The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook: The Essential Guide to Choosing, Planting, and Maintaining Perfect Landscape Plants

I am a novice and opted for this book. I'm glad I did; it has very practical information and tips for designing, planting, and maintaining trees and shrubs in one's garden. Has info ranging from how to shape trees/vines to a trellis to common pests and problems, to an encyclopedia of trees and shrubs with zone info, water/soil needs, etc. The book is divided into two major sections (one is the design/planting/maintenance, whereas the greater potion of the book is actually the plant encyclopedia), and is an amazing reference. I'll admit I'm less interested in the design aspect (i.e. texture of plants, height, etc. in the yard, color choices, visual considerations), but still found it useful regardless.I do wish there was more info about tree suckers and how to aerate soils, but alas, very few books seem to cover these topics. That said, there is a wealth of info in this book, a ton of photos and diagrams for reference, and great ideas for plants that will suit your climate/zone. There are even lists of drought-resistant plants, pollution-tolerant plants, etc., making this one of my go-to tree/shrub care books.Well worth it!

What I like most is that over half of the books is dedicated to descriptions of different plant families and their care. It gives good recommendations on cultivars. The author has personal experience with each of the plants described.

While browsing through tree and shrub books at Barnes and Nobles, this one by far was the most complete. So good I had to have it and bought it on Amazon. Not only does it give you regular text book definitions of everything, the author gives her personal opinions and incites (in my case Red Maples), which is hard to find. For ex. what shrubs/trees will work in what soils and what trees might be more acceptable to disease, and so on. Don't expect to have a detailed page for every single tree out there, but it is still a great resource and should have what your looking for. My only complaint is the Glossary. If you look up "Red Oak", you'll probably find "please look up (scientific name)". Unfortunately most tree/plant book's Glossaries are like this, so I am not going to blame the author. Since the publication date is relatively recent, the pictures are pretty decent.

The best gardening books tend to be the ones in which the author is not afraid to be opinionated, and feels free to express affection or dislike of a plant, show a little personality, etc. This book fits that bill. I found the author's advice regarding techniques, landscape design, and plant selection to be practical and wise. The species references in the back of the book are quite detailed and the author has good tastes in plants. Wish more gardening books were this good.

This Handbook has everything you need to know about just about every tree and shrub there is! It is presented in an easy to follow format with excellent pictures. The tips on where to use a particular tree or shrub are especially useful. Here's where to find out about pruning, soil requirements, fertilization and growing habits. It is especially easy to search a topic or a specific plant.

Found this very informative & well written. My kids are always calling/txting with vegetation questions so I bought a copy of this reference for each.

This is one great book, full of a lot of pictures and suggestions, solutions to all your landscaping needs to create a beautiful well maintained, inviting yard that will be the an object of envious feeling of your neiborhood. This one book will help you plan, implement and accomplish your welcoming spot to all and showsthat you have taken the time to pursue through the use of this book as a starting point to a beatiful, well maintained paradise.

super research

I bought this as a gift and the recipient was charmed and finds it is full of very useful information.