The New Gardener's Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Grow a Beautiful and Bountiful Garden

by Daryl Beyers

Overview

“Gardeners just starting out will earn a sense of accomplishment and a good dose of knowledge.” —Booklist 

Every new gardener has to start somewhere—and the process can be intimidating. Knowing when and what to plant, how to care for the plants once they’re in the ground, and how to keep pests and diseases away is a lot to take on. Luckily, Daryl Beyers—an expert from the New York Botanical Garden—has written what will be a  go-to resource for decades to come. The New Gardener’s Handbook is a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of gardening, based on the introductory gardening class that Beyers teaches at NYBG. Readers will learn about soil, plant selection, propagation, planting and mulching, watering and feeding, pruning, and weeds, pests, and diseases. The information applies to both ornamental and edible plants. Featuring inspiring photography and helpful illustrations, The New Gardener’s Handbook gives home gardeners a foundation upon which they can grow, and encourages them to apply the lessons they’ve learned in an intuitive, natural way.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604698749
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/18/2020
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	389,588
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Daryl Beyers is gardening certificate program coordinator at the New York Botanical Garden, where he helps shape the education department’s curriculum, and teaches the popular Fundamentals of Gardening course. He has had more than twenty-five years of professional landscaping experience, specializing in residential garden design and development. As a staff writer, photographer, and editor for Fine Gardening magazine, he authored two special issues on garden design, and he served as contributing garden editor for Martha Stewart Living. His articles on gardening and garden design have also appeared in Horticulture and HGTV Magazine. He maintains an active speaking schedule throughout the year, presenting at a wide variety of garden shows and clubs across the country, both independently and on behalf of NYBG.
 

Table of Contents

Preface: The Science and Arc of Gardening 6

Get Gardening: Balancing the Roots and the Shoots 9

Soil: Nourishing the Roots 31

Plant Selection: Matching Plants to Place 53

Germination: Starting Plants from Seeds 83

Planting and Mulching: Establishing Plants the Right Way 99

Watering and Feeding: Balancing Between Nature and Nurture 127

Vegetative Propagation: Making Plants from Plant Parts 149

Pruning: The Right Cut in the Right Place at the Right Time 173

Weeds, Pests, and Diseases: Working with the Bad, the Good, and the Ugly 191

Afterword: Gardening Provides 216

Acknowledgments 218

Further Reading 220

Photo and Illustration Credits 223

Index 225

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2019

Landscape gardener Beyers’s engaging debut explores the stages that transform the average “don’t-let-the-plant-die” gardener wannabe into a full-fledged horticulturist able to take on indeterminate growth, stem structure, soil health, and a host of other gardening issues. There is much here involving botany and related scientific topics that, for some readers, might recall middle school biology class. Yet the core of the book consists of its simple, philosophical assertions about gardeners themselves and their place in the natural world. Beyers writes, “Plants lead relatively straightforward lives. They sprout, grow, and reproduce,” and that gardening rests upon knowing when to intervene, and when to hold back, from this life cycle. Elsewhere, he says that “soil is the foundation upon which all gardens grow,” and thus is the gardener’s first priority. In addition to these two simple assertions, Beyers dispenses page upon page of basic information—tools needed, steps required, terms to know, and diagrams aplenty. Further asserting that “gardening is part faith in the future and part lessons from the past,” this volume shows the way to making this pursuit into an intrinsic part of one’s life. It is a must-have for anyone who wants to grow things and, at the same time, nourish the soul. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Beyers’s engaging debut explores the stages that transform the average ‘don’t-let-the-plant-die’ gardener wannabe into a full-fledged horticulturist…a must-have for anyone who wants to grow things and, at the same time, nourish the soul.” —Publishers Weekly

“This is gardening at its most elemental and basic…gardeners just starting out will earn a sense of accomplishment and a good dose of knowledge.” —Booklist 

“If you or someone you know has vowed to develop their green fingers this year, this handy how-to could be just what is required. Neatly illustrated and laid out, Daryl Beyer’s garden primer has the simplest of beginnings… Clear illustrations and photographs add to the appeal.” —The English Garden

“If you’re new to gardening and want to get off on the right foot, The New Gardener’s Handbook is an excellent place to start.” —Connecticut Gardener

“A wheelbarrow full of advice that will be useful to most—from newbies to seasoned green thumbs, from apartment dwellers to homeowners with sprawling yards.” —Columbus Dispatch

“A worthwhile addition to any gardener’s library, for those times when you need a refresher or when you encounter an unknown pest or disease—or a potential new gardener to whom you’d like to loan a good resource!” —Horticulture 

“With clear information and helpful illustrations, this is the comprehensive and much-needed guide for gardeners just getting started.” —Joe Lamp’l, Emmy Award–winning host and creator of Growing a Greener World, founder of joegardener.com

“An enlightening, accessible guide that’s brimming with valuable guidance.” —The Columbus Dispatch

“With plain language and detailed illustrations, this is an excellent place to dive into the rewarding world of gardening.” —The American Gardener

From the Publisher