The Weather-Resilient Garden: A Defensive Approach to Planning & Landscaping

by Charles W.G. Smith

Drought, floods, hail, winds, and extreme heat and cold are just a few of the challenges that unpredictable weather can present as you’re trying to grow healthy plants. Charles W. G. Smith helps you tackle unforeseen weather changes using his ingenious defensive approach to gardening. With profiles of 100 hardy plants and expert information on dealing with problems as they arise, Smith shows you exactly how to plan and maintain a gorgeous, durable garden that will stand up to whatever nature throws at it. 

Genres: Gardening

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read with topics ranging from salt and hail and a nice list of plants that can handle these extreme conditions. Great book.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information in considering species selection and various environmental factors (wind, sun, fire, etc) when site planning is quite useful. However, I will being ignoring the parts about maintaining the suburban garden aesthetic. I will not be going out in a blizzard to knock snow off conifers so they maintain a better shape, they can deal on their own.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a somewhat helpful book. Marred by an error right in the first few pages. The conversions to the metric system are somewhat shaky. However, the discussion about chill damage was very interesting. It is important to not let roots get cold. Even though a plant may be hardy to zero, it's roots are probably not as hardy. So I guess I have to wait for a warmer day to move the lilac and the mock orange.

[Sarahandus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from explaining in detail how plants react to various weather problems, which was interesting, it came down to the usual recommendation of buy the plant suited to your climate. If you don't know that, you better learn. Because you will one way or another.

[AnnieM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but long. Lots of detail, but covers each possible type of weather situation from ice to wild fires.

Downside is that it has no colored photos but just line drawings.

Good for future reference but just gave it a light page through.

[Serity · Rating 2 out of 5]

extremely scientific, but highly informational. i skipped around a bit, but learned a few really good things to help my approach to gardening in my climate.

[Kali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. It was really long winded when it didn't need to be. I just wanted to be able to find the information I needed and I couldn't. I had to read through all this extra fluff to get the info. It did have some good info relating to planning your space around the climate, and also about how to ensure your plants are resilient, but not really what I was looking for (which I did not remove stars for). I needed something pertaining to gardening in AZ, especially along the lines of edibles.