BOOK REVIEWS

The Pruner's Bible
A step-by-step guide to pruning

Steve Bradley
New Burlington Books
Distributed by Reed
$NZ34.99
Reviewed by Mike Gowing

EVEN enthusiastic gardeners seek reassurance their handiwork with the secateurs is not going to maim or prevent their favourite plant from flowering or fruiting, or destroy its shape.

Whether or not you take the hedge-trimmers to the roses, this book tells you whether you're on the right track when it comes to various species.

The Pruner's Bible tackles 70 popular plants and shows how to prune each individually.

There's a comprehensive introductory section explaining why pruning is necessary and outlining the best tools for the job. There's discussion of basic techniques, such as where to the place the cut according to a plant's bud arrangement.

In the A-Z plant directory that follows, pruning is divided into three sections: formative, routine and remedial. Tips, like when to prune each plant and why, are carried along the bottom of the page.

Clear illustrations and photos bring the techniques required for each species alive.

At this price The Pruner's Bible is a practical investment for beginner and old-hand alike.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH