The new gardener's handbook : everything you need to know to grow a beautiful & bountiful garden /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

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.)

Booklist Review

This is gardening at its most elemental and basic. New York Botanical Garden instructor Beyers ensures that aspiring gardeners will understand photosynthesis (finally, after high-school biology); know about plants and trees, from roots to shoots; and learn how to map a yard's sun exposure, read a plant tag, or decode a fertilizer label. The learnings are delivered in a variety of memorable ways with plenty of illustrations, sidebars like ""Gardener's Glossary"" appearing in every chapter, and step-by-step photographs accompanying tutorials like how to start a plant from seeds, among many other projects. Beyers does not include recommendations for specific types of trees, annual or perennial plants, arrangements, soil configurations, or other particulars. Still, gardeners just starting out will earn a sense of accomplishment and a good dose of knowledge once the information is digested. Includes a list of further reading.--Barbara Jacobs Copyright 2019 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

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.