Timber Press Guide to Gardening in the Pacific Northwest

by Carol W. Hall, Norman E. Hall

Tired of being lumped into the unwieldy category of a western garden? Frustrated by the lack of reliable, practical information about gardening in the Pacific Northwest? No longer! The Timber Press Guide to Gardening in the Pacific Northwest presents all the information a gardener—whether novice or expert—needs to keep their garden beautiful and thriving. With a combined 100 years of gardening experience in the Pacific Northwest, the authors clearly explain the unique challenges and joys of gardening in the region. By dividing the Pacific Northwest into seven subregions, they help readers to better understand the climatic and geographical factors that shape their gardens. This complete guide includes extensive profiles of plants that are ideally suited to the region, including perennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs, groundcovers, roses, shrubs, trees, and climbers. The month-by-month gardening calendar describes what weather patterns to expect, what's in bloom, and what garden tasks are best done in that month. With additional chapters detailing the most common gardening problems and recommendations for effective, nontoxic ways of dealing with them, this book is nothing short of essential.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2008

Reviews

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I owned this one. I'd like to commit it to memory. I've been running around quoting it to everyone, badly as usual. I'm terrible at repeating what I've learned. I just have all these loose associations floating around in my mind and it's like trying to reconnect a broken cobweb to relate them to another human being on the spot.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I better go pull some weeds...

[Birdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gardening in the Pacific Northwest is very different from gardening in other places around the country. With our wet winters, dry summers, and mild temperatures, we have a unique environment that is ideal for many plants of all kinds. Yet, generic gardening books don't address the specific needs of our climate. This one does. It divides the Pacific Northwest into seven regions and explains what plants do well in each. The author conveys her knowledge and experience in a friendly fashion with practical advice and color pictures. Descriptions of each type of plant include history, siting, soil needs, seasonal changes, and possible problems, along with a detailed list of various cultivars. It's all covered: bulbs, perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs. A yearly calendar and a chapter on diseases and pests rounds it out into a practical and enjoyable read for any gardener.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book, although, it would have been nice to have a larger focus on native plants.

Even so, I felt that I learned quite a bit about gardening in the Pacific Northwest and I can't wait until March to start planting!

[Fiffer_feffer_feff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this at the library and ended up purchasing it. Jam-packed full of information for all levels of gardeners. I am really looking forward to the Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest that is coming out in Jan. 2013.

[Caroline]

This book is about landscape plants--shrubs, ornamentals, flowers, etc. I'm sorry, but am I the only one that thinks that the term "gardening" should be exclusively reserved for plants that produce food?

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first part of this book which detailed the uniqueness of gardening in the PNW. Then, I scanned the rest. It seems to be very thorough in year round non-vegetable gardening in the PNW. I'm currently more focused on vegetables, but when I'm ready for flowers, I'm coming back to this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific resource with a monthly calendar of tasks, plant suggestions, propagation hints, etc