Plant Doctor: A Practical Guide to Having a Healthy Garden Book

Introduction     9
Starting Out     13
Know Your Hardiness Zone     13
Sun or Shade? It's Crucial Informationt     18
How Much Siinhght Do Plants Need?     20
What to Do about Dry Shade     21
Why Some Plants Won't Grow under a Black Walnut Tree     24
Buying Plants     27
How to Shop at a Garden Center     27
What Kind of Plant to Buy: Annual or Perennial?     30
The Different Types of Bulbs     31
Buying by Mail Order     34
Be Wary of These Invasive Plants     36
Soil Basics     41
How to Tell What Kind of Soil You Have     42
Understanding Soil pH     43
Ways to Improve Soil     44
What Fertilizers Can and Can't Do     49
Which Is Best: Organic or Chemical?     53
Some Plants That Benefit from Chemical Fertilizers     54
Tips about Some Popular Plant Care Products     55
The Magic of Manure Tea     57
Planting     59
Where to Plant     59
When to Do It     61
If Jack Frost Makes a Return Visit     62
How to Plant Most Things     64
ImportantPlanting Tips     65
Planting under Trees     67
The Problem of Wind     68
Different Bulbs Need Different Treatment     69
Planting in Containers     72
Planting Roses in Cold Climates     74
The Marvel of Mulch     75
Ongoing Plant Care     81
Take a Tour of Your Garden     81
The Touchy Issue of Watering     83
Weeding: The Inescapable Task     85
Getting Rid of Weeds     87
Deadheading     92
Shearing     94
Staking     96
Pinching     99
Thinning     100
Dividing Plants That Have Grown Too Big     100
Volunteers: A Mixed Blessing in Many Gardens     103
What to Do When Winter Comes     106
When Spring Rolls around Again     110
When Roses Won't Produce Flowers     110
Protecting Plants from Problems     113
How to Cultivate Good Gardening Habits     113
What IPM Means and How It Affects You     116
Beneficial Bugs in the Garden     117
Does Companion Planting Work?     119
The Different Kinds of Pesticides Sold at Garden Centers      121
Chemical Pesticides: Know What You're Using     123
Organic Pesticides Can Be Toxic Too     126
Common Garden Pests and How to Combat Them     134
The Four Kinds of Plant Diseases     149
Common Diseases That Affect Plants     151
Ways to Keep Critters Away     156
Acknowledgments     162
Photo Credits     162
Bibliography     163
Index     165