GARDEN
HANDBOOK
from James A.
Bagged* Editor,
Country Gardens
Whenever I have a
garden question,
especially in spring
when garden chores
can seem daunting,
I turn to Barbara
Damrosch’s recently
revised
The Garden
P rim er
(Workman).
It’s extraordinarily
comprehensive
and packed with
sensible advice, tips,
and quirky wisdom.
garden planning n
Project Pointers
arrange for free utility line locator
services before you plant trees or
excavate for a landscape project.
■ Choose from dozens of detailed
garden plans at
B H G .co m /
gardenplans.
■ Create highly detailed, customized
plansforcom plete landscapes with
powerful software, such as
B etter
H o m es an d G ard en s
Landscaping
and Deck Designer
8
.
0
, $
74
;
am azon.com .
■ Todesignasimplegardenyourself,
try our basic online interactive
planningtool at
B H G .co m /
planagarden.
SAVE MONEY,
TIME, AND RESOURCES
■ Check w ithyour local utility district,
city hall, or conservation agencies
to take advantage of programs that
offerfree or discounted trees.
■ Watch for plant exchange
programs inyour com m unity to get
free or inexpensive perennials.
■ Savewaterandchoretim eby
applying
2
to
3
inches o f natural
mulch to garden beds.
P L A N T IN G P IC K S A N D S O U R C E S
TREES, SHRUB
PERENNIA
FRUIT
Choose the best fruit
trees (apples, peaches, etc.) for
your region at
starkbrothers.com
or
millernurseries.com.
For
more exotic fruit varieties, see
onegreenworld.com.
Our berry
lovers shop at
indianaberry.com.
You can find loads of catalogs for plants and garden supplies at
mailordergardening.com.
Also check out a few of our favorites.
See the showiest
new plants on the market at
simplybeautifulgardens.com
and
provenwinners.com.
For the best
choices in seed-grown flowers
and vegetables check out
all-americaselections.org.
To wander
through a huge range of great
selections visit
monrovia.com,
baileynurseries.com,
colorchoiceplants.com,
and
terranovanurseries.com.
To
buy some of those plants, see
whiteflowerfarm.com/bhg.
Some of our
favorite bulb suppliers are
brentandbeckysbulbs.com
and
dutchbulbs.com.
We also like the
special choices at
colorblends
.com
and
oldhousegardens.com.
Heirloom seeds
are the focus at
seedsavers.org
and
rareseeds.com.
Ourannual
list of must-sees:
burpee.com,
johnnyseeds.com, reneesgarden
.com, tomatogrowers.com,
and
thompsonandmorgan.com.
ur
pond expert loves
tricker.com
for water garden plants. Also see
aquascapes.com.
Exciting new choices
appear every year at
easyeteganceroses.com
and
starroses.com.
Buy many of them
at
jacksonandperkins.com.
For plants
that thrive in dry, alkaline soils
see
highcountrygardens.com.
Attracting Birds
and Butterflies
m Audubon.org
has loads of
inform ation about attracting
and feeding birds inyouryard.
W BU .com
(from Wild Birds
Unlimited stores) also has an online
bird guide with recorded bird calls.
■V isit
B H G n atu resg ard en .co m
to get
inspiration and tips from other
nature-lovinggardeners.
6 O JANUARY2009
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
P H O T O S : (G A R D E N IL L U S T R A T IO N ) M A V IS A U G U S T IN E T O R K E ; (B R O W N T H R A S H E R ) JA Y W IL D E
