From Library Journal
This guide is intended as a basic reference for those who want to improve their landscape. Beginning with a Wish List, the authors help gardeners achieve the yard of their dreams. Each step of the process is explained: designing a layout, building "hardscape" (paths, fences, arbors), selecting plants and trees, choosing a contractor or deciding to do the work yourself. Icons are used to point out important information. Many illustrations, checklists, a hardiness zone table, plant lists, lists of mail-order suppliers, 16 professional landscape designs, recommended readings, and online resources provide inspiration. The tone of the book is upbeat and humorous. Recommended for public libraries. (Color photographs not seen.)ANancy Lee Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


About.com
"I was amazed at its comprehensiveness and thoroughness--you can tell that the authors really have done this stuff before."


Book Description
A beautiful landscape reflects well on your house, making it a  welcome part of a  neighborhood or native terrain. And it  dramatically increases your home’s value. Landscaping also makes your house and yard more useful and better able to complement your family’s lifestyle. Trees shade your home to reduce energy use. Thorny shrubs deter prowlers. Lawns reduce dust from bare ground and give children the perfect play area. Patios and decks are great for entertaining. And a vegetable garden can yield fresh, delicious salads to eat on that patio or deck.

Landscaping for Dummies has everything you need to turn the little patch of earth you call your own into a personal paradise. Whether you’ve waited for the day to have property to landscape, you’d never given it a second thought until you had to, or you want to improve on an existing landscape, this book offers a clearly written wealth of knowledge on: Designs Fences, walls, gates, and paths Decks, patios, and outdoor rooms Trees Shrubs and vines Ground cover

From the basic principles of landscape design, to all the ins and outs of hillsides, balcony gardens, and water gardens, this book will show you how to: Think like a designer Dream up the right landscape for your family’s needs Increase your home’s resale value Conserve energy Deal with contractors, nurseries, and hardware suppliers Create an edible landscape

Full of helpful problem-solvers for all kinds of landscapes, Landscaping for Dummies also features sample plans, “theme” landscape ideas, and a brilliant color photo section to inspire the imagination. Accessible and informative to both beginner and expert landscapers, this is the complete guide to creating the yard you’ve always wanted.


From the Back Cover
Praise for Landscaping For Dummies® "Exceptionally complete…. A reference that will make both dummies and seasoned landscape practitioners much better at what they do…. A superlative job" — Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post "A lot of good, basic information…. This book will help you understand what a professional might do, from design to construction." — Nick Harder, Orange County Register Includes color photos and professional landscape plans Turn your yard into a beautiful outdoor room Even if you don't know a perennial from a pergola, you can transform your yard into a picture-perfect landscape that's the envy of the neighborhood. This friendly illustrated guide walks you step-by-step through the entire process, from evaluating your needs and designing a plan to selecting plants and getting the work done. Discover how to: Produce a landscaping game plan Build fences, patios, and other outdoor structures Choose shrubs, flowers, and other greenery Find solutions to landscape problems Create special "theme" landscapes Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers


About the Author
Phillip Giroux owns a landscape design firm. Home improvement authority Bob Beckstrom and garden expert Lance Wallheim are veteran authors. The National Gardening Association is America's largest nonprofit gardening organization.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Create an outdoor haven that's the envy of your neighborhood!

Even if you don't know a perennial from a posthole or a pergola from a plumb bob, you can transform your ordinary yard into a sanctuary for the senses that will be an asset to the neighborhood. No need to know about plants, construction, or design! This user-friendly guide walks you step-by-step through the entire process--from deciding how you want your landscape to function to designing a layout, choosing plants and materials, managing contractors, or doing the work yourself.

Tap the tricks that the pros use! Find ten ways to boost your home's value and curb appeal Turn your yard's worst features into fabulous focal points Build rock-solid decks, fences, pathways, and more Master the lingo of landscapers and nurseries Locate suppliers for everything from gravel to greenhouses Solve problems like poor drainage, steep slopes, erosion, and more Skirt the pitfalls of working with contractors, plants, light, and more

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal