The Month-by-Month Gardening Guide

January 17, 2022
Horticulture consultant Böhmig offers more than 1,000 tips to keep one’s garden thriving in his expert English-language debut. Emphasizing the importance of conservation and forgoing chemicals in lieu of natural remedies, Böhmig offers suggestions for growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, trees, shrubs, and houseplants, with his advice organized by month. In March, gardeners should hang new nesting boxes for birds, while July is the best time to plant cauliflower. There’s wisdom for such tasks as pruning (best done in February) and caring for wildlife (May is a good time to make sure nectar-producing plants are present for bees), along with projects including building stone walls and maintaining ponds. His tips are direct—cold tap water is “pure poison” for warmth-loving vegetables—and his prose can have a poetic flair. Witch hazel, he writes, “brings a splash of color to the white winter world.” Despite the long to-do list, Böhmig never loses sight of what all the work is for: “The garden should serve primarily as a place to relax after a day’s work and during the weekend.” This thorough guide is one that novices and pros alike will want to have on the shelf.

April 15, 2022
This is the thirtieth German edition--and the first English-language edition--of a compendium originally published in Germany in 1964. Thus, what works for gardens there might not sync up with gardens in the U.S., such as first and last frost dates. And yet, the book's calendar format ensures that gardeners can keep pace with seasonal tasks, like ordering seeds (January), checking pipes and hoses for damage (March), sowing beets for fall harvesting (June), and final harvesting of peppers (mid-October). The first section comprises an astonishing 1,388 tips, arranged by season, then month, and followed by general tips, veggie tips, and ornamental tips. The second section includes more than 30 tables, ranging from lists of common garden pests to recommended conifers, plants for balcony boxes, and annual and biennial flowers. Best practices are generally reflected in the text, especially a sensitivity to climate change, though there is contradictory messaging on the effectiveness of tilling the soil before planting. Overall, though, a volume bursting with useful advice, especially for new gardeners. A projected 15-page index was not available for review.

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