The Pruner's Bible A Step-by-Step Guide to Pruning Every Plant in Your Garden

Learn how to prune more than 80 popular plants to get the best display of flowers, foliage, colorful stems, and fruits. Pruning is probably the area of gardening that causes the most anxiety to the average gardener. Many books add to that anxiety with illustrations that show completely different plants from those in the reader's own garden, or directions that use complex terms without explaining them. In contrast, this plant-by-plant guide demonstrates the correct pruning technique for 80 of the most widely planted trees and shrubs, with photographs and instructions that are so clear they will inspire confidence in even the novice gardener. Read The Pruner's Bible to discover: o Basic rights and wrongs about making cuts-with information clearly photographed in step-by-step sequence o What tools to buy and how to look after them-and how to choose the right tool for each job o What to do with the prunings-the pros and cons of shredding, burning, bagging, and composting o How to select young trees and shrubs that will grow into well-shaped specimens-with little or no pruning required Covering shrubs, climbers, roses, and ornamental and fruit trees, with separate sections on hedges, topiary, and special techniques, this outstanding guide will remain a bible of pruning for years to come.

STEVE BRADLEY, winner of the 2002 Garden Writers' Guild Award, has been a broadcaster for the BBC and independent television and radio stations, and writes for Garden Monthly, the Royal Horticultural Society's RHS Journal, and the BBC's Gardeners World magazine. He lives in England.