Organic Gardening

by Lavelle, Christine

• ISBN13: 9780754811534
• ISBN10: 0754811530
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: Lorenz Books

Summary

Glorious full-color photography illustrates this comprehensive guide to creating an organic garden, whether you want a family orientated space, a small town garden, or a large kitchen garden.

Author Biography

Christine Lavelle is a lecturer in horticulture and ecology at Writtle College, Chelmsford, in England. She trained at the National Trust for Scotland's Threave School of Practical Gardening and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew where she developed an interest in ecology and organic gardening, carrying out research projects to encourage beneficial insects within ornamental gardens. Christine has worked in many different areas of horticulture and has held two head gardenerships at Askham Bryan College in York and Otley College in Suffolk. She is currently researching insect visitation to garden ornamentals Michael Lavelle is a committed environmentalist and a firm believer that nature provides the best model for any garden design. A keen observer of nature since his childhood in Lancashire, England, he believes that this natural model combined with a commonsense approach to horticulture is the key to organic success. Michael studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College in York and environmental management at Wye College in Kent. He worked as a professional landscaper before starting a career as a horticultural lecturer in the early 1990s. Michael has designed and constructed several educational exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show, achieving the prestigious gold medal in 1999. He currently works as a senior lecturer in landscape management at Writtle College in Chelmsford

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
What is Organic Gardening?	p. 8
Why Go Organic?	p. 10
Understanding Your Garden	p. 12
The Organic Cycle	p. 14
Designing Your Garden	p. 16
Soil and Soil Management	p. 19
Types of Soil	p. 20
Soil Structure	p. 22
Soil Chemistry	p. 24
Digging and Cultivation	p. 26
No-Dig Gardening	p. 28
Soil Conditioners	p. 30
Making Garden Compost	p. 34
Green Manures	p. 36
Basic Techniques	p. 39
Weeding and Weed Control	p. 40
Watering	p. 42
Feeding	p. 44
Basic Pruning	p. 47
Plant Propagation	p. 50
The Greenhouse Environment	p. 56
Greenhouse Cultivation	p. 58
Cold Frames and Cloches	p. 60
Plant Health	p. 63
Why Plants Get Sick	p. 64
Preventing Problems	p. 66
Plant Pests	p. 68
Plant Diseases	p. 70
Plant Disorders	p. 72
Beneficial Predators	p. 74
Other Control Methods	p. 76
The Ornamental Garden	p. 81
The Garden Framework	p. 82
Ornamental Lawns	p. 84
Lawn Maintenance	p. 86
Woody Plants	p. 90
Flowers for Beds and Borders	p. 94
Beds and Borders	p. 98
Containers	p. 102
The Wildlife Garden	p. 107
What is a Wildlife Garden?	p. 108
Woodland Gardens	p. 110
Wild Flower Lawns	p. 112
Wildlife Ponds	p. 114
Providing Shelter	p. 116
Plants to Attract Wildlife	p. 118
The Kitchen Garden	p. 123
Planning a Kitchen Garden	p. 124
Crop Varieties	p. 126
Crop Rotation	p. 128
Growing Methods	p. 130
Companion Planting	p. 132
Making the Most of Your Space	p. 134
Sowing in the Open	p. 136
Sowing Under Glass	p. 138
Thinning and Transplanting	p. 140
Aftercare	p. 142
Growing Herbs	p. 144
Harvesting and Storing Herbs	p. 146
Growing Fruit Trees and Bushes	p. 148
Supporting Fruit Trees and Shrubs	p. 150
Protecting Fruit	p. 151
Pruning Fruit Trees and Shrubs	p. 152
Harvesting and Storing Fruit	p. 154
Directory of Vegetables	p. 157
Bulb Vegetables	p. 158
Leafy Vegetables	p. 163
Root Crops	p. 176
Peas and Beans	p. 187
Marrows and Squash Crops	p. 191
Shoot Crops	p. 196
Fruiting Vegetables	p. 203
Directory of Herbs	p. 209
Directory of Fruit	p. 223
Calendar of Care	p. 246
The Ornamental Garden	p. 246
The Wildlife Garden	p. 246
The Kitchen Garden	p. 248
Suppliers	p. 250
Index	p. 252
Acknowledgements	p. 256
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