This book tells you what and when to do things to most perennials. It has made me a much better gardener and made my garden look better. I loved it so much that I bought a copy for my Sister-in-law.
I recommend it for gardeners on all levels.

I am in agreement with all of the other very positive reviews on the "Well Tended Perennial Garden", this has quickly became my new bible on perennials. The writer is very knowledgeable and opinionated; though at times her personal tastes on plants come through loud and clear. Though there were some instances when I strongly disagree with her, for instance her view on irises not being worth the effort, but that did not take away from the usability of this book.

The Encyclopedia of Perennials is a great resource, one place that you can go for information on a plant including not only the usual details regarding size, exposures, zones etc but also details on how to prune, the level of maintenance you should expect and related plants.

Great overview of perennial care. Easy to read. Great pruning, growing, staking, fertilizing, and overall care tips. Great for novice to expert gardeners.

As the creator of a now three year old garden of shrubs, bulbs and perennials, I got this book just in time for the pruning lessons, but sadly too late for the soil preparation lessons!
I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to move beyond the glossy magazine spreads and into the realm of truly effective techniques that do require hard work, but that also have long-term results.

I work as a perennial salesperson in a large, family-owned garden center in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Any time a customer asks for a book on perennials or gardening in general, I always recommend this one.

It provides a wealth of general gardening information on soil preparation, watering, diseases, pruning techniques and more. The plant encyclopedia section is the most valuable part of the book. In it, Ms. Aust discusses the most widely available and popular perennials individually and in detail. For each plant, there is a picture next to which she lists the latin name, the common name, the light, water and soil requirements, the height, width and bloom-time. After those details are presented, she discusses when to prune, cut back, dead-head, divide and fertilize that plant. She has gathered this information over a lifetime of gardening experience.

The appendix of the book contains many valuable lists of plants under headings such as "Plants to Pinch for Height Control" or "Clay Busters". I can't imagine selling perennials to others or tending to my own garden without this bible.

One complaint that customers have mentioned to me about this book (after I have recommended it)is that Ms. Aust uses the Latin nomenclature for everything. This was intimidating to me at first, too. I had to learn the Latin for my job as a perennial salesperson so I was forced to "embrace" it. I am glad that I did because it makes reading a book like this easier. My advice to anyone interested in gardening: learn the Latin! It's intellectually challenging and fun. It will open up a wide world of plants to you. Carpe diem!

As a fairly new gardener I discovered this book at the library last year and it is wonderful. It really gets into how and when to pinch and prune (and what these terms mean) plants which I now realize is such an important part of how your flowers will look when they bloom...The author mostly talks about tried and true perennials, but we see them in a whole new light, you can control the height of your plants and even the bloom time. Excellent drawings and color illustrations are very helpful. I really enjoyed the "before and after" photos of gardens that the author has designed.

This book is written in a very casual way that I find very easy to read. The author, from reading the book, probably has very extensive experience and knowledge with gardening and plants. However, I think the author tries to stress her key points too much by repeating what she thinks is important and thus, the book suffers from not providing the information I would like. I think I'll be more happy with a plant encyclopedia.

i ordered this book after we moved to a new home and were faced with the monstrous task of identifying (and subsequently managing) the numerous perennials in unkempt beds around the property. this book is filled with useful information about pruning, thinning and transplanting, and has a wonderful picture index at the back. this book does not really cover garden design, so you may want to purchase a different book exclusively dedicated to that subject. nonetheless, it is well written, organized and a great reference book to have.

I was looking for a book to give me some practical insight into setting up and managing a perennial garden and I think I found the book. Seven chapters are devoted to designing, bed preparation, planting, pests, diseases, staking and division issues. I wish I had this book before starting my garden; the bed preparation chapter would have saved me a lot of effort in planting. Five more chapters are devoted to pruning, deadheading, cutting back, pinching, thinning, dead-leafing, and winter/spring preparation. The book contains many pictures and diagrams to accompany the instruction provided.

I found the encyclopedia section to be very helpful in giving specifics for individual plants, and it contained pictures of the plants discussed. The listing of plants is in alphabetical order by genus/species with the common name listed beneath. This is good; however, for someone accustomed to using common names, it would have been helpful to have an appendix with a cross reference to common names. I generally don't memorize genus or species names for most plants.

The book also contains three helpful appendixes on grasses, maintenance and pruning requirements. I found the glossary helpful to me (not being a plant expert) when it was necessary to look up terminology used in the text.

Overall, I found this book to be very helpful on the subject of perennial gardening.

Again, I found out about this excellent book while working at the state horticulture hotline...while our jobs were to answer all plant related questions in the tri-state area, we were housed in a horticulture library and I can tell you this book was in such demand! All of us used it constantly as it is well written, nice pix and provide good detail. This book (along with Dirr's exceptional guide to plants) are the two top books for garden lovers. It is worth the money and as soon as I left the agency, I got a copy for myself.

Great book, great price, and it arrived before I knew it- in three or four days. This was my first Amazon purchase, as I received a gift certificate for my birthday. I was amazed to find this book at such a great price, about a third less than the list price. This is the latest edition, just updated in 2007, with new photos and information. Great reference book, or you can read it from cover to cover if you're looking for ideas and inspiration over the winter. The second half of the book is a plant encyclopedia, covering everything you need to know about any perennial you can think of or you can find plants according to your specific needs, ie; shade, dry, full sun, etc. AND the photos are wonderful. This is the bible for perennial gardeners-and at a great price.

Love the book! It was a Christmas gift to my husband and it was delivered very timely and in great condition. The price was good too! I will definitely use Amazon again.

There are four things that set this book apart from other books on perennials. The first is that this book emphasizes pruning which is unusual and valuable. The second is a discussion of planting and maintenance that is loaded with the author's experience and pictures of her OWN work. Third, the plant encyclopedia gives cultural information that goes beyond the basics of soil type, zone, and exposure. Fourth, near the back of the book there is a set of pages that serves as a journal for the gardener where he/she can record the pruning and general maintenance that he/she has given to individual plants. The only thing I can say about this feature is, "Bravo, Tracy," and in the next edition include a pad of these pages! Other than being a bit on the hefty side, this book is perfect.

I just finishd Writing the ZEN OF WATERING YOUR GARDEN. This book has helped me plant and maintain my perennial gardens. I have more than one perennial garden because I have spaces in the shade and others that get different amount of daylight. I add seasonal annuals and the result has been very satisfying. The book has helped me attain the zen-like experience I have acheived in my gardens.

Tracy DeSaboto-Aust has done an excellent work in compiling information about perennials. The author is a garden designer. She shares her observations from her test gardens located in central Ohio and thoroughly covers all aspects of management and maitenance of a perennial garden.

The book includes an encyclopedia of perennials alphabetized by botanical name with the common name directly below. Each entry is accompanied with a photograph. There is a glossary of gardening terms, thirty-six lists of perennials grouped with specific requirements in regard to pruning and maintenance, and a perennial garden monthly planting and maintenance schedule.

Ms. DeSaboto-Aust provides illustrations for the techniques she applies to help the reader understand the correct procedures for maintenance. I especially found the section on pruning most enlightening. This truly is an indispensable reference book for anyone interested in growing perennials.

I have only had this a few weeks but already have referred to it many times. It gives very practical information in a forthright manner. Definitely a great addition to my gardening library.

Tracy's use of the latin name as opposed to the common name is a little un-nerving for a begginer- like me - but it is one way to drum it into you so that when you go to the nursery you will find what you truly want... plus the detail to specific plants is amazing. Appendix C is worth the price of the book alone...

I bought this book for my Mother-in-law and she wrote 'The information is set out in a concise format which is easily referenced. It is packed with information to help you get the most from your perennials. It is a wonderful book and I refer to it constantly.'

I love this book! It is as beautiful as it is informational. It is delightful to read to the work of a master who can convey her heart as well as her technical skills. I am pleased to add it to my gardening book treasures.

I really like this book. It is very informative and was what I was looking for.

Great Book.........so much information. Well organized and easy to use. Seller was quick with professional delivery. Much appreciated!

This book has taught me many things I did not know about cutting back perennials, methods for avoiding staking, and producing healthy foliage throughout the season. The book is organized with general information followed by an alphabetical list of hundreds of plants. They are listed by their Latin name but are cross-referenced with their common name in the index. Each description includes the zone, common name, family, description, size, exposure, and flowering period. The description is especially useful if searching for a specific cultivar, especially because the author recommends different pruning techniques for various cultivars. She also indicates good plants for "beginner" gardeners as well as what she terms "high maintenance plants" and indicates methods for creating a successful garden before anything is even planted. At the end of the book she offers a valuable schedule for the growing season. This book is different from most pruning books in that it only discusses plants, no trees or shrubs. The photographs are not of glorious gardens to make one drool, they are more illustrative of pruning techniques. A wonderful book, my garden is already the better for it.

This book was fantastic. I told me everything I needed to know; when to prune, how to prune, how to divide the plants, deadhead or not. It was concise and well organized. It's a great reference book that I will hold onto for many years.

I have been gardening for 30 yrs and this is the first book that has all the info needed in one place. In the past I have had to search many different books for the answers to some of my gardening problems. Thanks to Tracy for answering a gardener's prayers. I also bought a copy for a good friend is just started in gardening, she was thrilled. Thank You!

This book is a great source of detailed information about the best ways to maintain perrenials. Offers more than you get on the plastic container tags! Many suggestions for care throughout the growing season and preparations for wintering.

A wealth of info for those who love perennial gardening. I only wish it included shrubs as well!

Highly recommended book !! I refer to it ALL the time! Very helpful info on whether to cut back in fall or spring, what will rebloom if pruned, low-maintenance plants, etc. Has an encylopedia on a limited number of perennials, but buy this book for the basic info on planting, pruning, and general maintenance and you will not be disappointed.

This is a great book for plant and flower geeks that want to learn more! Easy to read, easy to understand, and loaded with invaluable information that is wonderful. I highly recommend it for learning more on how to care for your own garden.

The book is truly a gardener's bible for perennials. This edition is even better than the first edition as it includes many more ideas, techniques and information on gardening with perennials. I love the book and would recommend it to anyone who is considering perennials in their gardens.

The previous edition has been my bible for several years. I refer to it more frequently than any other publication or website. The new edition looks even better. Can't wait for spring!

If you can only afford one gardening book this year this is the one to spend your money on. It isn't often that I find a gardening book that is truly enjoyable to read all the text the author has provided.

She is candid in what works for her and offers dozens of truly usable tips. The photography is superb.

I've been carrying it with me everywhere I go so I can read more (or again) if I have a few minutes to wait.

I am exceptionally pleased that 'The Well-Tended Perennial Garden' has gotten as many favorable reviews as it has, since I suspect it's charms and offerings are just a bit more subtle than your average glossy oversized gardening book. It is essential that you pay attention to the subtitle, as this is a book specializing in teaching us about setting up and planting perennials, and less about choosing or matching or even weeding perennials (the author does not like to weed!). If you flip through the book, you may be put off by the lack of illustrations accompanying the text. While I'm not a big fan of pictures in cookbooks, unless it's discussing a specific technique, I sort of miss them in gardening books. This volume is economically done, with all the glossies in a central rotogravure section. This is ok, because the real meat is in the lessons on planting and pruning. The only place I really miss them is in the encyclopedia of perennials, which is less a true comprehensive encyclopedia than a dictionary of pruning techniques by species. The final two appendices on plant maintanence schedules and lists of plants by care technique may be worth the price of the book for serious gardiners. This is easily the most useful book I've read on perennials.

All gardener have questions. This volume is your answer.

Excellent book. I bought it as a Christmas present having bought a copy for myself several years ago.

A primary resource on planting and caring for perennial plants; it is a valuable resource for a master gardener--a master gardener suggested it to me!--but it is at a level accessible to the average individual. DiSabato-Aust is one of the leading authorities in this area.

The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting & Pruning Techniques is a pick for any who want more depth than the usual light perennial gardener's title includes, and appears here in an expanded version reflecting years of study on how to care for perennials to make them a showplace. The author reveals tricks to achieve this goal which have been honed over decades of gardening experience: a monthly planting and maintenance schedule accompanies lists of plants for specific conditions which require different levels of care, while over 200 color photos added here display the perennials to their best advantage and includes a new journal section for notes.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book has changed my gardening experience! It provides so much more information regarding maintenance techniques that it enables the gardener to have options in how the plants develop, grow and bloom. Concise yet thorough information makes this book a bible for the home and professional gardener.

I have hundreds of gardening books, old and new. This is one of the best ones I have. It is full of helpful information. I would recommend the book to anyone who wishes to have a ".....well-tended perennial garden."

This book came highly recommended to me by garden friends. I've been gardening for some time but have just really gotten into perennial gardening. The answers to my questions are right here. What, when and how to 'deadhead', plant, move and prune. Plus some excellent techniques that I have yet to try, but I know work well for other experienced gardeners.

I love this book! I have both editions. What I like most about it is that new gardeners can learn some crutial skills right out the chute and experienced gardeners will learn new ways to care for their perennials.That is whay I recomend it to everyone when I give gardening lectures. Tracy has truly improved on this title with the release of the expanded version. I love the lists in the back of the book and the alphabetical encyclopedia. The fact that a lot of the info in her book is based on her experience in her own gardens and clients' gardens is important to me. Truly a book to add to your gardening library.

I have owned this book for 6 years and have given a copy to every new gardener I meet. DiSabato-Aust is outstanding in her advise and techniques. I wish she would write one on annuals.

We have used the orginal printing of this book for several years....it has THE MOST practical, straightforward, no-holes-barred advice of any of the 100s of garden books I have read...we use it as a bible of perrenial care. I have given this as a gift to many a gardener, this new updated version has many more pictures and additions that really spruce it up.