Resources
Creating a wondrous landscape in your own yard, with your own hands, is rich and rewarding work. But sometimes you need a little help from the experts: How to prepare the soil, how and when to prune, how to protect against harmful pests while protecting the useful ones.
Here is a list of some of my favorite resources - books, websites, apps, and people - so you can continue to learn about your yard and environment. With these tools you can install and care for your landscape and enjoy a yard that offers you year-round beauty and utility.
Books
Deer-Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast, Ruth Rogers Clausen, Gregory D. Tepper
Prevent your garden from becoming a “deer buffet” with this beautifully photographed list of deer-resistant plants, created especially for those in the northeast states.
The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: The Essential Guide to Planting & Pruning Techniques, Tracy DiSabato-Aust
Designing and planning a garden is exciting and fulfilling. Then comes the maintenance. How much time and energy do you want to spend in your garden? This book details how to prune and maintain many of the plants you may have in mind for your garden, helping you mindfully create a beautiful landscape that you will be able to take care of on your terms.
The Pruning Book, Lee Reich
Pruning is an important aspect of a healthy, thriving landscape. Learn how to properly prune the plants in your garden, from tender perennials to hearty fruit trees. You’ll read about the right tool for each job, and the best season to prune each plant.
The Living Landscape: Designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden, Rick Darke & Doug Tallamy
It is more important than ever to plant gardens with the ecosystem in mind. Native plantings are vital for the survival of our birds, bugs, and creatures. This beautifully photographed book will inspire you to create a diverse, colorful, and sustainable garden that satisfies your need for play, shelter, outdoor dining, and more.
The Maryland Master Gardener Handbook, University of Maryland Extension
This book will show you how to create and maintain a sustainable garden and landscape, including sections on building healthy soil, conserving water resources, growing organically, and diagnosing and solving plant problems. It was created for the Master Gardener program at the University of Maryland, and is filled with well-organized and easy to read information useful to the home gardener. (This is the book the NJ Master Gardeners Classes use.)
Websites
Native Plant Society of New Jersey
This site offers a list of problem invasive plants in New Jersey. If you live somewhere else, you can search “problem invasive plants + your state” and find a list for your area. The more native plants we use, wherever we live, the better the ecosystem. The better the ecosystem, the better the health of our planet! Click here…
Rutgers University: NJ Weed Gallery
Here you’ll find a photo listing of common weeds in NJ, to help you identify existing or potential problems in your home landscape. Search “Weed Gallery + your state” to find information for where you live. Click here…
Helpline:
NJ Gardener Helpline-Rutgers U
Universities and other educational bodies often offer assistance to home gardeners through an Extension. Search “gardening extension + your state or county” to find guidance and assistance. Click here…
Apps
PlantNet on your phone can help you identify plants you come across during your wanderings or in your home garden. Is it a weed? Is it native or invasive? Just snap a picture to find out - and at the same time, you can help build the database!
People to Follow
Check out Joe Lind’l at joegardener.com for useful and easy-to-understand gardening info. He offers bite-sized blogs on all sorts of subjects, from growing basil to controlling pests. Joe is, of course, an organic gardener. You can also follow him on social media; links on his website.