The New Gardener's Handbook

October 7, 2019
Landscape gardener Beyers’s engaging debut explores the stages that transform the average “don’t-let-the-plant-die” gardener wannabe into a full-fledged horticulturist able to take on indeterminate growth, stem structure, soil health, and a host of other gardening issues. There is much here involving botany and related scientific topics that, for some readers, might recall middle school biology class. Yet the core of the book consists of its simple, philosophical assertions about gardeners themselves and their place in the natural world. Beyers writes, “Plants lead relatively straightforward lives. They sprout, grow, and reproduce,” and that gardening rests upon knowing when to intervene, and when to hold back, from this life cycle. Elsewhere, he says that “soil is the foundation upon which all gardens grow,” and thus is the gardener’s first priority. In addition to these two simple assertions, Beyers dispenses page upon page of basic information—tools needed, steps required, terms to know, and diagrams aplenty. Further asserting that “gardening is part faith in the future and part lessons from the past,” this volume shows the way to making this pursuit into an intrinsic part of one’s life. It is a must-have for anyone who wants to grow things and, at the same time, nourish the soul.

November 1, 2019
This is gardening at its most elemental and basic. New York Botanical Garden instructor Beyers ensures that aspiring gardeners will understand photosynthesis (finally, after high-school biology); know about plants and trees, from roots to shoots; and learn how to map a yard's sun exposure, read a plant tag, or decode a fertilizer label. The learnings are delivered in a variety of memorable ways with plenty of illustrations, sidebars like "Gardener's Glossary" appearing in every chapter, and step-by-step photographs accompanying tutorials like how to start a plant from seeds, among many other projects. Beyers does not include recommendations for specific types of trees, annual or perennial plants, arrangements, soil configurations, or other particulars. Still, gardeners just starting out will earn a sense of accomplishment and a good dose of knowledge once the information is digested. Includes a list of further reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)