Practical Horticulture

by Rice, Laura Williams; Rice, Robert P.

• ISBN13: 9780130946348
• ISBN10: 0130946346
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: PRENTICE HALL

Summary

For undergraduate survey/non-major courses in Horticulture. Providing a scientifically-based, yet practical introduction to horticulture, this text presents material relevant to the way people encounter horticulture in everyday life (landscapes, houseplants, vegetable gardens), while introducing important aspects of horticultural science and commercial practices.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Part I FUNDAMENTALS OF HORTICULTURE	2	(83)
Introduction	3	(1)
The Divisions of Professional Horticulture	3	(1)
The Profession of Horticulture	4	(2)
Recreational Horticulture	6	(9)
Climate and Plant Growth	15	(12)
Climate and Seasons	15	(1)
Elements of Climate	16	(4)
Factors Modifying Climate	20	(1)
Microclimates	21	(1)
Plant-Growing Zones of North America	22	(5)
Botanical Nomenclature, Anatomy, and Physiology	27	(18)
What is a Plant?	27	(1)
Plant Nomenclature and Classification	27	(5)
Plant Anatomy	32	(8)
Physiological Processes	40	(5)
Plant Growth and Development	45	(14)
Plant Life Cycles	45	(1)
Stages of Plant Maturation	46	(7)
Plant Hormones and Growth-Regulating Chemicals	53	(6)
Plant Propagation	59	(26)
Sexual and Vegetative Propagation	59	(4)
Growing Plants from Seed	63	(4)
Growing Plants from Spores	67	(1)
Vegetative Propagation	68	(12)
Genetic Engineering	80	(5)
Part II GROWING PLANTS OUTDOORS	85	(219)
Outdoor Soils and Fertility	87	(26)
Classification	87	(3)
Organic Matter in the Soil	90	(1)
Cation-Exchange Capacity	90	(1)
Air and Water in the Soil	91	(2)
Soil Layers	93	(1)
Erosion	94	(1)
Soil Biology	94	(2)
Soil pH	96	(1)
Soil Improvement	96	(5)
Soil Conservation	101	(1)
Plant Nutrition	102	(3)
Nutrient Deficiencies	105	(1)
Fertilizers	105	(8)
Vegetable Gardening	113	(34)
Types of Vegetables	113	(2)
Climatic Factors	115	(2)
Planning a Vegetable Garden	117	(5)
Planting the Garden	122	(1)
Vegetable Garden Maintenance	123	(3)
Crop Rotation	126	(1)
Cover and Green Manure Crops	127	(1)
Commercial Vegetable Production in the Field	127	(3)
Culture of Common Garden Vegetables	130	(10)
Minor Vegetables	140	(7)
Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts	147	(18)
Site Selection	147	(1)
Incorporating Tree Crops in the Landscape	148	(1)
Tree Selection	149	(1)
Dwarf Fruit Trees	150	(1)
Planting Fruit and Nut Trees	150	(1)
Maintenance of Tree Crops	151	(4)
Failure to Bear	155	(1)
Commercial Fruit Production	155	(2)
Individual Crops and Their Growing Requirements	157	(8)
Bush and Other Small Fruits	165	(16)
Planning the Small Fruit Garden	165	(1)
General Growing Requirements for Specific Small Fruits	166	(3)
Planning, Soil Preparation, and Planting	169	(1)
Pruning and Training Small Fruits	170	(7)
General Maintenance of Perennial Small Fruits	177	(4)
Flower and Herb Gardening	181	(22)
Types of Garden Flowers	181	(7)
Planning the Flower Garden	188	(3)
Preparing and Planting the Bed	191	(1)
Flower Garden Maintenance	192	(2)
Specialty Gardens	194	(9)
Home Landscape Planning and Installation	203	(24)
The Professional Landscape	204	(1)
The Homeowner-Designed Landscape	204	(14)
Obtaining Landscape Plants	218	(1)
Nursery Production	219	(2)
Planting the Landscape	221	(4)
Postplanting Care of the Landscape	225	(2)
Landscape Maintenance	227	(28)
Features of a Low-Maintenance Landscape	227	(1)
Tools for Landscape Maintenance	227	(6)
Pruning Landscape Plants	233	(11)
Watering	244	(3)
Fertilizing Landscape Plants	247	(1)
Weed Control	248	(7)
Lawn Establishment and Care	255	(18)
Establishing a New Lawn	255	(8)
Lawn Renovation	263	(1)
Turf Grass Maintenance	263	(5)
Lawn Substitutes	268	(5)
Diagnosing and Treating Outdoor Plant Disorders	273	(31)
Identifying the Affected Plant	273	(1)
Determining the Cause of the Problem	273	(11)
Treating Plant Disorders	284	(10)
Federal Pesticide Laws	294	(5)
Organic Gardening	299	(3)
Integrated Pest Management	302	(2)
Part III GROWING PLANTS INDOORS	304	(143)
Introduction	305	(1)
Plants as Cleaners of Indoor Air Pollutants	305	(1)
The Indoor Environment	306	(5)
Indoor Plant Maintenance	311	(20)
Purchasing Indoor Plants	311	(1)
Acclimatization and Conditioning	312	(1)
Maintenance Activities	312	(8)
Plants with Special Requirements	320	(11)
Potting Media and Fertilizers	331	(18)
Indoor Plant Potting Media	331	(8)
Indoor Plant Fertilizers	339	(5)
Medium- and Fertilizer-Related Indoor Plant Problems	344	(5)
Light and Indoor Plant Growth	349	(18)
Effects of Light on Plant Growth and Development	349	(8)
Placement of Plants for Optimum Natural Light	357	(1)
Maximizing Natural Light	358	(3)
Artificial Lighting for Plant Growth	361	(3)
Light-Related Indoor Plant Disorders	364	(3)
Indoor Plant Watering and Humidity	367	(14)
Watering and Indoor Plant Growth	367	(10)
Humidity and Indoor Plant Growth	377	(4)
Controlling Indoor Plant Pests and Diseases	381	(16)
Indoor Plant Insects and Related Pests	381	(6)
Organisms Causing Diseases of Indoor Plants	387	(1)
Specific Diseases of Indoor Plants	388	(1)
Pest and Disease Prevention	389	(2)
Pest and Disease Control Methods	391	(2)
Safety Precautions for Using Pesticides	393	(4)
Decorating with Growing Plants and Fresh Flowers	397	(24)
A Historical Perspective	397	(1)
Functional Uses of Plants	398	(3)
Elements of Design	401	(6)
The Design Process	407	(2)
Arranging Flowers	409	(12)
Greenhouses and Related Climate-Controlling Structures	421	(26)
Greenhouses	421	(11)
Commercial Floricultural Crops	432	(11)
Indoor Plant Growth Units	443	(4)
Appendix of Plant Societies	447	(2)
Glossary	449	(16)
Index	465

Excerpts

The fifth edition ofPractical Horticulturemarks over 20 years that the book has been in print, as well as a major turning point in broadening the text. It was originally conceived as a university text for nonmajors courses in horticulture with the idea that the students would acquire a sound (if limited) foundation in aspects of horticultural science such as physiology, nomenclature, anatomy, growth and development, and so on (Part 1). In addition to this, they would learn of the applications of the principles of horticulture to home horticulture both outdoors (Part 2) and indoors (Part 3)--applications that might eventually be useful in their lives after university. But the clarity and readability of the text, combined with the great number of instructional photos and illustrations, have brought it to the attention of horticulture instructors who teach this course in a myriad of ways and at a variety of levels. For this reason, in the fifth edition I have chosen to not only update but tobroadenthe text, keeping the basic core horticultural science in Part 1, butenhancingit with more information about the profession of horticulture and with descriptions of the techniques in commercial production horticulture. You will find the following improvements in this substantially revised fifth edition. A new section with the current (but ever-changing) definition of what a "plant" is in the light of modern investigation into the genetic relationships among earth's organisms A list of the national and international professional organizations for the specializations within horticulture, and a list of trade and professional journals An introduction to ethics in horticulture, and an example of one professional organization's ethical guidelines Sections on commercial production technology for container-grown landscape plants, bedding plants, field vegetables, high-density tree fruit production, commercial seed production, and greenhouse pot plants. In addition, there is new material in the text on safety in regard to the mixing and application of pesticides, pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, and power landscape maintenance equipment. A sample pesticide label diagram (in the form required by the Environmental Protection Agency) and a summary of national legislation over the past 30 years in regard to pesticides in agriculture have been included also. Allied information onnonchemical pest and disease controland the increasing role of beneficial insects (with photos of some of them in action), a table of biological control agents such as nematodes and predator wasps, and a section on fungicidal inoculants for prevention of root diseases round out this enhancement. Thesoils chapterhas been enlarged to include sections on the role of soil organisms in plant growth, disussions offield capacityandmatric potentialin irrigation, current and traditional soil conservation techniques, and a traditional soil texture diagram. Appreciation is expressed to Erric Ross, Mt. Hood Community College; Craig A. Tolley, County College of Morris; Dawn Gatherum, Weber State University; Ellen B. Peffley, Texas Technical University who reviewed the text. The authors hope that the updating and broadening of the text will be appreciated by those who currently use it, and will make it more applicable to a wider range of courses taught by professors and teachers of horticultural science in all of North America. Laura Williams Rice Sept 21, 2001