Now Available… George’s What-to-Do-When Book
June 16th, 2015
When to do what around the yard? It’s a question that baffles many a homeowner, mainly because it’s not something that’s taught in school… and because few people paid attention when their parents tried to teach them the fine art of yard care.
My second book is “Month-by-Month Gardening in Pennsylvania.”
So most people wing it, hoping they’re not cutting the bushes at the wrong time or planting the petunias too early.
Well, wing it no more. My new book from Cool Springs Press is 240 pages worth of practical, hands-on, Pennsylvania-geared tips that help you know when to do what.
“Pennsylvania Month-by-Month Gardening” is an updated and revamped version of a book that Liz Ball did about a decade ago. I’d say about 90 percent of it is new.
The format is like a gardener’s monthly planner with each monthly chapter broken down into the different kinds of jobs (Plan, Plant, Problem-Solve, etc.) Then under each job, tips are laid out for each category of plants (Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, Shrubs, Trees, etc.)
Think of it as a very big – and very specific – to-do list.
I think the book is going to be extremely helpful for any Pennsylvanian trying to keep a yard looking good, whether rookie or “senior.”
It’s also a good companion to my first Cool Springs book, 2014’s “Pennsylvania Getting Started Garden Guide.” That one lays out the best 170 plants for Pennsylvania landscapes, and this one gives you the know-how to keep it all looking good once it’s in the ground.
Maintenance is absolutely critical to yard care. Even the best designed landscapes quickly fall apart if the gardener doesn’t know what to do with the plants.
Pruning a big-leaf hydrangea in the fall, for example, will give you a flowerless June the next year. Applying crabgrass preventer too late will let crabgrass sprout and grow before the product has a chance to work. And setting out your tender annuals too soon could cause them to croak when a rogue frost comes along.
It’s all a lot to know and keep track of. Which is why I’m hoping this book turns out to be the dirtiest, most dog-eared book on your shelf – or better yet, in your garden tool bucket.
“Pennsylvania Month-by-Month Gardening” is available through all of the usual book-selling channels, but if you buy it here, I’ll pick up the sales tax AND autograph a copy for you.
To order, head to my Buy Helpful Info page. You can also order “Pennsylvania Getting Started Garden Guide” there or get both for a discount. Thanks for your support, and I hope the info helps!