2.96/5
Author: Valerie Easton, Jacqueline Knox
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2009
Formats: PDF,Paperback,Hardcover,Kindle
Rating: 2.96/5 out of 196
Publisher: Timber Press
Check out fan reviews for The New Low-Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It. Explore titles in Home Improvement & Design, Gardening, and Pets & Animal Care. Check out Valerie Easton,Jacqueline Knox books and read our community reviews and ratings before downloading The New Low-Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It Read&Download The New Low-Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It by Valerie Easton,Jacqueline Knox Online
May 12, 2013
Definitely has me motivated with ideas for my yard. We have LOTS of places needing work and these low-maintenance ideas are wonderful. They sound so creative and actually doable. This book is not actual garden plans but it starts the process of thinking outside the normal scope of gardening.Mar 23, 2018
I bought this book during a period when I was tired of all the work I had created for myself in my garden (small as it is, it was still getting overwhelming.) The days of salivating over new plant introductions & having to have "one of each" specimen at the nursery were over. I wanted exactly what this author said she wanted ~ to look out her window, see a beautiful, livable garden space but not an endless list of chores waiting to be done.Mar 19, 2019
Starting a gardenFeb 03, 2019
For me, the basic consensus is to get the best quality of everything you can, choose plants that will thrive where you plant them, and don't use harmful chemicals. Beautiful pictures of gardens throughout. Good information.Sep 25, 2018
Didn't get very much from this.Nov 02, 2011
this book is more of a 12 step intervention for all-star plant collecting fanatics entering middle age, starting to feel it in the knees. if i had ten grand, i suppose i could hire a crew and a bulldozer to reform the clover patch my house sits in. bring in boulders and bluestone slab pavers, contract a professional landscape architect to subcontract a machine shop to dip a bunch of found industrial metal objects in chrome and so on.Jun 05, 2013
The problem with this book is Valerie Easton's endless description of the virtues of low-maintenance and sustainable gardening techniques and how they are being used in each garden featured. What I saw in the photographs were expensive gardens designed by professions which would be out of reach for most Americans. The photographs are beautiful and there are many interesting gardens, but to use the 'green' terms low-maintenance and sustainable is a huge exaggeration. Perhaps part of the The problem with this book is Valerie Easton's endless description of the virtues of low-maintenance and sustainable gardening techniques and how they are being used in each garden featured. What I saw in the photographs were expensive gardens designed by professions which would be out of reach for most Americans. The photographs are beautiful and there are many interesting gardens, but to use the 'green' terms low-maintenance and sustainable is a huge exaggeration. Perhaps part of the disconnect is that the gardens featured are all in the Northwest where the challenges of the bitter cold and blistering hot are unknown. As a practical gardener in the Midwest, I would never consider the use of numerous containers low-maintenance or sustainable as they require endless watering. Yes, I use them in specific applications, but I would never brag about their advantages. Also, the gardeners I know use timber or stone to create raised beds, and would never consider investing huge sums in steel and/or poured concrete planters. It is hard to figure out how the gardens featured are low maintenance until you realize that rather than lawns Easton is recommending permeable solid surfaces like gravel, pavers and stone. Easton recommends planting bushes that do not need to be trimmed, a statement which I found confusing as unless you ultimately want a jungle all bushes will need annual trimming. Likewise she features a sustainable garden with 3 hens and 2 rabbits-not something I would describe as low-maintenance. Positively, the book does have valuable garden design and plant selection ideas, and identifies numerous additional resources. Overall I recommend the book, but it does not meet the author's own expectations or claims. ...moreJan 16, 2012
Loved this book: really made me think about how much time I want to spend maintaining my garden versus enjoying it, and then provided examples of many different kinds of low maintenance garden as inspiration.Aug 05, 2016
If you'd rather enjoy sitting in your garden than working in it to battle constant problems from weeds,drought, problematic locations, etc., Easton's book will provide both a manifesto and lots of examples of low-maintenance gardens in a variety of styles--and not one of them a flat green yard with a mustache of rectangular shrubs out front.Jan 10, 2011
Was irritated at beginning for all the designers and their gardens I will never spend money for, but book does have great resource listings at end of each chapter and nice tips for different approaches and plants. Book was a gift, and I guess there is enough to reference that I need to keep it. Author is based in Northwest. One idea I like for raised bed is to put layer of soil for planting on top of a hay bale. Let's see if I can find any traditional rectangle bales though. So many big wheels Was irritated at beginning for all the designers and their gardens I will never spend money for, but book does have great resource listings at end of each chapter and nice tips for different approaches and plants. Book was a gift, and I guess there is enough to reference that I need to keep it. Author is based in Northwest. One idea I like for raised bed is to put layer of soil for planting on top of a hay bale. Let's see if I can find any traditional rectangle bales though. So many big wheels around here. ...moreJan 14, 2015
I would have liked to see diagrams showing the layout of the gardens and more "big picture" images. There were too many pictures of small elements that I couldn't get a feel for the overall look of the gardens featured. I also thought there was too much hardscape and pavement. The descriptions often pointed out that here was yet another garden that didn't focus on plants. But I happen to like plants. I was looking for ideas for a low maintenance garden with lots of plants but this one wasn't for I would have liked to see diagrams showing the layout of the gardens and more "big picture" images. There were too many pictures of small elements that I couldn't get a feel for the overall look of the gardens featured. I also thought there was too much hardscape and pavement. The descriptions often pointed out that here was yet another garden that didn't focus on plants. But I happen to like plants. I was looking for ideas for a low maintenance garden with lots of plants but this one wasn't for me. The gardens are pretty just not what I wanted. I read about one third of the book. ...moreApr 21, 2014
Really dug this. I live in Oregon, so the gardens featured were right in my wheelhouse in terms of climate as well as aesthetics. As a new gardener, I found the section toward the end with suggested plants and "don't plant this" lists to be particularly helpful. Since I also intend to eventually eliminate my lawn in favor of more ecologically and aesthetically pleasing plantings, the suggestions for "steppable" ground covers were also welcome. This gave me a lot of lovely ideas for eventually Really dug this. I live in Oregon, so the gardens featured were right in my wheelhouse in terms of climate as well as aesthetics. As a new gardener, I found the section toward the end with suggested plants and "don't plant this" lists to be particularly helpful. Since I also intend to eventually eliminate my lawn in favor of more ecologically and aesthetically pleasing plantings, the suggestions for "steppable" ground covers were also welcome. This gave me a lot of lovely ideas for eventually transforming my yard into a garden that's beautiful and welcoming without being overwhelming. ...moreFeb 28, 2013
Ideas and tips for planning and implementing a low-maintenance garden. The biggest idea I got from it was "low maintenance = hardscape over the lawn." Which, honestly, I would be all for if I didn't have little ones who could use a cushioned landing spot every summer. It does require a different mindset to pare down and only plant what you really really love (and what will grow in your zone without much help). Something to think about.Feb 11, 2016
On the whole good advice, I liked to itemized lists at the end of the chapter. Wasn't convinced that containers were the low-maintenance as here in Canada having plants survive winters in containers is iffy at best. Lot of the ideas seem to have a high initial cost even though she talks about using found objects.Jun 26, 2012
Easton's book contains good ideas for having a garden that you can enjoy without too much work. I particularly appreciate her use of "editing" with regard to developing a low-maintenance garden. Unfortunately, I live in zone 5A, considerably colder than the author's area so I have to discard many of her plant recommendations. If you are south of zone 5, you will love this book.Apr 25, 2015
If you are looking for a book for a first-time gardener or basic landscape "start here" guide, this really isn't it. It would have been helpful if it was made clear that all the examples were from the west/northwest. It wasn't noted until the last chapter that all the plants mentioned were for a 6-9 hardiness zone. Too bad mine is a 5.Dec 02, 2011
I found this to be a slight book with beautiful photos. It didn't delve into plant choices. The garden designs were in the modern style. There were interesting plant containers and I did like the mention of rainwater barrels. I did think there were some political leanings (climate change, organic food). Also, it seemed as if this book was targeted for small urban gardens.Oct 13, 2010
LOVED this! Totally changed my way of thinking for my someday yard!Apr 13, 2012
I have to admit I mostly looked at the pictures in this book, but enjoyed what I read. The idea of a garden that requires less time but is beautiful appeals to me.Feb 24, 2011
Another gardeneing book to deal with these economic times but most importantly haow to enjoy your garden and us it for what it was intended!-Not just labor but reflections.Apr 17, 2010
Loads of good ideas, pictures, descriptions and everything in between. One word of warning, a brief look through this book will have you wanting an entire backyard renovation.Aug 02, 2011
Super book, great photos, good ideas. This is the first garden book that I was ever distracted by the writing - it was repetitive and a bit of a downer in parts. Still - super book!Mar 21, 2010
Interesting books showing different ways to garden and have that outdoor room without a tremendous amout of work. Be interesting to see if the premise works.Take your time and choose the perfect book.
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