Architectural Plants (Practical Gardener) [Paperback]

Christine Shaw (Author)

Book Description

Series: Practical Gardener | Publication Date: March 3, 2003

Architectural plants are plants that make a bold statement in the garden, such as ferns, palms, bamboos and cacti. Usually exotic, they are grown for their strong shape and year-round presence. Gardening with architectural plants is one of the fastest growing areas of horticulture in Britain. The bulk of this guide comprises a comprehensive directory of the most common architectural plants available for growing. Each entry includes: background information on general characteristics, planting and care; a table of plant care with easily accessed advice on soil, site, watering, pruning, general care and pests and diseases; colour-coded icons to indicate hardiness; and expert tip boxes. The book opens with a practical guide to essential gardening techniques, which covers: assessing your plot for soil quality, drainage, sun and shade; where to buy and how to tell if the plant is healthy; advice for planting trees and plants; creative ideas for planting combinations; specialist care for architectural plants throughout the year, including winter protection, brown bitting and pruning; and increasing stock with propagation techniques. The book closes with a section on plant problems, which includes a trouble-shooting chart to identify the problem and a directory of pests and diseases.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christine Shaw studied horticulture at the Isle of Wight Horticultural College while working nights as a croupier. She has worked at Angus White's famous nursery near Horsham, and set up a new branch at Chichester in 1996, which she continues to run. In addition, Christine has established a successful career for herself as a freelance horticultural journalist, writing articles for The English Garden, Garden Inspirations, RHS The Garden and Exotic Gardening.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harper Collins (March 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007146558
• ISBN-13: 978-0007146550
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,108,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Instructive, January 28, 2011

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Architectural Plants (Hardcover)

of course what fits that definition is open to conjecture, but here it is taken to include plants such as yuccas, agaves, palms, tree ferns, bamboos and the like. It would be easy to point out omissions or question inclusions, although of course personal taste comes into the equation; but I suspect it is as much a catalogue for the nursery of the same name, Architectural Plants in Sussex where the author is manager, and this has possibly influenced what is included.

Following a couple of introductory chapters the book considers the pants according to category: Palms; Ferns; Grasses; Bamboos; Climbers; Tress; Other leafy exotics; Spiky and succulent plants; the book concludes with a section on pests and diseases and includes and index.

Each section has an introductory page or two, and then follows a selection of plants each given a page of description along with cultivation advice and a photograph or two. It is a well designed and produced book, clear and easy to follow. It is illustrated with I estimate around 500 full-colour photographs including some useful pictures in the diseases section.

The book is intended for gardeners in the British Isles, and even here many of the plants included are of questionable hardiness even in the most favourable parts, but with very careful attention to soil preparation and situation might be worth trying, although the gardener would have to be prepares for some losses. It should be noted too that some of the plants here are suitable for greenhouse or conservatory cultivation only in the British Isles, this is usually stated in the description, but such plants are not discussed separately and appear amongst the more hardy, so it would be easy to assume mistakenly they too are hardy - it might have been more instructive to have a distinct section for such plants.

This is a useful book in as much as it groups together a particular category of plants, but such a book cannot be neither inclusive nor exclusive; however it is well presented and the information can only add to ones understanding of growing such plants.

5.0 out of 5 stars great deal, November 14, 2009

By 

Mac H "frank" (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Architectural Plants (Gem) (Paperback)

"price is awesome deal. I wanted to get a bigger size of same title, but eventually I got this one because of its deal. Book size is quite small and less information but isn't problem at all since I'm not really sure how often I check the planting book in designing. "