An illustrated guide to buying, raising and using bedding plants.

Whether you're a first-time homeowner, dedicated gardener, or landscape professional, if you're gardening on the Gulf Coast, you need Howard Garrett's Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast. Garrett is one of Texas's top organic gardening experts, and gardeners rely on him for accurate, sensible advice about what to plant and how to maintain healthy yards and landscapes without synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides. In Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast, Garrett presents nearly 400 plants, both native and adapted, that grow well in Southeast Texas. Like all of Howard Garrett's books, Plants for Houston and the Gulf Coast is loaded with indispensable gardening information: Nearly 400 trees, shrubs, groundcovers and vines, annuals and perennials, and grasses 400 full-color, close-up photos of the plants Expert information about each plant's appearance, growing requirements, landscape uses, potential problems, and other interesting facts Precise, easy-to-follow instructions about how to design a garden, prepare the soil, install trees and other plants, grow grass and control weeds, and maintain the landscape and control pests A detailed gardening calendar for Southeast Texas that lists specific plants to plant and maintenance tasks to perform each month No other book currently available provides such extensive and reliable information for Texas Gulf Coast gardeners.

With information on 25 popular seed and cutting-propagated bedding plant species, this fully illustrated study based on research conducted at North Carolina State University explains the causes of nutrient deficiencies and provides diagnostic techniques for each one as well as corrective procedures and proactive measures to help growers avoid plant nutrient problems altogether. With a chapter devoted to each crop--including impatiens, begonia, pepper, tomato, and basil--this guide features color photographs showing the progressive stages of deficiency for 11 nutrients essential for healthy plant growth. With this resource, growers will be able to diagnose deficiencies at various stages so that problems may be treated early and growers will be able to minimize crop damage and maximize a crop’s economic value.

Build your quilting skills with this beginner’s guide featuring 12 modern projects using basic patchwork, appliqué, curves, and foundation paper piecing. Quilt designer Jo Avery has a wealth of experience teaching beginner and intermediate quilters at her popular workshops and retreats. In New Patchwork & Quilting Basics, she guides you through 12 quilt projects using basic pieced strips, squares, and triangles. Jo’s easy-to-follow instructions make it easy to learn new skills while making your own stylish quilts and other projects. Before long, you’ll have the confidence and expertise to tackle virtually any quilt pattern!

A technical resource containing information from over 35 leading professional bedding plant growers. This book includes technologies, production techniques, and marketing tips.