It may be the Golden State, but your garden can be any color you want it to be.
California is already famous as one of the world's leading fruit and vegetable producers—but a glance at a valley oak or California buckwheat is just a small glimpse of the native plants the state has to offer the home gardener. Written by Alameda resident and longtime gardening journalist
Claire Splan
,
California Month-by-Month Gardening
is the sister manual to our
California Getting Started Garden Guide
. Inside, Splan dedicates a thoroughly detailed chapter to each month of the year, telling you
what
species you should consider planting, precisely
when
you should plant them, and
how
to care for them for maximum health. Within each month are recommendations for annuals, bulbs, lawns (and lawn alternatives), natives, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, vines, and groundcovers. An introductory overview of California's microclimates and soil types, along with a primer on general gardening techniques and a color-coded USDA zone map, prepares you to make your best effort as a gardener in California. Splan's instructions go much further than just the basics, as you learn how to plan, plant, care for, water, fertilize, and troubleshoot your diverse garden spaces during every single month of the year. Fully illustrated with beautiful color photography of the "how to" steps and plants,
keeps your garden prosperous through all types of California weather and terrain. For our full introduction to gardening in California, we also recommend companion books
and
California Fruit & Vegetable Gardening
.