Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening (Taylor's guides) [Hardcover]

Roger Holmes (Author), Rita Buchanan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Taylor's guides | Publication Date: October 18, 1994

Since 1936 and the first publication of Norman Taylor's classic Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening, the Taylor's guides have presented authoritative horticultural information. This one-volume reference features more than 3,000 detailed descriptions of species and essential suggestions for creating a garden. It is the only general encyclopedia to approach garden pests and problems with an environmental eye. This reference is one that gardeners will turn to time after time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The multivolume Taylor's Guide series is unparalleled for its horticultural authority. This new entry consolidates material within two covers for easy reference for North American gardeners. So for basic information on plant types, garden planning and design, theme gardens, soil, maintenance and lawns, this is the place to look. Buchanan, once an editor of Fine Gardening magazine, and Holmes, that magazine's founding editor, have collaborated on previous Taylor volumes, assembling a raft of contributors and consultants, and bring their expertise to bear on a range of detailed advice. They discuss use of color, not just in flowering plants but ground covers; which annuals to grow in winter (e.g., petunias), where climate permits; urge imagination in suburban settings too often oppressed by a uniformity of vision in design; and explain how to "plug" a meadow with seedlings. A large portion of the book examines individual plants and their preferred habitats and cultivation methods. Few gardeners will want to do without this book. Illustrated. 50,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo; Garden Book Club main selection; Rodale Book Club selection; BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A solid single volume that takes the reader through the garden planning process, then provides high-quality photos and text on the most popular garden trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. A good choice for all public and horticultural libraries. (LJ 9/1/94)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 612 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; First edition (October 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395649951
• ISBN-13: 978-0395649954
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening (Taylor's guides) (Hardcover)

Overall, I was disappointed by the book. The information provided is accurate but limited. Of the some 400 Primula species that exist, 5 are listed, similarly, the 70 Aquilegias are covered by only 4 species and the over 500 Potentillas have only one species described. Granted this is a "one-volume reference" with photos of the 1000 so-called "best plants", the book does not claim to be exhaustive. This book ranks low in my library. The photographs are often out of focus and the colours are poorly produced. The brief plant descriptions are separated from the photographs and are not overly helpful. The book may be useful to the less ardent gardeners of the world but given the hefty price tag, I would spend my money elsewhere. Anyone taking this volume to the nursery to buy plants would only have the barest notion of what to buy. I would urge others to purchase the smaller more focused guides in the Taylor's series.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent encyclopedia of trees, shrubs and flowers, May 12, 1999

By 

S&H (Dix Hills, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening (Taylor's guides) (Hardcover)

We purchased this book on buying a new home to search out trees, shrubs and flowers to include in our landscape design. As such, the book is excellent. I would not buy this book for plans and actual design patterns. The first chapters of the book give general introductions to gardening strategies; then beautiful and thorough plant identification. The ending chapters are on hardiness zones, plant care<eg, dividing perennial roots>. Makes a wonderful reference book. Highly recommend.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Beginner's Guide, April 1, 2002

By 

Scott "digitalexcess" (Sunny South Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taylor's Master Guide to Gardening (Hardcover)

I found this book to be very helpful. As stated in one of the other reviews, it is not an exhaustive reference, nor does it highly detailed. However, it is an excellent guide to gardening principles and ideas. The plant encyclopedia is comprehensive enough for the average gardener, and expains basic plant characteristics. I like the pictures, and think the basic layout of the book is ok, but it could use some improvement. I was able to buy my copy used, and would not recommend paying the full price.