How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work: Shameless Tricks for Growing Radically Simple Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, Landscaping, and More

by Jeff Bredenberg

Do you love the look of a stunning flowerbed or a nice expanse of lawn bordered by attractive shrubs, but don't have time to spend the whole weekend in your backyard? It?s time to cheat?in a smart way. In How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work, you'll find hundreds of work-reducing, time-saving, cost-cutting gardening tips that will reward you with the best-looking yard and garden you've ever had with less work than ever before. Cheating on garden and yard tasks is part attitude adjustment, part shortcuts, and part simplicity?with a healthy dose of making clever choices. You'll discover effective and efficient methods to complete just about every garden project, chore, cleanup, or predicament you'll face. Set aside the things you've done for years and -How the right tool can save you time?and save your back -That doing less for your lawn actually means better results -Why planting a diversion crop cuts down on your pest-patrol efforts That groundcovers and foliage plants are no-hassle solutions for weedy flowerbeds

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference

371 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a "rent to own" book. I borrowed it from the library and now I have to own it! I like to garden and I have very little time. The tips are excellent and the book gives ideas for all 4 seasons which I really liked. I am beginning to have more of a long term plan (which is great)and I am learning simple ways to make the garden more stunning.

[Jeff Rosendahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for gardeners! There's all kinds of sensible time-savers that I want to incorporate in my home garden next year. I'm also going to try and read several of the other "How to Cheat" books (Organizing, Cleaning, Home Repair).

[Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for

[Jacqueline M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a self-proclaimed lazy gardener always on the lookout for helpful shortcuts, I was excited to get this book from my library via kindle. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver. I didn't find any truly insightful tips for low-effort gardening even for a beginner.

One of the most frustrating aspects was the conflicting information peppered throughout the book. It felt like for every "trick" suggested, another part of the text offered a conflicting approach without any background information that might help a new gardener understand why it was the complete opposite of what was suggested in a previous chapter.

Beyond the mixed messages, I was disappointed by the repeated recommendations for landscape fabric and plastic in garden beds. Given the well-documented issues with these materials (ineffectiveness at long-term weed suppression and their contribution to microplastic pollution and soil contamination), it felt like outdated and environmentally unsound advice.

Finally, the inclusion of several invasive species recommendations for landscaping was genuinely concerning. Promoting plants that can harm local ecosystems is a significant oversight.

Ultimately, this book was a miss for me. I wouldn't recommend it, especially not to new gardeners seeking reliable and environmentally conscious guidance.

[Kathy KS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered several pretty good ideas here that I may use. And, I'm definitely a lazy gardener; survival of the fittest has sometimes been how my garden/flower grows (or doesn't). I especially liked the sidebars that summarized helpful lists: best for shade, best perennials for folks like me, etc. Some of the species I have been thinking about planting were re-enforced here.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be buying this one. Great practical information for all types of gardening.

[LyB · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t help as much as I expected

[A_s · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Lots of information delivered quickly and cleanly. Super easy to read (another cheat at gardening).

I did find some information conflicted with other other information given.

[Forest Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beach read. Lots of hacks I can’t wait to implement in my garden next spring

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This copy is an advanced uncorrected proof, and definitely needed some edits, but the content was good. Most of my gardening plans are imaginary, since I don't have space of my own, but it gave me lots of ideas, and I was happy to find only organic means recommended, instead of harsh chemicals. Cheating by this definition means not working against nature, but letting nature do most of the work for you. There are tips and plans included for everything from containers and rooftops, to 1/2 acre wooded lots, and whether your interest is in edibles or more decorative, there are suggestions for keeping things low-maintenance.

[Jennifer Miera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't learn much that I didn't already know from reading other gardening books, but I'll admit I didn't read from cover to cover. The book advises getting seedlings from nurseries instead of growing your own and recommends tried and true hybrids instead of heirlooms, though it does mention that the reader may be pulled in the direction of heirlooms eventually. Good for beginning gardeners.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book until I got to the last chapter on "pest" control. I was horrified that the author encourages readers to kill moles and groundhogs. Other than the horrible ending, I did learn a lot, and this might have been a five star book since it answered a lot of my questions. I knew NOTHING about lawn and garden maintenance before reading.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work: Shameless Tricks for Growing Radically Simple Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, Landscaping, and More by Jeff Bredenberg (Rodale 2009) (635) has some good tricks but not many new ones. My rating: 5.5/10, finished 5/8/12.

[Susanb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great common sense ways to garden.

I loved reading it and pretending that I was going to make a garden this year. But time has forced me admit that I am not a gardener of my kind. It did stay on my reading pile for most of a year until I had read it several times over.

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

In memory of my poor, poor nasturtiums. And the hyacinth vine that the cat stepped on & killed. Next year, guys.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out I already do a lot of this, and also that I'm not a very committed gardener.

[Kelli Bartol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice tips for easier gardening

[Angela Oneal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful tips, mostly for beginning gardeners.