Gardening Through the Year

Synopsis

Achieve a luscious garden all year round with this best-selling, easy-to-follow guide for novice gardeners from BBC Gardener's World writer Ian Spence.

Find out when the best time is for pruning rose bushes, when your potatoes will be ready to harvest, how to keep your lawn green and well-fed, and learn how to plan ahead with this comprehensive gardening book.

Keep on top of garden tasks with month-by-month chapters, "Last Chance" reminders, "Get Ahead" tips, and handy to-do lists. This RHS book will make gardening easier by providing helpful guidelines and realistic advice, so you can plan out your time efficiently and effectively.

Packed with beautiful photo galleries that showcase each month's "Star Plant", you'll be inspired to have your own garden blooming throughout the year! Explore more than 350 different varieties in the A-Z illustrated plant directory.

Discover top tips to guide you with clear, easy-to-follow gardening advice and illustrated step-by-step projects and gardening ideas. This fully updated edition includes brand-new visual galleries that showcase a garden throughout the year, with inspirational ideas for achieving colour schemes, your favourite scent, or striking foliage in your garden.

Discover How to Keep Your Garden Beautiful from January to December

Whatever your level of skills in the garden, expert advice from the well-known gardener, Ian Spence, will help you keep your garden thriving all year round. RHS Gardening Through The Year is a must-have for anyone who has a green thumb!

Inside the pages of this easy-to-follow gardening guide, you'll find:
- Essential gardening advice.
- Month-by-month chapters and handy to-do lists so you can keep on top of your garden tasks.
- Photo galleries that showcase each month's best plants and flowers.
- Illustrated plant directory with over 350 different varieties for you to explore.

Whether you're looking to refresh your garden or you're thinking about getting an allotment, RHS Gardening Through The Year is the ideal gardening gift that you and your friends will return to time and time again for seasonal garden inspiration and advice.

Happy gardening!

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Summary

Chapter 1: Planning Your Garden

This chapter provides guidance on garden planning, including site selection, soil preparation, and plant selection. A real example could be a homeowner in zone 7b creating a garden in a sunny backyard, with raised beds for vegetables and a mix of perennials and shrubs.

Chapter 2: Planting and Growing

This chapter focuses on techniques for planting, transplanting, watering, and fertilizing plants. A real example could be a gardener planting tomato seedlings in raised beds, spaced 2 feet apart and watered deeply.

Chapter 3: Spring Garden

This chapter covers the tasks associated with the spring season, such as preparing the garden, planting, and early-season maintenance. A real example could be a vegetable grower starting seeds indoors in March, and transplanting them outdoors in May.

Chapter 4: Summer Garden

This chapter focuses on the challenges and joys of summer gardening, including managing heat, pests, and disease. A real example could be a gardener battling aphids on roses by using insecticidal soap.

Chapter 5: Fall Garden

This chapter provides tips for growing plants in the fall, such as choosing cold-tolerant varieties and preparing the garden for winter. A real example could be a gardener planting garlic bulbs in November for a harvest the following summer.

Chapter 6: Winter Garden

This chapter covers techniques for gardening in areas with cold winters, including protecting plants from frost and providing insulation. A real example could be a gardener using row covers to protect lettuce plants during a cold snap.

Chapter 7: Harvesting and Preserving

This chapter teaches the reader how to harvest and preserve the fruits of their labor, such as canning, freezing, and drying. A real example could be a gardener canning peaches from their backyard orchard.

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting

This chapter provides solutions to common gardening problems, such as pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. A real example could be a gardener diagnosing yellow leaves on tomato plants as a symptom of magnesium deficiency.

Chapter 9: Garden Design

This chapter offers inspiration and ideas for garden design, such as creating focal points, using color schemes, and attracting wildlife. A real example could be a gardener designing a cottage garden with overflowing annuals and climbing vines.

Chapter 10: Container Gardening

This chapter covers the basics of container gardening, such as choosing the right containers, selecting plants, and providing care. A real example could be a terrace gardener growing a mix of herbs, flowers, and vegetables in planters.