Reviews (29)

More than you ever wanted to know...
I'm currently in a Woody Ornamentals class and this is the textbook we were required to buy for the class. I've found this to be not only useful within the class, but outside the class as well, especially while helping my parents to plan their yard. This book has an incredible wealth of knowledge in it's pages, the author clearly has extensive knowledge of the subject. I'm actually looking into buying his interactive DVD. While I don't know how useful the memorization of botanic names will be to me as a landscape architect, I believe the ability to show my clients pictures of specific plants would be immensely useful.

Bang for the buck
For anyone dealing with woody landscape plants this is the bible. Unlike books written by writers, this book is written by a plantsmen and teacher and researcher. Personal experience growing or visiting every species in the book gives it believability beyond all others in its class. The book covers the things that need to be covered - transplant success, pest issues, landscape uses (gosh if this section were read you'd see less houses overwhelmed by giant trees and more living street trees than dead ones). Dirr has his opinions and not everyone will agree with all of them. But at least his come from experience not "reading". If you are upset about the lack of images you can get those elsewhere. This text was never intended to be a key to botanical identification but as the title states it is a manual of woody LANDSCAPE plants. Every landscape architect should be mandated to pass an exam based on this book. They would then be able to use a repetoire of more than 10 trees and perhaps for a change the survival rate of their landscapes over time would rise. I can't say enough about how much this book has meant to me as I restore and plant a college landscape designed by Olmsted. There is nothing better than knowing you've planted the right tree in the right spot and that it will outlive you and your children because of the wise choice.

A must for landscapers!
I love this book! It has every woody plant listed along with other varieties. The extent of information is incredible. A must if you are a designer, landscaper or garden center and nursery owner. It's a book you can't run your business without! A great resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Landscape    6. Landscape plants    7. Ornamental woody plants    8. Reference    9. Shrubs    10. United States    11. Landscape gardening    12. Ornamental trees    13. Ornamental shrubs    14. Trees   

Reviews (7)

Nothing compares
I own and operate a nursery using both of these books as a primary resource when purchasing conifers from growers.When customers refer to these books at our library, they comment on how beautiful the many conifers are available.My only wish the book had w/b zone hardiness and growth habit.Buy it.ProGardens, Inc.East Amherst, New York.

Conifers : The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Two Volume Set)
Two world authorities compiled this outstanding conifer book featuring 2347 excellent, sharp photos reproduced beautifully on high quality paper.Each picture was taken at the proper distance to show the tree's outstanding detail.Captions are a sentence or two with location oftenincluded.For detail use a good companion book such as the Manual ofCultivated Conifers by Krussmann.Imperative for landscapers and a joy fortree lovers -- a bargain at the cover price.A quality bookclearly at the top of my list of favorites.

great book to figure out what you have growing in your yard.
pictures are great !!butlacks the necessary info on growing,care,climate zones&changes of sasons on the plants.but i love it for all it'svisual contents ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conifers    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental conifers    6. Pictorial works    7. Reference    8. Trees    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Gardening / Trees    11. Horticulture    12. Reference works    13. Shrubs & trees   

Subjects:  1. Bonsai    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japanese Gardens - Bonsai    6. Japanese maple    7. Ornamental Plants    8. Trees    9. Gardening / Ornamental Plants    10. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (3)

Comprehensive
Very complete and up to date information on Arboriculture.Chapters are well organized, highlighting what you need to know. Does a great job of covering the basics, but also gets into details and is fairly technical, without becoming unreadable.A must have reference book for the Landscaper.

Overflowing with information
Arboriculture is a science and art that is made up of many different contributing factors.This book does a very good job of covering them all.Any one of the chapters could be expanded into a book in itself.This thoroughly researched and written book is for the person who wants all of their information in one place.It is a textbook for the technically minded arborist, tree surgeon, tree farmer, or hobbyist.Don't look for this book to be entertaining or philosophical.Instead, buy this book for the knowledge held within.There is a lot to be learned from it.Every single page is filled with facts, figures, methods, and recommendations.You will find yourself reading every page a second or third time in order to catch it all.I refer back to this book on a regular basis, because there is no way I can remember it all.If you have any questions about the management of trees or shrubs, you will likely find it in this book.

The Book
Harris wrote the first edition of this book when trees were "trimmed" by the same people who patched asphalt and repaired park benches.It was a breath of rationality in a field that relied mostlyon anecdotal information.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arboriculture    2. Architecture    3. Gardening    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Landscape    6. Landscape Horticulture    7. Ornamental woody plants    8. Trees    9. Gardening / Landscape    10. Horticulture    11. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (1)

Written By A Pro
This 178 page book is one of the best I have seen so far. It is published by a web based educational company that has a broad educational scope.It is slightly textbookish but not at all difficult for anyone who is serious about having more than a magazine article knowledge about pruning. Pruning is presented as a horticultural science not as someone's idea of what might be best. The book is well organized and about as comprehensive as a 178 page book could be.It is a serious little book.For example, on page 61 there are 24 tree drawings showing different limb configurations and the required pruning cuts to develop a dominant leader.You can learn a lot from that one page. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental trees    6. Pruning    7. Reference    8. Techniques    9. Trees    10. Trees in cities    11. Agricultural science   

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Trees   

Reviews (6)

Super book
Great reference book!Gives you all the information you need to propagate--nurserymen to laymen.

A book by a pro for the professional propagator
I propagated woody plants as a sideline business for a number of years and considered this book THE source.For many species, specific concentrations for rooting hormones are specified.This is invaluable information since for many plants there is an optimal concentration and using a higher or lower concentration of reduces rooting success rates as well as root development.

MichaelDirris the Absolute Expert in Plant Propagation
Dirr has done all the research and you reap all the rewards. Hisconclusions are backed up by many scientific studies by various individualsand groups.The first part gives a summary of the diferentpropagation methods and the second part has very detailed data on specificspecies.I save hundreds of dollars each year by propagating by ownsouthern magnolias, red tip photinas, and navel oranges.This is, byfar, the best book on propagation out there!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Horticultural Crops    4. Plants - General    5. Propagation    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Techniques    8. Trees    9. Woody plants    10. Agriculture & Farming   

Reviews (4)

Soon
Certainly one of the better books I have read on this subject.Very descriptive and scientific.One downfall to the book and to the whole idea of tissue culture is the massive costs of lab equipment and growing media.Very well written book though, and a good starter book.

It's okay but fell short of my expectations
The book was okay but fell short of my expectations.The author attempted to proceed by taking the reader from no background on microbiology, botany, or tissue culture to explaining to what cloning is all about.It fell short in several areas.The author needed to expand the discussion on plant hormones and the issue of thermal stability during sterilization procedures.The author didn't discuss at all modern methods of cold-filter sterilization methods.The author discusses the topic about making stock solutions but didn't discuss issues of shelf life of hydrated hormones.

The Best curently available
This book contains everything that you need to know to start cloneing plants.Some of the material is geared more towards comericial operations but there is a lot for the hobbiest too.I thought that it could have beenorganized a little better.The authors talk about equipment and mediabefore they go through the cloning process.Parts of it will be boringunless you are planing to actually culture plants.For example there areseveral step by step lists on how to preform transfers etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Laboratory manuals    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Plant micropropagation    7. Plant tissue culture    8. Reference    9. Gardening / Trees    10. House plants    11. Plant reproduction & propagation   

Reviews (14)

Beautiful reference
The photographic plates are indeed very beautiful but having the descriptions in another section of the book does make for an inconvenient flipping from the front of the book that has the photographs to the back of the book with the textual information.
APALMLOVERS BOOK
This book is one of the most complete books you'll find on the many types of palms.

An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms
Superb! Clear information, very well organized for all types of readers, and with many great pictures. This book is a must if you appreciate palms--even if you don't, it's lovely for your coffee table. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Life Sciences - Horticulture    5. Ornamental Plants    6. Palms    7. Reference    8. Science    9. Trees    10. Gardening / Ornamental Plants    11. Gardening: plants   

Reviews (7)

Excellent coffee table book
This book has some excellent pictures of treehouses. I love it! It is one of my favorite treehouse books. It is not for someone looking to build a treehouse; for that, i recommend "Home Tree Home", by Peter Nelson. Back in 1999, I built my own treehouse, primarily using ideas from "Home Tree Home" and prior treehouse building experience. I lived in it for 5 years.

a question for "A reader from NY"
I've looked for this "original" the treehouse book by david stiles, and can't find it.... WHO SAYS TREEHOUSES ARE JUST FOR CHILDREN!
What a delightful book filled with mystical wonder and beautiful photography.We generally associate treehouses with children and the exuberance of youth, but....I want one!My own space, a private place to recapture lost youth, a place to dream, recollect thoughts, be at one with the stars and the universe - how magical life could be.There is no question my talented husband could build one; though not a professional, he truly is talented at that sort of thing as a hobby.But, there is a chance I would appear in the backyard on a bright summer's morn, only to hear him exclaim, "Treehouse?You wanted a treehouse? I thought you said "birdhouse," and then I do have a problem because how would I ever fit through that that tiny little round hole in the centre? Even if he did get the plans right, there is also the off-chance my family would insist on building a safety net around the treehouse, just in case dear old granny fell OUT of her tree!Possibly, they would insist the resident counsellor also have her own "branches checked out," just in case she was missing a few twigs off the upper branch.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Construction - General    3. Domestic    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. Tree houses    9. Trees    10. Wood Construction    11. Woodwork - General    12. Architectural structure & design    13. Architecture / General   

Reviews (11)

Very Informative
I found this book very informative and comprehensive in answering my questions and concerns with my trees and how to care for and protect them. I highly recommend reading this book to others who have equal concerns and interest in the care of fruit trees.

Get Ready for Spring
If you have found it difficult to move beyond dreaming about a backyard orchard, this book is such a powerhouse of information that you will confidently plant a pair of fruit trees knowing that they will not drown, succumb to drought or disease, and not be defoliated by Japanese beetles.You'll even know how to prune them so that the branches grow outward rather than straight up, thus allowing in the sunlight needed to ripen your fruit.
Great Stuff!
When I ordered The Backyard Orchardist, it came in timely fasion, and was in perfect condition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Fruit    3. Fruits And Orchards    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Trees    8. Crop husbandry    9. Fruit & vegetables    10. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (1)

A comprehensive study of diseases and their (mis) diagnosis
This book compiles a GREAT deal of useful information about plantpathology. It covers, as any good work about plant disease should,fertilization, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental factors such asdrought, freezing, lightning, air pollution, water contamination etc.before attempting to fix the problem, the work stresses the causal effectsand ,similarly, the visual pitfalls that may provide evidence of an unseeninsect symptom (galling, nematodes, etc.)The work was written mainlyfor the temperate zone, but using it in my home sub-tropics was aneye-opener!Reccomended reading for Horticulturalists in the upperechelon, or for Pathologists as a reference, and a reminder to look to theoutlying areas for an answer, It's always there! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Forestry    2. Canada    3. Diseases and pests    4. Life Sciences - Horticulture    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Shrubs    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Trees    10. United States    11. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    12. Plant pathology & diseases   

Reviews (16)

Japanese Maples Review
This is an excellent book. J.D. Vertrees did a wonderful job of classifying the various Japanese Maples. The revision and expansion done by Peter Gregory has added to J.D.'s original work.
Newer is Not Always Better
Before you consider purchasing this book, I strongly suggest you try to find the second edition, which, while less comprehensive, is better organized.In addition, a comparison of the two finds that some of the best images in the second edition were not carried over to the third.
Good overview book on maples
I am not sure what I was expecting when I ordered this book but I have mixed feelings about the book. For one, I think the book provides a good overview of Japanese maples.The book covers most of the major cultivars but only in small details.There are plenty of photographs; most show the leaves, which is good if you want to get an idea on what color the tree will have.There are some photographs of the whole trees, which you wish there were more because of just how beautiful they look.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Fullmoon maple    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Japan    6. Japanese Gardens - General    7. Japanese maple    8. Maple    9. Trees    10. Gardening / Trees    11. Shrubs & trees    12. Specialized gardening methods   

Editorial Review

Don't let the magisterial title of this large volume, part of the Garden Club of America's ongoing series, put you off. The authors have provided a marvelous compendium of alternatives to the hardy perennials of American garden shrubs: rhododendrons, forsythias, and yews. Here are hundreds of lesser-known shrubs (along with the common varieties, of course), each presented with a photograph and a brief, authoritative text. Arranged alphabetically, the book includes a set of appendices categorizing all the cultivars by pest and disease resistance, soil preference, shade tolerance, and several other factors. This is a book that no comprehensive gardening library can be without. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Impressive, lots of useful info not found in other books
I am very impressed with this unique book of over 900 shrubs that will add interest to any garden. The book starts with a glossary of botanical termswith b/w illustrations of the anatomy of leaves, flowers, fruits &conifers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Arboriculture    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Landscape gardening    6. Landscape plants    7. Pictorial works    8. Plants, Ornamental    9. Shrubs    10. Trees    11. Reference works    12. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (36)

Excellent Resource
After spending hours on the internet trying to select new trees for my yard, this book puts it all in one place. I especially appreciate the photos that show not only the leaves, flowers, but also the structure, shape, and size. Many web sites don't give you the complete "picture" of the tree, but just a special feature. This book was recommended to me by a person who wrote a book about tree selection, and it is an excellent resource.

Great Source for Trees and Tree lovers
For any tree lover, or gardener this is a great read.Specifically targeted to those of us in the northern tier, the book is an excellent source for individual species and varieties, within each selection.
If you are from west of the Missippi, you might want another book.
This should be titled Dirr's Hardy Bias for the East.I noticed nearly all of the reviewers hail from east of the Missippi.That may be the reason no one noticed the omissions of many western trees and thinks this book is the best thing since sliced bread.Dirr is a professor at the University of Georgia, and I can suppose that is the main reason for the bias.And the glowing review from the Washington Post must be for the same reason.I live in Florida now, but grew up in Northern California.Let me say the trees of the East and South are indeed beautiful.I like learning about them.In fact many books talk exclusively of eastern and southern trees.But those books state that in the title.This book does not.If it did, I would like it more (although a more systematic order to the trees and shrubs in it would be a lot more user friendly).The Ponderosa pine is the most widespread pine in North America (Sierras and Rockies would be naked without it) but does not find it's way into the book.The Monterey Cypress which groes naturally and in yards along the Pacific Coast is omitted.The Coast Live Oak (not the Southern Live Oak) shades many hillsides and homes on the west coast, and the Interior Live Oak leaves a signature on the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevadas, as does the California Black Oak, Valley Oak, and Blue Oak.Western oak species are markedly different from their Eastern cousins (the western oaks do not grow as straight, but sprawl and twist much more than even the Southern Live Oak).The Western Sycamore is a massive and gnarled cousin to the American Sycamore and London Planetree, but didn't make the cut.There are many others that would've been in the book if Dirr taught at the University of Oregon or maybe Colorado State Univerisity or Berkeley.I don't mind a book on eastern trees and southern trees.They are magnificent and beautiful, but let the reader know what to expect.Westerners, if you are looking to plant or to identify trees in your neighborhood, you should skip this expensive non-comprehensive volume. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental shrubs    6. Ornamental trees    7. Pictorial works    8. Reference    9. Shrubs    10. Trees    11. United States    12. Gardening / Trees    13. Horticulture    14. Reference works    15. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (6)

Visuals and text both excellent
The combination of this author and this illustrator has produced an amazing book. Both have a lifelong interest in trees. The author aimed to produce a book to be "read for pleasure", but maintained a high scientific standard throughout, so you'll need to know a scion from a taxon from a sport. (There is a helpful glossary.) But he never forgets his duty to keep the text interesting. So we learn every cricket bat for the last 300 years has come from a single willow and its descendents.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees
The book is beautifully illustrated and is very thorough.Even though it might have more application in Europe than in North America, it still contains pertinent information for species found in the United States.

Wonderful book
I bought this for the library but now I want my own copy.It answers questions which field guides don't address. I was not bothered by the euro orientation -- in fact it had much more information about the Scarlet Oak than the recently lauded Dirr's.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Reference    5. Trees    6. Trees & Forests - General    7. Gardening / Trees   

Reviews (16)

teaches you to see
This unique book teaches you a skill quickly and painlessly. Tree identification can be complex and confusing.It doesn't matter about color photographs of trees. It doesn't matter if the book can't fit in your backpack. It doesn't matter if the book doesn't look pretty. What does matter is that the book teaches you how to be alert and observant. You will recognize shapes and outlines no matter what the season. You will know what to look for. From just reading the first chapter on leaf identification I was able to identify at least a dozen trees in my yard and neighborhood, both the genera and species, effortlessly. This is the type of book where you learn something so that you don't have to carry the book around with you. If you can't identify the tree, you at least know what is important and can look up the information based on your intelligent observations. The book is well organized for maximum acquisition of knowledge and as with any new knowledge, one's world expands and one's mind is opened to creative possibilities and greater empathy with all things living on this earth.

this book is worthless
The book is suppose to be a guide to identifying trees by viewing the leaf systems, branches, and bark....it is in black and white, so color, variations, etc are not seen.Therefore, as a identification book, it is worthless.Also, it is a little large for hikers and canoers.
Detailed Tree ID
All black & white WITH detailed descriptions.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Pictorial works    7. Trees    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. United States    10. Gardening / Trees   

Reviews (3)

Color Buffet
Color choices, complete growth patterns and more information than the casual gardener can cope with make this an excellent reference.

The only book on maples you'll ever need
What a refief. After perusing at least twenty books on maple trees, I came across this gem. It is hands-down the most extensively researched book on the subject I've ever come across. There are hundreds of pictures which are extremely useful; many books will give only 4 or 5 pictures for an entire species. It contains an exhausting amount of information that proved invaluable in making my decision about which acer to plant. Once I discovered this book, my research days were over.

Tons of good info./ pics for maples and Japanese maples!!
I was looking for a good reference book on maples and Japanese maples, and was seriously considering both this one and Vertrees' book on Japanese maples.However, since this book included both types of maples, I considered it to be the better value.Also, this book has 683 color photos, and one third of the book is dedicated to Japanese maples, while Vertrees has 250 color photos and is dedicated only to Japanese maples.I still may buy Vertrees book as well, but if you are trying to choose between them, I'd go with this one.I spent many pleasurable hours just thumbing through the descriptions and gorgeous photos of maples. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Floriculture    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Maple    7. Pictorial works    8. Reference    9. Regional - General    10. Trees    11. Gardening / Trees    12. Horticulture    13. Reference works    14. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (6)

best shrub identification book
This book is the best manual for the identification of shrubs and shrubby plants. The photographs are in black & white. There are a set of master pages and then sets of pages with flowers, leaves and fruits. All are very descriptive and enable one to identify with only parts of the plant.
great book
I think this book is great.I've been able to id almost every tree/shrub we've got in our woods (I also purchased some of the other books by this author so I can id vines and things too).True the pictures are in black and white but it really isn't a big deal.You're looking at leaf shape and vein designs and things like that - it would be green and white if it were in color.I think its a terrific reference and I'd buy it all over again

Fantastic guide!
I bought both Symonds' Shrub guide and Tree guide.They are both terrific!The Shrub guide has not only shrubs but also vines and ground covers.It has plants that I've been wanting to be able to id for ages butbecause the only book I had found until now were wild flower guides, I wasalways at a loss.This book is fantastic.It has master plant pages a theback so you can look at all the parts of the plants together (I use thiswhen i have an idea of what it might be already and just need to narrow itdown) or you can go to the parts sections in the front of the book and goto "leaves" for example and search that way.Its the bestapproach I've seen and the pictures, although black and white - areterrific.They show great detail and actuall because they're b/w you'renot confused by variations in color.Definitely one one my best books -the one I go to first. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening / Horticulture    2. Gardening/Plants    3. Ground cover plants    4. Identification    5. North America    6. Plants - General    7. Shrubs    8. Trees    9. Gardening / Shrubs   

Reviews (3)

Worth every penny for arborists and homeowners alike
Printed by Oxford University Press, Pirone's Tree Maintenance has the heft and durability to withstand countless consultations.The text is informative beyond measure and very readable.The photography is black-and-white and didn't reproduce all that well, especially for small and detailed items; photos range from 'Fig. 7-15. Brush chipper and dump truck' (oh please...) to a hollowed-out, decayed Silver Maple resting comfortably on what appears to be a four-bedroom Dutch Colonial (illustrating the section on Identifying Hazard Trees).Good section on insects and diseases (with the caveat that the photos aren't that great); excellent tree-specific section.You will learn a lot from this book--it's a must if you want to rely on another source besides the local tree guy with a chainsaw.

Another book on my Horticulture Short List
Pirone's Tree Maintenance (Seventh Edition) is one of about a half dozen books I keep within arms reach.While Parts I and II provide a fantastic amount of information on the care of trees and identifying problem, it is Part III that I use the most.This section lists common insects, diseases, and problems associated with specific tree species.While by no means comprehensive, it is an excellent place to start when trying to figure out what is going on with a tree.
Practical introduction for the novice arborist
This classic text gives a broad introduction to the field of tree management, including common health problems associated with trees and practical advice for solving them. It is an excellent primer for thenovice arborist. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diseases and pests    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Life Sciences - Botany    6. Life Sciences - Horticulture    7. Ornamental Plants    8. Ornamental trees    9. Pest Control In Horticultural Crops    10. Techniques    11. Trees    12. Trees, care of    13. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    14. Gardening / Trees    15. Life Sciences | Botany | Plant Physiology    16. North America    17. Shrubs & trees