The Garden Primer: Second Edition | 
| Author: Barbara Damrosch
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $10.85
You Save: $8.10 (43%)
New (35) Used (12) Collectible (1) from $10.85
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 5274
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Pages: 820
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1.8
ISBN: 0761122753
Dewey Decimal Number: 635
EAN: 9780761122753
ASIN: 0761122753
Publication Date: February 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The most comprehensive, entertaining, down-to-earth one-volume gardening reference ever, and highly praised:
"Barbara Damrosch delivers the goods."—Chicago Tribune
"Best of the crop."—House Beautiful
"Barbara Damrosch's writing has the snap of a good snowpea and the spice of an old rose."—The Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer
"Covers just about everything you could think of and then some." — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"An extraordinarily comprehensive guide." — The San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
"Takes your soaring visions of garden splendor and plants them firmly in the ground."—The Toronto Star
Now the beloved classic is revised front-to-back. The new edition has gone 100% organic, which in Barbara Damrosch's hands also means completely accessible. It reflects the latest research on plants, soils, tools, and techniques. There is updated and expanded information on planning a garden, recommended plants, and best tools. Ecological issues are addressed much more extensively, covering lawn alternatives, the benefits of native species, wildlife-friendly gardens, and how to avoid harmful invasive species. More attention is paid to plants appropriate to the South, Southwest, and West Coast, while cold-climate gardeners are given detailed advice on how to extend the growing season. Simply put, the book is a richer and fuller compendium than ever before, with more text, more illustrations and garden plans, expanded plant lists, and gardener's resources. But Barbara Damrosch's core of practical, creative ideas and friendly style remain—she is still an "old-fashioned dirt gardener" at heart.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Great resource for the beginning gardener April 8, 2008
W. Oliver (Alabama)
42 out of 42 found this review helpful
Twenty years ago I remember discovering Barbara Damrosch's The Garden Primer at the local library. It was full of practical advice dispensed in such an engaging manner and I ended up buying myself a copy. The Garden Primer is a rare exception of a gardening book that can benefit gardeners no matter where they live. It is especially helpful to novice gardeners who want to start a garden but are not exactly sure where to begin.
The first chapters deal with the basics - what plants need in order to grow properly, how to prepare your soil, starting your own seeds, proper planting methods and how to deal with insects and diseases. A chapter on gardening gear covers tools, what to wear and how to organize it all.
Damrosch then goes into plant specifics with chapters on Annuals, Perennials, Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, Bulbs, Roses, Lawns, Ground Covers, Vines, Shrubs, Tree, Wildflowers and Houseplants. Each section discusses how to buy plants, how to plan your site (with some planting scheme plans included), how to grow the plants and maintain them. She then includes an encyclopedia of specific plants with descriptions and basic growing advice. The vegetable section is even more extensive with details on growing and harvesting. If plants are more suited to certain areas of the country, it is mentioned.
Another element of this book that I enjoy are the wonderful illustrations. They are black-and-white, simple and yet so effective. And I'm so glad they kept the illustration of the garden shed on the endsheets. I've always admired that and maybe this year I will finally get my own tools organized like it!
The second edition, which has just been published (March 2008), has been updated to include new varieties of plants, more efficient methods and techniques and more up-to-date trends. More plants have been included, especially native plants which are so popular today. The book is "100% Organic"!
Damrosch claims in her forward that she set out to write a "simple" book on gardening. Her engaging writing style and clear instructions do just that but this 820 page book is so much more than that. It provides a wealth of information for beginning gardeners and has proven to be a book that I return to again and again. I highly recommend it.
Comprehensive Gardener's Guide April 1, 2008
Norma Lehmeierhartie (New York, USA)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
Barbara Damrosch is a self-confirmed 'old-fashioned dirt gardener.' And, she's does organic gardening to boot. This book is a comprehensive, easily understood guide to all aspects of gardening; it even includes a chapter on houseplants.
I like that Damrosch prefers hand tools over power tools. And, that she uses her hands to pull weeds at times.
The chapter on "what plants need," was terrific--covers the basics and gave me a firm understanding of what plants require to thrive.
The book contains all you need to grow annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs and vines.
Indispensable!
from the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet
Great resource May 3, 2008
Patrick J. Drohan (Oneonta, NY United States)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
One of the best all around garden resource books I own. Certainly worth the money.
Even better than the first edition May 14, 2008
G. Foster (Gardiner, New York United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I have long been a fan of the first edition and was pleased to hear the author on the radio recently. The second edition is newly updated and includes many details for organic gardeners which I enjoy. It is comprehensive in nature and well organized. It is the definitive garden book. You just can't do better.
gardener's friend May 9, 2008
Mark S. Finks
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This work is very helpful; it is very imaginatively written and assists even those with long experience and a lot of knowledge. The author's enthusiasm for her subject matter could not be any more obvious.
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