Product Description

The Well-Designed Mixed Garden is a design book with a difference. Written for gardeners who are passionate about plants of all kinds (hence the "mixed garden" of the title), it reflects decades of professional experience and artistic innovation. As with her bestselling book The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, master designer and plantswoman Tracy DiSabato-Aust provides not only inspiration but also scrupulously organized information on design and connoisseur plants all from original research dating back to her degree work in horticulture. Her new offering is a master class of design fundamentals, with an emphasis on often-neglected topics, such as site evaluation, color theory, and planning for maintenance. It is also a gallery of detailed design plans that show how ideas are put onto paper and then translated into three dimensions. Lessons learned in its first two parts are strengthened in an "Encyclopedia of Plant Combinations"; each entry notes the design considerations at play and provides tips on how to keep the combination looking its best. And the lifetime care needs and unique design characteristics of featured plants are summarized in the useful charts and lists that conclude the book. The result is a nearly foolproof guide to every aspect of designing superior gardens with superior plants. With more than 250 color photos and illustrations, this book is as much a feast for the eyes as it will be a trusted reference for the library shelf.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #132276 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 460 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tracy DiSabato-Aust's Well-Designed Mixed Garden provides sound direction for plant lovers looking to free their garden from the doldrums and fashion a rich tapestry of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines, grasses, and bulbs. Encyclopaedic in scope, yet unfailingly attentive to essential details, The Well-Designed Mixed Garden effectively summarizes an array of basic garden design considerations and fundamentals. There are particularly useful chapters on colour theory and on drawing up a plan, with precise instructions on what size plants to purchase and how to space them. As with her highly regarded Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques, DiSabato-Aust delves eagerly into plant maintenance, a topic too many garden writers overlook. Though many examples are from the author's own garden or other American Midwest locations, they're largely applicable to other plant hardiness zones. Of particular appeal are a nicely photographed section on attractive plant combinations and a series of handy appendixes for plant selection. Beginners may be overwhelmed by this book's wealth of information, but its comprehensiveness renders it all the more valuable for seasoned gardeners seeking greater practical know-how and a surer grasp of the art of gardening. --Jennifer Wyatt, Amazon.com

Review
American horticulturalist Tracy DiSabato-Aust attempts to present a definitive, informative guide to designing, planting and maintaining a mixed garden. And succeeds admirably. This is no dry, scientific pictureless work on the subject. It is an informative, chattily yet seriously written discussion on how to set about designing your garden. Fully understanding the ordinary gardeners frustration at where to plant all their new acquisitions, the lazy gardeners desire for an easy life yet still have a beautiful garden, she candidly explains the how-to and thought behind her own designs. Borders, often pictured repeatedly at different times of day or season, show her attention to light, colour and form, demonstrating her vast experience on the subject. She highlights small yet important details, often skipped over in other publications, such as ultimate tree and shrub size, winter interest and inspirational plant combinations. Containing wonderful colour photographs of her own and clients gardens, detailed colour design plans accompanied by actual photographs of the finished result, an extremely comprehensive plant list divided into colour, form and maintenance, this is a remarkable work. Striving to remain readable and not lecturing, DiSabato-Aust presents what will probably become a well-thumbed stalwart of gardeners' bookshelves. - Lucy Watson

About the Author
Tracy DiSabato-Aust, aka "the Queen of Deadheading," has earned international acclaim as one of America's most entertaining and knowledgeable garden writers and professional speakers. She has extensive experience in the United States and abroad, working for over 30 years in the industry, speaking for over 25 years and designing for over 20 years.

Customer Reviews

The Well-Designed Mix Garden
I am an amateur gardener, with years of gardening experience in the San Francisco Bay Area and now back home in Southern England. I possess many excellent gardening books, but Tracy DiSabato-Aust's latest stands apart from all others. This is for the person who seeks to move beyond just having an attractive garden. In easy-to-read format, it explains design, how to put together interesting plant combinations, their soil, location, climate and care needs. It also has very well organized charts of plants according to size, colour, texture, maintenance requirements, etc. These are extremly helpful in choosing the right plant for the right place.
If I could have only one how-to book, whether as a beginning or experienced gardener, it would have to be The Well-Designed Mixed Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust.

Useful reference book.
Provides design ideas, detailed planting plans, and lists of plant types by design and maintenance characteristics (the index of warm or cool colours is useful). An inspirational book for gardeners driven indoors for the winter.