Customer Reviews

Howard Garrett's Plants for Texas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

He lists almost all the plants that can grow in Texas and ones that don't-- The best part are the color photos of each plant along with details on mature height, distinguishing attributes and cultural requirements for each. An excellent reference for the Texas do it yourself home landscaper. His info on trees was invaluable to me

My significant other lives in Houston, and I, a Californian by birth, have lived in Philadelphia most of my life. An avid gardener at home here in PA, I felt uncharacteristically unsure about tackling the long-neglected flower beds in Houston.

Then I read the reviews for Howard Garrett's charming and fabulous "Plants for Texas," and ordered it immediately. It arrived yesterday and I could not put it down until I had read it cover to cover.

Every single question I have had is answered in this book in a format so clear, so concise, and so heartwarming to any gardener, that I found I was smiling ear to ear. From the beginning pages, where Garrett presents his no-nonsense advice on design, maintenance, and care of everything from trees to turf grasses to annuals, to his staunch anti-chemical point of view (YES!), I gained a wealth of information.

By the time I got to the alphabetical pages with the full-color pictures of everything a Texas gardener could ever want to plant, I was thoroughly and totally delighted. Already I have made a rudimentary list (way too ambitious, of course). Already, I have page after page bookmarked and highlighted. Already, I have planted perfect gardens in my mind's eye.

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire book is the page on hackberry (celtis), which nastily eats up a major portion of my friend's flower beds, and which I secretly, and guiltily, hate. Garrett's take: "Do not plant and cut down the ones that sprout up!" Gotta love a man who shares my views on hackberry. I love this book. Plain and simple. I recommend it to anybody who gardens, or who plans to garden, in the Great State of Texas!

I am new to Texas gardening, and I am more familiar with the Northwest, where we have the wonderful Sunset books to help us with our planting advice. Garrett's Plants for Texas comes close to the excellent format of those Sunset books that I have depended on for years. It covers nearly every plant I have researched for my difficult caliche-filled yard, and the advice is right on. It sometimes takes a few page jumps to find the information, as I am redirected from the common name to the more obscure Latin, but I eventually find the plant. At points, he seems a little over-the-top with organic gardening, and a few newer plants seem to be only briefly covered. The scant information on palms is disappointing. Still, I find myself using this book nearly every week. I recommend it. With this and Scott Ogden's Gardening Success with Difficult Soils: Limestone, Alkaline Clay, and Caliche Soils I have all my Austin gardening needs covered.

This book has good pictures of plants and their flowers as well as good information on the many plants in all of Texas. It is alphabetized so that finding a plant is easy.
Also, included in the notes are some interesting comments about the plant and its use.

I am a Master Gardener and this book is excellent to refer to when people ask for recommendations or to identify a certain plant.

I have checked out many Howard Garrett books from the library and had to buy several for myself and for gifts. The photos are beautiful, and he tells you what he thinks of the different species. Howard Garrett writes great books for people wanting to establish beautiful landscapes and gardens. He explains why healthy, organic soil with native plants and bugs works really well if it is done right.

My only complaint with most of his books is that he lists the specimens in alphabetical order. That is what indexes are for. If he would group them with similar specimens, then between the photos and his descriptions, the books would be great for identifying species I find on my property. As it is, I have to get a separate field guide to tell me the names to look up in his books; but, I am willing to do that.

In Plants for Texas, I especially appreciate the lists of Texas' Bests and Worsts, and of course all the close-up photos.

Thanks for the quick transaction completion! Received the book in great condition. Would definitely do business with you again.

I ordered this book because I have a ranch in Central Texas where I raise pastured beef and market it direct. I am also setting up potager gardens to offer fresh vegetables and herbs, in addition to unusual plants well suited for Texas' hot summers, be they native or not (native is relative, in my mind, but that's a whole other topic). Since my ultimate goal is to move the ranch in the direction of permaculture, I thought this book might be useful on how to incorporate some plants into that and the Potager garden design. I was somewhat disappointed. There isn't much at all about shrubs, whether or not one is interested in standard urban landscaping or something more biodynamic.

Also many plants, including shrubs and trees, are edible which the author really didn't delve into either.

Never the less, as I research what types of plants fit certain niches in what I am trying to do, I am sure I will refer to this book from time to time.

the book was as advertised and was just what i expected. it was in excellent condition. the price and shipping were at a good price and it was shipped in a timely manner. i would not hesitate to place another order with this company.

Howard Garrett knows how to include more diversified info into a readable book than most gardening books. Always a favorite for Texas gardeners.