by Robert Smaus

Californians garden in a place like no other in the country. In our mild Mediterranean climate, we are able to grow spectacular plants that fail elsewhere, and on an entirely different timetable. For over 25 years, Los Angeles Times Garden Editor Robert Smaus has been dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by Southern California gardeners. Here, Smaus brings together a best-of compilation of Times Garden questions and answers along with his most sought-after garden articles to supply California gardeners with invaluable information rarely found in the typical garden book. In this must-have reference, he covers such subjects as: the best way to prepare California soils; what plants grow (or don’t grow) in particular situations; when to cut back perennials; how to recognize and manage pests and weeds; how to plant a back-yard orchard; and how to plan a garden for children. In addition, he supplies the names, addresses and web sites of garden resources’and a glossary for decoding the oft-bewildering language of gardeners.