[.ca] Rejuvenating a Garden (ISBN 1856262766)

A truly useful book:
Penelope Hobhouse's quote on the front cover of this book says it all - "An amazingly original book, tackling a useful subject in a very practical way." The writer sets out to help you, the reader, to tackle a garden that someone else has made, but is new to you. So many garden writers seem to assume that their writers have a new garden that is like a blank sheet of paper - something you can plan for afresh, bringing in your own choice of new plants and starting from scratch. For many of us, this not the reality. We move into a house with an existing garden that may be anywhere on a spectrum from bland to a complete disaster.. This book is for us. It explains where (and when and how) to start, how to assess soil, existing plants and structure, it reminds the reader about possible local restrictions and guides our understanding of personal and gardening needs. From there the writer takes the reader step-by-step through all the necessary tasks, from clearing away old hard landscaping to pruning trees, reviving lawns and replanting. It even offers suggestions to help limited finances be used in the most effective ways. There is an extensive directory of plants and resource lists for finding further information. The writer, a professional gardener for 20 years, became National Gardens Manager for English Heritage. He brings both breadth and depth of knowledge to this topic and enhances it with a writing style that is enthusiastic, literate and eminently readable. If you've ver faced the task of salvaging a neglected or boring garden you'll enjoy this book. Or buy it as a gift for someone who has just moved into a new house.