Safety First

      All projects and procedures in this book have been reviewed for safety; still it is not possible to overstate the importance of working carefully. What follows are reminders for plant care and project safety. Always use common sense.

      ■ Always use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures in this book.

      ■ Always determine locations of underground utility lines before you dig, and then avoid them by a safe distance. Buried lines may be for gas, electricity, communications, or water. Contact local utility companies who will help you map their lines.

      ■ Always read and heed tool manufacturer instructions.

      ■ Always ensure that the electrical setup is safe; be sure that no circuit is overloaded and that all power tools and electrical outlets are properly grounded and protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GCFI). Do not use power tools in wet locations.

      ■ Always wear eye protection when using chemicals, sawing wood, pruning trees and shrubs, using power tools, and striking metal onto metal or concrete.

      ■ Always consider nontoxic and least toxic methods of addressing unwanted plants, plant pests, and plant diseases before resorting to toxic methods. Follow package application and safety instructions carefully.

      ■ Always read labels on chemicals, solvents, and other products; provide ventilation; heed warnings.

      ■ Always wear a hard hat when working in situations with potential for injury from falling tree limbs.

      ■ Always wear appropriate gloves in situations in which your hands could be injured by rough surfaces, sharp edges, thorns, or poisonous plants.

      ■ Always protect yourself against ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants. Inspect yourself for ticks after every session in the garden.

      ■ Always wear a disposable face mask or a special filtering respirator when creating sawdust or working with toxic gardening substances.

      ■ Always keep your hands and other body parts away from the business end of blades, cutters, and bits.

      ■ Always obtain approval from local building officials before undertaking construction of permanent structures.

      ■ Never employ herbicides, pesticides, or toxic chemicals unless you have determined with certainty that they were developed for the specific problem you hope to remedy.

      ■ Never allow bystanders to approach work areas where they might by injured by workers or work-site hazards. Make sure all work sites are well marked.

      ■ Never work with power tools when you are tired, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

      ■ Never carry sharp or pointed tools, such as knives or saws, in your pocket.

       Introduction

       PERENNIAL AND BULB GARDENS

      Home Gardener’s Perennials & Bulbs will help you create attractive gardens, borders, and other plantings using perennials and bulbs. Perennials and many bulbs grow back each season, providing recurring colors and textures that can serve to anchor your landscape. You can plant them separately for an eye-catching display or use them in combination to enjoy extended blooming times. Smart gardeners team perennials and bulbs with annuals to vary their garden designs from year to year. No matter which course you take, you can use this book to design a well-planned garden that will reflect your creativity and personal tastes.

      Home Gardener’s Perennials & Bulbs guides you through the basics of gardening. You’ll learn how to select the best plants for your location and which plants will thrive under ideal and not so ideal conditions. Handy guides will tell you when popular perennials and bulbs are at their best. Extensive directories of favorites provide important information about the plants, including sizes, planting requirements, maintenance recommendations, and the best cultivars of each variety. And because they appear year after year, there is information on planting, transplanting, and dividing these plants.

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