The Self-Sustaining Garden: A Gardener's Guide to Matrix Planting - Hardcover

Thompson, Peter; Owen, Josie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0881928372 ISBN 13: 9780881928372

Publisher: Timber Pr, 2007

Synopsis

This book explores the theme that the plants themselves can do much of the hard work gardeners believe is an essential part of gardening. The Self-Sustaining Garden advocates using plants as partners in self-sustaining communities to create low maintenance gardens rather than being a slave to spades and hoes. In a series of compelling case studies, Peter Thompson shows how to transform a conventional garden into a self-sustaining garden. Updated from the original edition (published in 1997), The Self-Sustaining Garden brings together an explanation of the universal principles of matrix planting with specific applications and informative chapters on soil health and biological controls, and shows how to pull all the ingredients together into a strong, self-sustaining design.

About this title

Review

"The message. . . is one that can be adapted to gardens anywhere: look to the natural models and plant accordingly." --Pacific Horticulture

"A perfect gift for any gardener who wishes to reduce the amount of time spent on chores." --Manchester Journal Inquirer

"Plenty of inspiration to transform your conventional garden into a self-sustaining one. . . . If it seems that the more you work in your garden, the more problems are created, then perhaps your garden could use a matrix-makeover." --Camden Herald

"If you are unable or unwilling to devote a great deal of time to your landscape, this might be the book for you." --Pine Cone Press-Citizen

"Practical, how-to advice combined with cutting edge ideas make The Self-Sustaining Garden a handbook and a manifesto for a new way to garden." --River Falls Journal

"An interesting and useful garden book, especially for environmentally conscious gardeners and those of us who wistfully dream of a lower-maintenance garden." --Washington Gardener

About the Author

Dr. Peter Thompson is a distinguished plantsman, with a background in plant physiology. He has founded a gardening school in Shropshire, England, owned and run Oldfield Nurseries, and headed the Physiology section at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he established a Seed Bank for useful, threatened, or otherwise important species and populations of wild plants. He lives in the UK.

Edition details

• Publisher: Timber Pr
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0881928372
• ISBN 13: 9780881928372
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192