Balcony & Container Plants (Compass Guides) [Paperback]

Joachim Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Compass Guides | Publication Date: February 1, 2007

Garden lovers who have limited growing space can still embellish their surroundings with attractive flowers and greenery--and this book shows them how. Plants that are especially suitable for growing in tubs, boxes, and hanging planters are profiled in alphabetical order and beautifully illustrated with full-color photos. This practical handbook provides gardening advice and information in three sections, each concentrating on a specific plant type:

Balcony flowers

Container plants

Fruits, vegetables, and herbs

Readers will find details on the characteristics of different plant groups, as well as advice on which plants need direct sunlight and which thrive in shady areas. They will also find general advice on pruning, propagating, soil types, plant feeding, and much more. Like all titles in Barron's Compass Guides series, Balcony & Container Plants features color-keyed page edges for quick reference to the book's main sections. More than 200 color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Few people, whether they have a green thumb or black thumb, can resist buying beautiful plants. After killing enough plants, they read plant guides. But even experienced gardeners are always looking for better information and new species of plants to try. Specializing in plants grown outside but not planted in beds, this volume offers sections on selecting plants, including technical terms; plant profiles (or portraits); designing with plants; and an index of plants by both common and botanical names. Organized alphabetically by botanical names, each of the approximately 200 to 250 plant profiles has a beautiful color photograph; other names; information on family, origin, appearance, location, care, and use; and specific notes. Symbols, such as a sun for bright light or a skull for toxicity, help the reader quickly locate needed information. The introductory section covers the challenges of growing plants in pots and baskets. The plant profiles are grouped in three sections—“Balcony Plants,” “Container Plants,” and “Tasty Choices” (edible plants)—and include information on propagation and design to achieve the most effective presentation. A final section on designing makes suggestions on arranging and grouping container plants to show off their best features. The volume seems to be sturdy enough for much handling. It is a useful guide for gardeners, and its reasonable price makes them a good purchase for public libraries. --Abbie Landry

Review

"The volumes seem to be sturdy enough for much handling. They are useful guides for gardeners who plant both inside and out, and their reasonable price makes them a good purchase for public libraries."


—Booklist, February 5, 2008

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764135260
• ISBN-13: 978-0764135262
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,269,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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