Gardening in the Pacific Northwest: The Complete Homeowner's Guide

I got this book for myself when I moved to a home with a yard on the Oregon coast. I've never had a yard before, so it was really helpful for me. The surprise is that my mother-in-law, an experienced gardener, liked it so much that she bought a copy for herself. And my sister, whose garden amazes, just asked for it for Christmas.

Perfect book to read over the winter season. It gives a nice overview of all the climate differences for the sub regions of the PNW and has a really great selection of plants for the garden. I like that it has a good chunk of the usual standbys but also quite a few unusual items that you might only see in collector gardens or specialty nurseries. My only tiny complaint is that the big garden shots don't list out the plants in the picture, but so far 90% of the time I stumble across them in the plant section anyway. Recommended!!

I purchased this book about six months ago. I have been gardening in the PNW for 30+ years and have rural gardens with lots of deer exposure. Between my two gardens I have about 75% of the shrubs and trees mentioned in the book and have found all to be top performers. My purpose for the review however was to make two small suggestions. One is to add Pieris to the list of deer resistant plants and the other is to add Parrotia Persica to the list of desirable trees. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in exception plants for the PNW ornamental garden.

Writing is excellent as it is based on Paul Bonine's extensive observations on our regional climate and weather as they relate to gardening in the Pacific Northwest.He clearly explains conumdrums re:winter survivability-- for example,why some plants which can take cold temperatures do not thrive here. My only "complaint" is that I wish there was more of the book devoted to gardening methodology and not as much to the recommended plants, though that too would be excellent for a gardener not yet familiar with our wonderful regional plant palette.

This book is a good introduction and a must-have for recent transplants to the area (such as myself!). The first section deals with the all-important (and extremely complicated) subject of climate. There are eight climatic sub-regions in the Pacific Northwest, each one with unique characteristics. "Good Garden Culture" discusses the various types of soils in the region and how to improve them as well as tips on irrigation, mulching, and dealing with plant diseases and pests. The largest portion of the book is a plant directory (Perennials, Shrubs, Vines, Trees) that lists the best plants for the region. A photograph of every plant is included as well as a description and growing requirements. This is where the book will get you into trouble. Although many of the plants that grow here are common elsewhere in the United States, there are exciting temptations for the gardener here like Fuchsias, Cistus (Rock Rose), Grevillea, Choisya (Mexican Orange), Ceonothus (California Lilac), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) and the list goes on. A final section covers design facets and features photos of many private gardens in the region. This book is a must-have for the Pacific Northwest gardener, full of valuable advice and highly recommended.

There was very, very little information on soil, compost, mulch, irrigation. No information on pruning, etc. Very little information on garden design for PNW yards/gardens.

I got this book for my brother who lives in Seattle who has developed an interest in plants in the area and wants to start a garden as well as forage in his area. This was just the title I was looking for! The paper quality is good, and the binding seems sturdy. The images of the plants inside were also really helpful to compare to what he finds outside. The cover art was also beautiful, and I feel like the book is a good value.

This is a gorgeous guide to the best of the best plants for the Pacific Northwest. You’d be surprised how many garden books talk about plants but fail to include a picture. This guide has beautiful color photos for every recommended plant—hallelujah! Also, everything grows bigger than in the PNW, so plant tags are often inaccurate for our area. This guide contains more realistic guidelines for how big plants will get in our rainy climate. Highly recommended for the beginner gardener OR the experienced gardener, looking for the perfect addition to their mature garden.