping series offers step-by-step garden projects and landscape plans that make it easy for Southern homeowners to creat gorgeous landscape effects. Packed with advice from noted Southern garden writers, landscape designers, and experts, this comprehensive volume guides readers through initial planning processes, the selection of the best plants and building structures, and those all-important finishing touches.

Features:

* The premier landscaping book designed exclusively for Southern gardeners with expert advice for specific climate zones

* Practical step-by-step instructions for easy do-it-yourself landscaping projects and dozens of ready-to-use landscape plans

* An entire chapter is devoted to spectacular Southern gardens, from upper and middle south through lower, coastal, and tropical regions ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Garden bible in the south

This book is beautiful.I just recently moved to North Caroline from Southern California and haven't a clue what flower, plant, shrub, or tree I am looking at.So at the very least I will now be able to identify stuff. Hopefully I will have my own property soon and will be able to make smart decisions about landscaping.

A good resource
This book has been a good resouce in planning my own new garden. I especiially like the pictures which inspire me to try new combinations. ... Read more

Product Description
LANDSCAPING: PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES, 7th Edition, provides the basic knowledge and industry information needed to be successful in the field of landscape design and architecture. Focusing on three areas of professional practice; design, contracting, and management, traditional topics such as design, plant installation, and pricing, as well as topics not found in most other resources, such as interior landscaping, xeriscaping, water gardens, and safety are discussed. Extensive color illustrations and photos aid in comprehension of design concepts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

pleased
got this for landscape design class.. this is the 'black & white ' edition so to speak. The next edition up' is better. It's the same book content wise, but there are updated figs. in color and the diagrams are clearer in the seventh ed. ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine the lush possibilities. In one volume with over 200 photographs, readers will discover how to grow an entire spectrum of exciting new plants in their home gardens. This book reveals the types of tropical plants that are right for your site, no matter what your climate. In addition, it will tell how to get various plants through the winter and into the next growing season. Just the thing for the gardener who wants to incorporate the exotic into the usual landscape. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

not what I expected
From the other reviews I read, I was under the impression that this book would be a book focused primarily on design ideas for non-tropical zones, with lots of pictures of tropical gardens.However, I was very surprised to find that is not the case.

Primarily the design information in the book was about basic principles of garden design, without much in the way of specifics: I counted only 2 practical garden plans with a specific layout for plants in the whole book, and one was a design for laying out your houseplants outside around a bench. Its padded with a lot of basic information (the ubiquitous color wheel, how to prepare soil for your garden, why water features are great in gardens, etc) without a lot of tropical specific information for design.

The good side of the book is that it has lots of information on how to propagate and winterize exotic tropicals, which is great to have.If not for this, I would have been very disappointed in the book, however that alone makes the book worth considering.I will keep looking for a more practical guide for designing with tropical plants ( I am new to gardening, and I prefer concrete examples that I can build off of, like in Perennial Combinations by C. Colston Burrell), but I am glad to have the book for the information it does provide for propagation and winterizing.

Great Reference Book!!
My husband and I decided to re-landscape and have been searching all over for a goo reference book for tropical plants. This is even better than I expected. It gives tips on garden types; it has a map in the back that breaks the planting zones down to a miniscule level and will reference it through the book. The back half lists different varieties of tropical plants, where they grow best and tips on how to grow, protect, and overwinter them. It has been a huge help in our planning!

Pure joy in every page
I do live in tropics. For the last year I have this book, I open it once every three days just to enjoy the pictures and trying to achieve the same in my garden. Pure happiness! This can also be the reason to buy a book, not only to seek advise of the high professional landscaper level as some reviews comment!

Designing Your Tropical Paradise
This book is one of the best books for planning and designing a tropical garden.If you live in USDA Zone 8 or higher you can make very good use of this book, though it also offers suggestions on how to achieve a tropical "effect" in colder zones as well.I grow many of the plants they suggest in my Pasadena, CA garden and have had great success with them.

This book is especially useful in explaining the elements of a tropical landscape, contains a sampler of tropical plants for home gardens, and labels photographs fairly well (with the exception of one major gaffe - mislabeling a Strelizia reginae as a Banana - twice).

Over all, this is a useful, well-written book for the home gardener.

Too complicated for words
Sorry to say, the book will not meet the needs of the average or above average gardener.
It is meant for a landscape architect. Almost nothing is applicable to gardens in the USA. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Comprehensive Book
I liked this book because it covers everything. I has great photos for how-to and inspiration.

This book sucks
I got nothing from this book.It is big and heavy with not much information for me.

New Complete Home Landscaping
There are some interesting and workable ideas in the book. Before purchasing you might want to check out your local library first. I'm not disappointed with it however I think the layouts are more for the professional landscape/design area. There is even a section for making your own pesticides. It is a nice book to have on hand.

Definitely complete
This book touched on all aspects of gardening and landscaping - design elements and plans, water features, walls & fences, gazebos, decks and patios.It offers suggestions on plants and flowers appropriate for specific areas and climates. There is also a section with solutions to common problems.I highly recommend this book.The text gave me a lot of knowledge, while the pictures inspired me to start working on my own yard!

A step-by-step guide for amateur & professional landscapers
Over 950 photographs and watercolor paintings illustrate New Complete Home Landscaping, a step-by-step guide for amateur and professional landscapers alike. Internationally recognized garden writer Catriona Tudor Erler discusses how to choose the right plants for one's climate and soil conditions, how to install a fence, when to fertilize and what fertilizer to use, fighting common diseases, how to transplant large trees and shrubs, and much more. Packed with pages and pages of detail and explicit constructions, New Complete Home Landscaping lives up to its title as an indispensable and well-rounded resource for anyone seriously contemplating a landscaping project.
... Read more

Product Description
The guru of earth ponds explains how to site, design, shape, and plant these beloved fixtures of rural landscapes--and make them fit your property and your life.

In the decades since he wrote his acclaimed Earth Ponds, Tim Matson has designed scores of ponds, each unique to its site and its owners. In Landscaping Earth Ponds, he shares what he has learned to make these captivating ponds truly fit into their landscapes and into the lives and lifestyles of their owners.

Ponds have long been valued for their charm and utility: how else can you simultaneously enliven your landscape, create recreational opportunities, help the environment, and increase your property value? Earth ponds are increasingly recognized for the full range of gardening, landscaping, and ecological promise they hold. As pond-building methods have been perfected, more homeowners are restoring existing ponds or digging new ones. With dozens of color photographs, Matson shows you how to site a pond in right relation to your house, offering surprisingly simple ways to visually link the two.

His proven methods and designs reflect the many moods water evokes. Screen your pond for privacy, create a sandy beach and natural diving platform, encourage wetland gardens, line the shores with moisture-loving perennials, or design your gardens and paths to create a sense of mystery and adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Repairing Dam on Earth Pond (Lake)
My dam on the lake collapsed on April 1st 2005.
I have been looking for a book with information on how to build (re-build) an earthen dam.This book has a lot of good ideas on how to build an earthen dam and it doesn't hurt to know that the author has been building them for over 20 years.The neighbors said that the dam has been re-built 2 times, and they still have not learned from their mistakes.With this book I can point out the problems and try to rebuild it to last longer than 2 years.Can't wait to try his techniques.

Strongly recommended for anyone searching for an all-inclusive instructional guide to pond building
Tim Watson draws upon more than 25 years of experience and expertise building ponds and developing wetlands in Landscaping Earth Ponds: The Complete Guide. Here is a informative, step-by-step, profusely illustrated reference for creating a more lively and beautifying diverse landscapes and home-area garden areas with ponds. Providing "user friendly" information on how ponds work to enhance a landscape, create recreational opportunities, help the environment, and increase property values, Landscaping Earth Ponds offers a complete and readily accessible account of a variety of methods and techniques to employ in the creation of a pond. An important addition to any personal, professional, or community library reference collection, Landscaping Earth Ponds is very strongly recommended for anyone searching for an all-inclusive instructional guide to pond building and encouraging natural beauty through the development of a customized pond appropriate to the rest of the landscaping environment.
... Read more

Product Description
The Garden Writers Association of America awarded Garden Stone a 2003 Garden Globe Award of Achievement for Writing. The Washington Post wrote, "Garden Stone is one of the best idea books on using stones in the landscape that I have seen." And Country Living Gardener said, "While the book is visually stunning . . . diagrams and step-by-step instructions show how gardeners can make their dreams come true."

Garden Stone capitalizes on a hot trend in landscaping: adding stone to bring texture, color, serenity, and strength to the garden. Author Barbara Pleasant offers gardeners more than 40 enchanting designs--from something as simple as a flagstone path to an elaborate Zen-inspired meditation garden. But this is not just a picture book. Each project is packed with practical, down-to-earth installation advice, including clear line-drawings and instructional diagrams. Furthermore, an up-to-date resource list helps do-it-yourselfers find the tools and materials they need.

Pleasant helps gardeners decide which type of stone is best for which kind of design. Limestone, for example, is ideal for stacking to make rock walls. Sandstone is easy to cut for steps and adds warm shades of red, yellow, or chocolate brown to the landscape. Blocks of granite can be used as sturdy paving stones. And an upright piece of marble or basalt adds a decorative touch to any garden.

Pleasant also shows how to create stone water features, such as fountains and natural-looking ponds and streams. And, making this valuable as a gardening book as well as a stone projects book, she provides hundreds of detailed suggestions for plants whose color, texture, and shape will enhance the stone--whether growing in rock gardens, bordering paths and steps, or meandering along water elements. Both practical and inspirational, Garden Stone shows any gardener how stone can add enduring beauty to any landscape. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great landscaping guide!
The photos alone are worth buying this book!That said, the info on how to use stones in landscaping and gardening is very good.Maybe one of these days I'll even have enough money to actually DO some of this stuff.

I recommend this book.

Garden Stone
This book was nice to look out but didn't really give me what I was looking for.I wanted some ideas on using stone with running water.

Many Beautiful Pictures
I loved looking at the pictures in this book and there was some information about types of rock which was interesting and well-wriiten.However, a lot of the book's ideas centered around rocks in combination with water features; very pretty but useless for those without water in their gardens.That also seemed a tad presumtuous considering the title.Maybe it should be called "Landscaping with plants ,stone and water features".

Helpful
Many options and suggestions for stone work.I thought the book illustirations were beautiful and the material well presented. Helpful book for the garden library.

Inspiring!
Beautiful photographs. Gorgeous landscapes. Makes you want to go out and hoist some stones! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Usefull book to get ideas of stone landscaping
I'm glad I bought this book.

In the first part there are lot of pictures about stone use in the garden (stairs, patios, walls, paths...). For someone who needs the ideas or insight of stone landscaping possibilities I would recommend it. Of course the number of examples is limited with the number of pages, but it is in accordance with the price.

In the second part are how to instructions which are also OK. This kind of instructions can be found also in other books, so for me the reason for buying this book would be the first part.

Xcellent!
You may only need this book on occassion, but when you do you will be very glad you have it. It proved indespensible for me recently!

Great for the amateur gardenscaper.
Easy to follow.Beautiful photos. A really nice collection of ideas and stone concepts.Lots of variety.

The sun has finally set on Sunset's 70's guide books - amen
This is a well designed, and obviously recently redone, book.The content is a "hot" subject in the landscaping industry particularly as stonework relates to low water/low maintenance outdoor spaces. Both thesculptural and "connection with nature" qualities of stoneworkare now in vogue as well. And people don't mind spending the money todayto acquire the permancy, strength and beauty of good stonework.This bookshould get even the passive observer excited about the possiblities.

As alandscape designer, I'm constantly looking for good references and ideasthat might not be common in my geographic area.This book does a very nicejob of pictorally displaying dozens of stone-based designs and settingsfrom all over the country (and possibly some internationally). Theeditorial content and organization of the chapters also contribute to thesuccess of the book.

If you like to look at a lot of professionally shotpictures of professionally designed, stone-based landscaping (and getdecent captioning for each picture) this book should more than satisfy you. The only issue I have is that the type was a bit small and therefordifficult to read.But for the price, this book was a really goodinvestment.I only hope all of Sunset's books have been equally upgradedto more current designs in order to meet and exceed our expectations. ... Read more

Product Description

Making money doing lawn-care, landscape architecture, and garden work is a dream of many people—and this guide contains all the necessary tools and strategies they need to successfully launch and develop their own business doing so.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Great Help for Landscapers
Great help for those getting started in the landscaping business from an experienced author. Level headed advice. Highly recommended.

Exactly what it says
This book definitely contains the best business advice and most reliable information you will find if you want to enter into landscaping or general yard work.It gives you all the tools you need to start your business, addressing Profit and Loss Statements and other accounting tools.What it doesn't cover is the technical aspects of landscaping itself, such as how to install a sprinkler system or prune/trim a shrub.For this knowledge you have to look elsewhere.However, this book is still a necessity for understanding how the landscaping business works at a fundamental level, and is full of terrific advice on how to conduct yourself, set limitations, and know what is right for you.Don't stop here if you are serious about getting into landscaping, but this is as good a starting place as any if you want to learn more about what it takes to succeed as a home-based landscaping business.

Excellent choice for the price & book size.
The book covers all of the basic neccesitites to getting starting.It also breaks each component down with easy to understand detail. Getting things gowing is hard enough on your own, its great to have this as a reference guise as you go.Would reccomend to all beginers in the landscaping business.

Must Have Business Education
Perfect for the business end of landscaping or design. Things that they didn't teach you in college. This book is an asset for almost any home based business. Thank you Owen, it's just what I needed.

This is good advise
If you want to start a ladscape companey this uis the book you want!
From the foundation to the long run it's full of great advice and instruction. I would recomend it to any new buisiness owner. ... Read more

Product Description
Homeowners who want practical information, ideas, and solutions will find this guide an unmatched resource.

Creative design solutions and plant selection lists for a variety of landscape situations.

Inspiring photographs and illustrations provide easy-to-follow instructions.

Installation procedures for every landscape planting project.

Helpful hints and do-it-yourself techniques from America’s leading gardening and landscaping authority. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I loved this book!
I'm a new home owner, never gardened before and had no clue what I was doing.I read this book before I started landscaping and I feel it helped a tremendous amount.It taught me everything from how to use my property survey in sketching out ideas to drawing up my garden plans to what plants to plant and why.

It was a good laid out book and easy to follow with step by step guides.I felt very confident when it came time to actually doing the work after reading the book.And you know what?My yard and garden turned out better than I thought.... all because this book gave me the know how. ... Read more

Product Description
* Make a living with your own landscaping business
* Work in the great outdoors
* Be your own boss
* Make money all year round, wherever you live ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Landscaping Business
My son is just now going into the landscape maintenance business and he found "Start & Run A Landscaping Business" invaluable.Thanks for it!

VERY GOOD BOOK
I LOVE THIS BOOK. THE GUY WHO WROTE IT IS ALSO A LANDSCAPER. IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OR WANT MORE INFO ON HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN THE LAWN SERVICE INDUSTRY , THIS IS THE BOOOK.

start and run a landscaping MAINTANCE business
This was not what I thought, I was looking for somthing to help with my lanscape construction buisness.Can I return it?

Landscaping
Very good book on business side, not much information about landscaping itself. Very detailled information about opening a business. Costs, overhead costs, and initial capital.

Excellent well balanced book
This book was very well written with good balance between general business advice and more specific landscaping advice. I like that he does not mind going out on a limb to recommend specific brands and types of commercial lawn care equipment. He also includes a very handy CD filled with all sorts of sheets that can b personalized to your individual use. This book should become the authoritative guide to those looking to enter the business. ... Read more

Product Description

• This book offers inspiring and creative ideas for using stone in the landscape, including water features and rock gardens, fireplaces and fire pits, and archways and grottos.
• Materials comparisons, construction specifications, and the basic techniques of working with stone are presented in detail in an easy-to-follow final chapter.
• Large and small projects are covered, from columns to sheds and pool houses.
• The process of choosing and managing landscaping professionals is also covered in detail.

Customer Reviews (1)

Pam
I was very upset !! I ordered my product, paid for it and then the person canceled the order !! Why? I don't know...I would like an explanation.. ... Read more

Product Description
If you enjoy working outdoors and want to incorporate your creativity into your work, operating a small nursery, landscaping, or lawn service may be the perfect business for you. In fact, many operators combine all three of these elements to make an ideal year-round business. This is an ideal home-based business and can be started with just a few thousand dollars. This guide provides readers with an understanding of the basic concepts of starting their own service business. This new book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the business side of the nursery and landscape business. You will learn everything from the initial startup decisions to working with clients. If you are investigating opportunities in this type of business, you should begin by reading this book. If you enjoy working with people and working outdoors, this may be the perfect business for you. Keep in mind that this business looks easy but, as with any business, looks can be deceiving. This complete manual will arm you with everything you need, including sample business forms; contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; setting up your office; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, timesaving tools of the trade that no business should be without. While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you through every detail that will bring success. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan (the companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Wordâ„¢) and about choosing a name, equipment, equipment maintenance, selling your other services to your present customers, how to attract and bid on residential and commercial accounts, contracts and billing procedures, advertising, insurance, legal matters, basic cost control systems, market research, getting new clients, tax laws, pricing, leads, sales and marketing techniques, and pricing formulas. You will learn how to set up computer systems to save time and money, how to hire and keep a qualified professional staff, how to meet IRS requirements, how to manage and train employees, how to generate high profile public relations and publicity, and how to implement low cost internal marketing ideas. You will learn how to build your business by using low and no cost ways to satisfy customers, as well as ways to increase sales and have customers refer others to you. You will learn about basic accounting and bookkeeping procedures, auditing, successful budgeting, and profit planning development, as well as thousands of great tips and useful guidelines. This manual delivers innovative ways to streamline your business. Learn new ways to make your operation run smoother and increase performance. Successful entrepreneurs will appreciate this valuable resource and reference it in their daily activities as a source of ready-to-use forms, Web sites, operating and cost cutting ideas, and mathematical formulas that can easily be applied to their operations. The companion CD-ROM contains all the forms found in the book, as well as a sample business plan you can adapt for your own use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

3's a crowd
I'm insulted by the mere title of this book. Running a nursery is nothing like landscaping or lawncare, and neither is landscaping. It's a slap in the face to the industry that someone thinks they can cover the technicality of either of these three vocations in one text, let alone that of the nursery business, being the most technical of them all.

First Impression?
At first glance I didn't think this book looked all that impressive, but after taking a closer look, I found I was wrong. I've always enjoyed landscaping and this book's got all the bases covered. I was surprised, first of all, by how easy it was to read.

The layout of the book was easy to follow as well. I found the step-by-step process a great help in determining right off if pursuing a landscaping business was right for me (everything is divided up into six simple sections for easy reference).

Most of all, the case studies of actual real life people were a benefit. And the business plan process will be a great help in my brainstorming. I don't know if landscaping is right for me, but I do know that this book had opened my eyes to a lot of aspects I never could have even considered on my own, I give it Five stars! It's a must read if you're thinking about going into business for yourself! It provides all the details you'll ever need, -fromA-Z!

A grade-A pick for anyone trying to break into this business venture
Your lawn is your first impression to the world. "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service Business" is a guide to breaking into the lucrative lawncare and landscaping business for those who enjoy the great outdoors and working with plants and lawns. A business guide, the Atlantic Publishing Group gives readers a vivid introductory dive into the basics of lawncare as a business and how to get started. "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service" is a grade-A pick for anyone trying to break into this business venture.

A beneficial necessity for anyone looking to start a business of their own: review by A.Shrum
How to Open and Operate A Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service Business: With Companion CD-ROM is a beneficial necessity for anyone looking to start a business of their own.But, don't let the cover fool you. This guide can be used as a reference for any kind ofbusiness.Complete with 290 easy-to-read pages, it is a realistic portrayal of what developing a business truly means.It is broken down into nine sections with step-by-step instructions.The format helps in strategizing and creating a distinct "personality" for your business, ultimately becoming the anchor that will bring in your customers.
The author is very responsible in explaining not only the background of business development and management, but also the details on financing and hiring as well, going into such distinct detail as to what equipment will work best for your particular goals.From the opening sentence, we can be assured that nothing is sugar-coated: "This book does not sell dreams - rather, it shows you, step by step, how to make your personal dream for working for yourself in the outdoors come true."It explains how "passion" is a great first step, but cannot be the only driving force.
Taking a very holistic approach to entrepreneurship, the book even examines how knowing yourself and your limits before you open your business will be beneficial in the long run.And, to help give you a better understanding of what that truly means, it's equipped with a Personality Quiz (my favorite part!).The layout of the book flows seamlessly, from the basics all the way down to the "nitty gritty" details.The resource section in the back of the book is an excellent tool for aspiring business owners.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to be profitable with their business.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service Business
With green and eco-friendly living an increasingly more socially responsible choice for home owners and businesses, it is also a great opportunity for outdoor-loving entrepreneurs to begin and/or build a business in landscaping, grounds keeping or plant nurseries.

The unfortunate reality of starting and running a business is just that: learning the basics of how to run one successfully. This How-to guide breaks down what is often the most intimidating and difficult aspect of small business ownership--setting up the business correctly from the start so that it runs smoothly in the long run. Whether you choose to buy into a franchise, purchase an existing business, or begin from scratch, every vital aspect of starting a landscaping-related business is outlined step by step, including: tailoring the business to suit your strengths, developing a business plan, becoming a small business, branding, financing, money management, dealing with vendors, purchasing insurance, supplies and equipment, cost estimates, bidding on a project, hiring workers, marketing, government paperwork, web site design, finding customers and finally... collecting payment.

This guide is a remarkable resource, offering solid, reality-based strategies for building an efficient, profitable outdoor-services business. Case studies of specific businesses illustrate the pros and cons of one type of business versus another, and also walk the reader through worst-case-scenarios and provide personality tests that encourage the reader to be realistic about their role in the business and the double-edged nature of being one's own boss. The entire process is broken down into straightforward, do-able parts, so that the most important thing--the love of green things and making beautiful lawns, gardens and landscapes--can be the focus, along with a healthy dose of realistic expectations. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Just what I was looking for!
I did a bunch of research to find a book that would cover landscaping layouts with pictures that looked like what I want my yard to look like. I went to the library and got out ALL (well, almost) the books on landscaping. This was the only one that had what I was looking for: lots of different areas of the yard, sunny vs. shady layouts for the same spaces, plants that are low maintainance. I know I will use this book for a long time, and for many areas of my yard.

Not a bad book, but sort of "canned"
This book is all right if you are looking for ideas of plant layouts or how to devise a landscape setup for a very specific area of your property.Scenarios are shown in sketch format in, for example, front yards, big backyards, yards with slopes, places where you want to screen things (air conditioner units, trash cans).After each scenario sketch, real photographs of the suggested plants are shown, along with a brief descirption of the plant (height, width, Latin and English names, sun or shade, etc.)A small section at the end is devoted to the mechanics of accomplishing hardscape features such as retaining walls, patios, and arbors.

The book seems like it would be a good resource if you were writing a term paper, but it seems too shallow for a serious relandscape job.Many of the suggested plants are repeated in multiple scenarios, so there is not a very large variety of plants.It is also very skimpy on flowers, focusing mostly on shrubs with a few trees and groundcovers.I don't think I'd buy this book if there'd been a chance to see it before buying, but now that I have it, we'll keep it. ... Read more