The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping [Paperback]

Charles W. G. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Ice storms in the South. Severe drought in the West and the East. Floods in the Midwest. Brutal, unpredictable weather conditions can devastate yards and gardens. Sadly, the information you find in most gardening books recommends plants with the assumption that the climate will be temperate all the time. But when bad things happen to good gardens, those gardening books aren't much help. Stepping into the breach is The Weather-Resilient Garden, a comprehensive one-of-a-kind, region-by-region reference on how to plan and grow a garden that will flourish in normal conditions and be hardy enough to survive and thrive despite drought, flood, high winds, and extreme hot or cold spells. As part of his "defensive gardening" approach, horticulturist Charles W. G. Smith provides an encyclopedic list of resilient plants, with specific advice for each region of the United States. And for gardeners who regard "hardy" as a synonym for "unattractive," be assured that the plants Smith recommends are as beautiful as they are resilient. Daylilies, for example, score 9.5 out of a possible 10 because they can withstand drought, cold, heat, salt, flooding, ice, snow, wind, and humidity. These lovely garden favorites even help control erosion. Almost as good is the rugosa rose, with a score of 9.0. This lovely, vigorous variety breaks the stereotype of roses as the prima donnas of the garden. The rugosa rose can bounce back from lightning, hail, even fire. Of course, sometimes weather is so violent that even the hardiest gardens are damaged. For those situations, Smith offers detailed problem-solving advice for every contingency--from something as simple as a tree that has lost a limb to a flooded lawn, from uprooted plants to damaged soil. He even explains what preventive measures you can take to minimize the damage when you know bad weather is on its way. Here, then, is a book that takes a two-fold approach to defending your garden. It teaches you how to outwit the weather by creating a resilient garden landscape before misfortune strikes. And it takes you step-by-step through the process of healing a badly damaged garden. The result is a garden that is every bit as beautiful as it is undaunted by anything the weather can throw at it.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Smith gives instructions for creating a weather-resilient garden, protecting it from drought and heat, cold, ice, snow, hail, lightning, salt, wind, fire, floods, and humidity. He describes the damage, explains short-term and long-term solutions to resuscitate plants, and suggests hundreds of plants that can withstand adverse conditions. He also lists the top 100 weather-resilient annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vines, ground covers, and ornamental grasses with a photograph of each, and recommends which species to buy. There are data on the best types of soil and compost, the use of water, and hardiness zones. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“His advice is worth heeding for any gardener who wants his or her time and effort to pay off every year, regardless of the weather.”

                        -Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

“In addition to sound gardening advice, the book is chock-full of fascinating and useful information.”

                        -Detroit News and Free Press

 

“Blend an encyclopedia of 100 hardy plants with expert advice on how to organize a garden for inclement weather and you have a solid key to a lasting, beautiful garden.

                        -The Midwest Book Review

 

“From evaluating the landscape for problem areas to selecting plants that are as resilient as they are beautiful, Smith shows readers how to plant a gorgeous garden that is tough enough to withstand anything nature might deliver.”

                        -Michigan Gardener

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580175163
• ISBN-13: 978-1580175166
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,070,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch information for novice and experienced alike, July 22, 2005

By 

C. T. Kalm - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping (Paperback)

I picked this book up as we deal with the worst drought on record in the Chicagoland/Northern IL area--which is tough on gardeners even in the best years. Smith covers it all in an in-depth, very readable manner. For a newcomer to gardening (wherever you may live), there is plenty of information on specific conditions divided by chapter (ex.--heat, cold, drought, flood...whoops, we can have that all in one day around here!). You can turn to a section to find out how to deal with a situation immediately. There is also plenty of discussion on plants and types of plants suitable for a variety of locales. Not simply a weather-related tome, the author also sprinkles in good information on dealing with animal damage, providing habitats for birds, and lists (including a 100-plant glossary) of plants for specific conditions.

For experienced gardeners, there is excellent scientific information, historical discussions (no, Jethro Tull isn't simply Ian Anderson's band...), and techniques that may be new to you.

Good for browsing or curling up with by a toasty fire in the winter. Whether you need help now or want to learn more in general, this book will become a well-thumbed reference.

A great addition to your library.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping, January 17, 2012

By 

John Mitchell - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping (Paperback)

The book was great and in very good shape as stated. It arrived early during Christmas rush which was surprising.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to organize a garden for inclement weather, June 7, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping (Paperback)

From hail and ice to summer droughts, gardens can face daunting seasonal survival challenges. Enter gardening expert Charles Smith's Weather-resilient Garden: a "user friendly" guide to planting a garden tough enough to withstand almost any kind of weather change. Blend an encyclopedia of 100 hardy plants with expert advice on how to organize a garden for inclement weather and you have a solid key to a lasting, beautiful garden.