Customer Reviews

Colorado Gardener's Guide

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I was greatly surprised by the poor regional quality of this book's contents given John Cretti's reputation as an excellent and respected Colorado gardener. "Colorado Gardener's Guide" is essentially a generic compendium of plants that will grow in Zones 3 to 6. There is a brief (7-page) introduction that gives some common Colorado growing advice mixed in with general gardening advice. The only insight into why the author included certain plants in the book is, "The plants recommended in this book are good performers in many parts of Colorado." Many of the recommendations contradict the author's own advice. For example, under the entry for Poplar, the author warns against landscape trees that are weak-wooded and susceptible to storm damage. He then goes on to list the Goldenrain Tree as recommended despite noting that it is weak-wooded and susceptible to snowstorm damage. A number of plants included in the book are potentially invasive and are commonly listed in Colorado and other Western states as plants that responsible gardeners should try to avoid.
The recommended plants are divided into simple categories of annuals, perennials, groundcovers, lawns, etc. There are no further helpful subdivisions such as native, xeriscape, mountain compatible, etc. The reader must read the two page description for each plant to ferret out any such information. Although I did find one plug for drought-hardy plants, many of the plants recommended in this book for semi-arid Colorado require frequent watering. It would be more helpful to include at least some lists that indicate which plants will require extensive soil modification, protection from wind and sun, have high water requirements, etc. After all, this is supposed to be the COLORADO gardener's guide, not a general garden guide. Although the book is inexpensive, I would not add it to your garden library. I wouldn't have bought it if I had leafed through it first rather than buy it unseen, as I did. (I was swayed by the two previous reviews, reviews that now mystify me!) Unless you do not own a single other garden book, this book will give you very little new information, especially Colorado-specific planting information. A much better beginner gardening book for Colorado is "Month-To-Month Gardening, Colorado."

This fabulous book lives up to its subtitle -- it truly does tell you what, where, when, how and why to garden in Colorado. It's written by a Colorado native, which is helpful to a "flatlander" like myself who is trying to garden in this challenging climate. This is by far the most helpful gardening book we've bought -- it outranks our Sunset western gardening book since it is written specifically for Colorado.

John is the greatest. I'm not a gardener, but with this book, it takes the guess work out. I only have to buy one book. I know my garden this year won't be without envy.