Learn to plant in Zone 5
Winter is when I catch up on my reading and the recent crop of new books has yielded a few I want to share.
If you are a beginning gardener, first-time homeowner or new to the area, picking the right plants for your garden can be a daunting task. Marianne Binnetti and Don Williamson have created a great list of plants in their “Best Garden Plants for Oregon and Washington” (Lone Pine, $15.95). The book lists more than 300 annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, roses, vines, bulbs, herbs and grasses and ferns with their growing requirements, tips for using them in the garden and recommended varieties. I particularly like it because the majority of the plants will grow in our Zone 5 climate. It’s a perfect size to tuck in a pocket or purse when you head for the nursery.
Got shade? Then pick up Larry Hodgson’s “Making the Most of Shade” (Rodale $22.95). Hodgson, who gardens in a climate colder than ours, first covers the basics of gardening in the shade including how to handle different levels of shade, planting under big trees with roots, growing in dry shade, dealing with heavy needle and leaf drop and what to do if your garden suddenly loses its shade (remember the June 2005 windstorm?). He even includes five different shade garden plans complete with planting lists to get you start. Throughout the book Hodgson shares his first hand experiences designing and maintaining shade gardens.
The last two-thirds of the book is a detailed encyclopedia that profiles more than 300 shade-loving plants. Hodgson gives detailed growing information and throws in some tips on his experiences growing perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns, grasses and climbing plants in the shade. He even talks about particular problems you might encounter trying to grow the plant.
Now that you have an idea about what you can grow, how do you put all your ideas together? Pick up the brand new edition of “Sunset’s Western Landscaping” (Sunset, $29.95). This is a companion to the West’s most trusted gardening guide, “The Sunset Western Garden Book.”
“In the West, outdoor living is not just a privilege and a passion, it is a way of life,” says editor Kathleen Brenzel. “This book celebrates the unique ways that those of us in this wonderful region extend our lifestyles to the outdoors.”
The book is packed with great photos of small- to large-residential gardens in urban and rural settings from all over the West that display fresh ideas about landscaping and living outdoors. Whether you are gardening, entertaining or just living outdoors, the book also walks you through the process of developing or revamping your garden. It covers hardscape elements like pools, patios and paths, region-specific plant selections and decorating the garden with art, lighting, water and fireplaces. There is even a section on solutions for special situations like pets and wildlife, fire, privacy, sun and lists of plants for special situations like allergies.