First-time Gardener
Eager to wear gardening gloves but feel lost in the garden? Full of practical tips and detailed step-by step instructions, The First-Time Gardener is the beginner's guide to gardening. Kim Wilde turned from show biz to gardening and learned from scratch to become a recognised expert in the field.Beautifully illustrated throughout this one-stop guide will teach you the very basics of what gardening is about.Introduction:• Why gardening can be so rewarding• Why it’s important not to expect too much too soon• Why planning is the keyDetails of each essential garden technique:• Main soil types and the benefits/drawbacks of each• Fundamental tools• Guide to plant terms – demystifying words such as perennial, biennial, bulbs, rhizomes and many moreThe book assumes no prior knowledge and takes you through the basics of planning a garden, choosing plants and turning your ideas into reality – including how to make the most of climbers, containers, and hanging baskets. But it will also help you assess what you've already got in your garden. Not all gardens should be created from scratch, as per the TV makeovers. In fact, if you can wait a while to see what happens in your new garden, then you may find you've inherited some weird and wonderful plants.Contents include:• Planning a garden• Tips on planting, pruning and propagation• Hard landscaping• Choosing plants• Taking care of your garden – digging, weeding, watering and feeding• Gardening techniques• Green gardening• Growing fruit, vegetables and herbs• Trouble shooting and pest control• The possible pitfalls and helping you to identifywhat’s gone wrong and how to resolve it
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Collins
first-time gardener
A step-by-step guide for the gardening novice
Kim Wilde
First published in 2006 by
Collins, an imprint of
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
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This paperback edition published in 2008
Text © 2006 Wildeflower Ltd
Editorial, pictures and design © 2006 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd except for pictures credited here.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Project manager: Emma Callery
Photographer: Nikki English
Designer: Bob Vickers
For HarperCollins
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Editor: Alastair Laing
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Kim Wilde herby asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
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Source ISBN 9780008108526
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2019 ISBN: 9780008108526
Version: 2019-04-10
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Contents
The essentials of good garden design
Typical problems and solutions
Controlling pests and diseases
Planting annuals, perennials and shrubs
The gardener’s calendar: spring
The gardener’s calendar: summer
The gardener’s calendar: autumn
Gardening for me began as a therapy, a way to restore myself from a hectic schedule of travelling and performing. I vividly remember returning from a working trip abroad still dressed in tight black trousers and a shoulder-padded jacket and going straight out into the garden to train my pyracantha. I haven’t changed much and still often garden in completely inappropriate clothing such as nightdresses and platform mules! Now, as a busy working parent, my garden has never been so essential and has most definitely saved my sanity on more than one occasion. In our increasingly stressful and busy lives, a place to relax and re-charge our batteries is more and more important; modern living often sets a pace that can wear people down. A leafy sanctuary provides the perfect antidote, somewhere that offers peace and tranquillity, a place to unwind and share quality time with family and friends.
Gardens are not only good for the spirit, but good for the environment too. Plants absorb atmospheric pollutants as they produce food for themselves to grow, a process called photosynthesis, which at the same time releases oxygen back into the atmosphere. Plants also encourage wildlife, whose natural habitats are increasingly under threat from modern living. The simple pleasure of seeing birds, squirrels and ladybirds in the garden must not be underestimated. While being close to nature has a positive impact on our mental health, our gardens can become havens for wildlife, providing them with food, water and shelter without making any compromises to a chosen garden design.
The educational value of gardening should not be underestimated either, and schools are increasingly incorporating it into their teaching, often by creating wildlife or sensory gardens. In fact, I strongly believe that gardening for children is a natural; I’ve never come across a child yet who wasn’t completely entranced by a pot of garden soil! Encouraging them to appreciate their natural world is a greater gift than any bought in a toy shop. Research shows that gardening can no longer be treated as a trivial pursuit, but instead it can be used as a valuable tool in helping vulnerable adults overcome a wide range of health and social problems by boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
