Here's a big (almost 600 pages), oversized, lusciously photographed (more than 800 pictures) handbook that tells you what makes a garden grow best--and it's a plant-finder extraordinaire, too! One of the world's top experts guides you through the process of designing, planting, fertilizing, feeding, pruning, cultivating, and beautifying your garden, as well as giving tips on climate and pest control. Along with this practical information on successful techniques, you'll enjoy the most invaluable illustrated plant guide ever, with over 6,000 species, an A to Z index of 1,000 English common names, and hundreds of color photographs detailing each variety's characteristics. Most are well known and easily found, but there are special, rarer varieties, too--all worth the search. Whatever you want to grow--fruits, vegetables, herbs, the lawn, bedding plants, herbaceous perennials, bulbous plants, Alpines, trees, hedges, climbers, and water gardens--is here, with advice on making it thrive. Gardeners will keep this reference by their side always!