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Neil Sperry's Complete Guide to Texas Gardening
#4 on Publishers Weekly's Bestselling Gardening Books list! This new, completely revised edition has over 500 new photographs, 400 new illustrations, 400 new plants and trees, the latest pest control recommendations, fruit and vegetable recommendations, new tips and plants specifically for Southern Texas, plus everything in the first edition.
498 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
60 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 17, 2022
I purchased this book a few years back, around 2014 or so. This is a beautiful book with nice silky pages. It is more than just about gardening. This book provides information on starting a garden, how to plan landscaping, info on trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, Texas lawns, etc... The problem? It really assumes you will be using insecticides and herbicides to keep weeds and insects out of your garden. Not happening here! I promised God I would do my best to take care of the ground he has loaned to me. For me, that means no use of harmful chemicals on this property to grow my food or to control weeds, which I absolutely love on this raw property. Did you know wild flowers are considered noxious weeds on home lawns? Not to me!
July 10, 2008
Great photographs and concise descriptions, however, in trying to cover this rather large state, there is a lot to wade through to find plants for one area. While it's hard to find native plants this is a good reference book with information about how to plant as well as determine which plants would be good in the garden.
July 23, 2008
While the book was knowledgeable on standard practices, it showed little emphasis on gardening with species native to the various regions of Texas and assumed all plants could be grown in any region. This shows little care of natural resources like water conservation, etc.
The book also frequently emphasized the use of pesticides and herbicides at will assuming the best thing to strive for is a picture perfect sculptured yard...something that's not natural and rather sterile as opposed to a more native and natural setting depending on the region and climate.
Anything sterile and sculptured will certainly not attract native insects and birds and other wildlife which are critical to balance, and a delight to the senses. This book rarely stresses the emphasis of such balance and simply speaks to the suburban water hog grass dominated scape which is unhealthy on many levels.
I have read it cover to cover and was unimpressed.
The book also frequently emphasized the use of pesticides and herbicides at will assuming the best thing to strive for is a picture perfect sculptured yard...something that's not natural and rather sterile as opposed to a more native and natural setting depending on the region and climate.
Anything sterile and sculptured will certainly not attract native insects and birds and other wildlife which are critical to balance, and a delight to the senses. This book rarely stresses the emphasis of such balance and simply speaks to the suburban water hog grass dominated scape which is unhealthy on many levels.
I have read it cover to cover and was unimpressed.
December 11, 2012
Had to take this one back to the library, but the half I read was very educational -- some basics on gardening in the varied landscapes of Texas mixed with referencey sections on different kinds of Texas-appropriate plants and their characteristics. I'll be checking this one out again.
***
Update: This is a good basic reference to Texas gardening -- particularly the extensive encyclopedias of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, complete with photographs, identifying traits, and general care. This second edition was published in 1991 and could probably stand an update to incorporate some more organic and water-conscious gardening techniques. Still, there is a lot to love here and I could see myself buying a reference copy of this book someday as my gardening aspirations grow.
***
Update: This is a good basic reference to Texas gardening -- particularly the extensive encyclopedias of flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees, complete with photographs, identifying traits, and general care. This second edition was published in 1991 and could probably stand an update to incorporate some more organic and water-conscious gardening techniques. Still, there is a lot to love here and I could see myself buying a reference copy of this book someday as my gardening aspirations grow.
April 25, 2007
Oh my gosh. Seriously, this is SUCH the best book for gardening in Texas. Neil Sperry is so awesome. He gives yo all the tools and knowledge you need to know about this subject, and then you can get all excited about how great your new garden is going to be...only to be slammed back into reality when you actually put down his book and go outside into the Hellishly HOT Texas summer and decide that, wow! just keeping the lawn mowed is fine and dandy, thanks, Neil. But really, sometimes, I just read it before I go to bed at night so I can have lovely dreams of fragrant flowers, riotous vines, luscious veggies, and trees that actually survive my tender care. *Sigh*
January 10, 2019
The brutally hot summers and other unique Texas growing conditions can make gardening difficult in the Lone Star State. But, even a little knowledge can make the difference between having a green thumb or a brown lawn. In this comprehensive guide to gardening in Texas, Neil Sperry gives you everything you need to get started on this rewarding and enjoyable endeavor. Vegetable gardening, flowers, trees, bushes, landscape design, lawns, pests and diseases, soil preparation, fruit and berries -- it's all there. And, the book itself is well-made with heavy glossy pages and plenty of picture and illustrations. I recommend it.
July 26, 2007
A great book for any Texas gardener. It covers numerous topics from annuals to perennials, flowers to vegetables, grasses and trees, shade vs. sun, shrubs and bulbs, and weeds and insects. Includes wonderful photos, detailed descriptions of the plants, preferred habitat, water needs, and best growing regions.
January 8, 2013
This is a popular guide with a lot of good general information. As it covers plants that grow throughout Texas, many of the plants listed will not do well in my hometown of Austin. But it’s a very useful general guide with practical information for beginning gardeners, and a color picture is provided for each plant listed.
April 20, 2008
Everything about the many climate types in Texas and lots of plant choices. I like gardening, flowers and herbs, the only thing it doesn't explain is why I would want to fight the big spiders and fire ants to plant anything in Texas!
February 8, 2008
So informative a great reference book to keep on hand
June 25, 2008
The gardening Bible.
October 24, 2008
This is my completely worn out reference guide on what to attempt to put into the earth to see if I can make it grow. He is pretty right on the money when it comes to planting in Texas.
December 17, 2009
Very helpful for knowing which type of plants work best in your area. Plenty of pictures and solid information. I used this book to help find the best trees to plant.
July 6, 2015
Good reference material.
September 23, 2015
pictures, diagrams and tables are wonderful and very useful.
October 2, 2013
Good book but I wish it had more details on the plants.
February 25, 2016
Should be titled, "Complete Guide to Texas Landscaping"
August 24, 2017
An important resource book for any Texas gardener.
January 6, 2019
Well done and incredibly helpful.
December 24, 2022
The bible of Texas gardening just got better.
The completely revised and updated "Neil seven and Net map Complete Guide to Texas Plants" has:
· 400 new plants
· 500 new photographs
· 400 new illustrations
Other reviews should tell you what you would find in this book.
I listened to Neil Sperry on the radio on weekends. So when I bought my new house I also decided to buy this book. A tree had already been planted in my front yard. So I used his botanical illustrations to determine what kind of tree it was. When designing raised guarded, I selected most of the plants from this book.
On a visit to a local nursery named Winston Gardens, I found a beautiful wispy plant called River Privet. A planned this plant to hide the back fences and gives the impression of the forest. I found the plant in a one-paragraph statement in Neil's book. It was everything that he said.
I should have looked closer at his varieties paragraph. Maybe he was trying to tell me something. In his radio show, he said that they tend to take over. Ha, not that cute little thing. Three years later the privets are beautiful. However, I find my weekends picking up privet-etts from the lawn.
The bottom line; is don't just buy the book for the pictures. Read it.
The completely revised and updated "Neil seven and Net map Complete Guide to Texas Plants" has:
· 400 new plants
· 500 new photographs
· 400 new illustrations
Other reviews should tell you what you would find in this book.
I listened to Neil Sperry on the radio on weekends. So when I bought my new house I also decided to buy this book. A tree had already been planted in my front yard. So I used his botanical illustrations to determine what kind of tree it was. When designing raised guarded, I selected most of the plants from this book.
On a visit to a local nursery named Winston Gardens, I found a beautiful wispy plant called River Privet. A planned this plant to hide the back fences and gives the impression of the forest. I found the plant in a one-paragraph statement in Neil's book. It was everything that he said.
I should have looked closer at his varieties paragraph. Maybe he was trying to tell me something. In his radio show, he said that they tend to take over. Ha, not that cute little thing. Three years later the privets are beautiful. However, I find my weekends picking up privet-etts from the lawn.
The bottom line; is don't just buy the book for the pictures. Read it.
December 28, 2020
If you live in Texas, most gardening books are absolutely useless to you. It is a particular tree, shrub, plant and flower that can grow in heavy clay, flash floods, 120 heat indexes while buffeted with tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, and 70mph straighline winds. Don't kill hundreds of plants trying to figure out which ones will work. Just read this. Win.
January 16, 2024
Beautifully laid out and organized.
If you want to learn more on landscaping, planting trees, or cultivating a garden, this is your go to book. I feel like I will be constantly picking this book back up.
It is truly the ultimate guide. Even down to how to protect your plants from pests, to how root systems work. This book has it all.
If you want to learn more on landscaping, planting trees, or cultivating a garden, this is your go to book. I feel like I will be constantly picking this book back up.
It is truly the ultimate guide. Even down to how to protect your plants from pests, to how root systems work. This book has it all.
June 27, 2019
THE definitive guide for Texas landscapes.
June 23, 2025
Great resource book ! An oldy but a goody !!
Good book no matter where you live !!!
Good book no matter where you live !!!
July 25, 2010
Excellent Texas gardening handbook
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews