[.uk] Pruning Basics: Tools * Techniques * Timing (ISBN 0806951133)

Amazon.com Review:
Pruning has always seemed like a chore, but after reading Pruning Basics it actually sounds like fun. And not just fun, but an accomplishment. Instead of holding your breath and hacking off dead-looking branches, Pruning Basics teaches you how to prune in style by using the right tools and doing it at the right time of year. "Few gardening techniques have been cloaked in as much mystique as pruning," says author David Squire, "yet basically it is a simple and logical process." Pruning is done not only to keep your garden or yard looking lovely, but also to eradicate dead and dusty growth and to encourage new shoots. How often and much to prune depends on the variety of plant, shrub, or tree. The book has chapters on shrubs, roses, climbing plants, trees, hedges and topiaries, fruit trees, and soft fruit. Each chapter gives explicit details on the technique for trimming that type of plant and how far down to trim. Many drawings and full-color photos accompany the instructions. At the end of each chapter is a listing of suggested plants, including their Latin names and descriptions. Roses, though a scrub, get their own chapter because Squire wants to do away with the myth that roses are difficult to cultivate. Established bushes are best pruned in the spring and very sharp secauters are necessary. The chapter on topiaries is informative as well as entertaining. "There is a certain romance about topiary," Squire says, but warns, "never be too ambitious to begin with: an identifiable sphere, cone, or small bird is better than a deformed kangaroo." Besides instructing how to prune, Squire suggests the best tools to use for each job and how to keep them in tip-top shape. A great guide for any gardener, Pruning Basics will inspire you to keep your garden clean and beautiful. --Dana Van Nest