Gardening for Acidic Soils: Working with Nature to Create a Beautiful Landscape

Acidic soils are widespread throughout North America, especially in humid regions or areas with high precipitation such as the eastern seaboard and the Pacific Northwest. However, little assistance is available on how to garden specifically with acidic soils. In fact, most advice concerns how to make acidic soil less so. Todd Boland and Jamie Ellison take a different approach; they believe in working with nature, rather than trying to change it. A wide variety of ornamental plants, both native and exotic, thrive in acidic soil conditions or require them to survive. This book helps you develop gardens that takes advantage of acidic soil conditions, a feature that has too often been considered a detriment. Gardening for Acidic Soils concentrates on building sustainable gardens that include a broad range of shrubs, woody plants, and perennials. These fascinating plants have a myriad of ornamental attributes with specific survival strategies for thriving in acidic soil conditions. This book includes: The chemistry of acidic soil and plant adaptations. Hints and advice on specialized acidic gardens, including peat, bogs, and woodlands. Plant portraits--trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, grasses, and ferns-- to help you create a beautiful landscape on acidic soil.