A companion to the best-selling Sunset Western Garden Book,Ó which focuses on plants & seasonal gardening activities that are uniquely suited to the high mountains, low deserts, warm valleys, or foggy coasts of this largely arid area between the Pacific Ocean & the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Designed specifically for western gardeners, this book includes: over 600 photographs & dozens of ready-to-use landscape plans; step-by-step illustrations & exploded views that show you how to do it yourself; design tips & tricks from the pros -- landscape designers, gardeners, plantsmen, & many other experts; & solutions for the landscaping challenges of your region.

As surely as gardens change with the seasons, gardening is ever changing. New plants, techniques, materials, and lifestyles are constantly broadening the choices you have and reshaping the way you garden in the West. In response to this natural evolution, the editors of Sunset-the West's most trusted source of gardening information for more than 80 years-have completely redesigned and updated The Western Garden Book in this new 2012 Ninth Edition. Following the best-selling success of the previous editions of The Western Garden Book, this edition includes a fresh new look, thousands of color photographs, fresh illustrations, and an easy-to-follow format. Written by experts for gardeners in the West, this book is an indispensable reference for beginning and expert gardeners alike. The New Western Garden Book features include: A photo gallery shows the West's most innovative gardens, from all-edibles front yards to stylish water-wise and fire-wise gardens to living walls and green roofs-all with ideas you can use. Climate Zone Maps and growing-season graphs for all regions of the West including Alaska and Hawaii. A new "Plant Finder" section helps you choose plants for their garden's problem areas or for special effects. "A to Z Plant Encyclopedia" lists some 8,000 plants that thrive in the West, including more than 500 new ones. Gorgeous color photographs illustrate all plant entries-for the first time ever in The Western Garden Book. "Gardening From Start to Finish" is a new visual guide that leads readers through all steps of making a garden, from soil prep through planting, growing and care, with special sections on natives, veggies, grasses and more.

Complete instructions for growing over 190 vegetables, herbs, berries, fruits, nuts, and tropical fruits in the ground and in containers. Plans and design ideas for kitchen gardens of all sizes, as well as easy-to-follow guidelines for composting, building raised beds, and more. Growing season details for all regions of the West, including Alaska and Hawaii. Timely tips from edibles experts around the West-British Columbia to New Mexico. More than 300 pages of color photographs, practical advice, and inspiration from the editors of Sunset magazine, the West's authority on gardening.

In the Western Garden The 20-Minute Gardener learn the secret to achieving a beautiful garden with minimum effort, paying attention to it in brief time increments all week and season long rather than devoting long days on weekends. Make the process fun. Take an early-morning stroll through your garden, picking off spent blooms as you go, or in the evening after work; pull stray weeds or harvest tomatoes for dinner. This informative guide helps seasoned and new gardeners alike plan easy-to-tend garden spaces, choose low-maintenance plants, grow edibles that keep on giving (artichokes, asparagus, blueberries, citrus) and monitor your plants daily rather than weekly. With garden techniques and projects you will find all the tips and step-by-step instruction needed to create a stylish yet easy-to-maintain outdoor space.

Collection of 42 designs created by area landscape professionals, with over 200 plants that are proven performers in the areas covered. Some designs provide "green" landscaping tips, including ways to conserve water and the use of native plants. Also shows how to install and care for plants, paths, fences, walls.

Completing Sunset's trilogy of essential reference volumes--with "Western Garden Book" and "Western Landscaping Book"--for the western gardener, "Western Garden Problem Solver" is the first major reference guide that addresses the pests, plant diseases, and weeds particular to the western climate zones, soil, and topography. Approx. 600 photos and illustrations. Charts.