Over 5 million copies in print! The world's most popular basic guide covers all aspects of gardening more clearly and colorfully than any other book. The famous format is crammed with clear charts, handy checklists, helpful tips, and troubleshooting advice. Start with the soil and how to improve it by draining, digging, applying dressings, and adding lime, fertilizers, and humus. Next, the section on climate and weather tells how to deal with cold, heat, rain, wind, and drought. The guide to plants helps you decide which ones you want to grow, and introduces hundreds of climbers, shrubs, conifers, trees, roses, top fruit, soft fruit, annuals and biennials, rockery perennials, bulbs, herbaceous perennials, and vegetables. You also get expert advice on plant material and planting methods, tools and equipment, and cultivation techniques. When it comes to problem areas, they too are all covered--including soil pests, seedling troubles, diseases of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, and environmentally safe ways to handle weeds. There's even more help on topics ranging from greenhouse gardening and water gardening to garden design, paths, fences, patios, containers, furniture, and other non-living features of the garden. 128 pages (all in color), 7 1/4 x 9 1/2.