Dig This!: Landscaping Without a Backhoe or a Big Budget for Northern California and Beyond

This is the most unique book I have ever read on gardening/landscaping. I was overwhelmed by the thought of landscaping a .44 acre lot, but she breaks the whole thing down into very manageable pieces and carefully outlines the RIGHT ORDER of doing things. Her writing style and sense of humor make this fun to read and not a CHORE like some of the others. This is one of two books I recently bought on landscaping: the other one I will likely shelve or sell!

If you are looking for a book with lush color photographs of breathtaking gardens, this book is not for you. If you are looking for good solid practical advice regarding building the structural bones of your garden, you will hit the jackpot with this engaging little book. Written in an breezy style by a person who obviously has a sense of humor, you will learn how to properly grade your dirt, design your garden, plan your irrigation system and avoid making your yard into a swamp with small patches of the Sahara here and there. She even gives advice on defeating the wiliest of deer (deer can jump high, or jump wide, but not both). What's not to love about someone who describes juniper bushes as "the vermin of the plant world"? I also particularly liked her diagram on how to properly dig a pond and put in the liner so it doesn't just look like a plastic tarp-lined hole with rocks around the rim. I sat down and read it cover to cover, and felt empowered to go out and tackle what needed to be done.

Kate does an amazing job of sharing the hard lessons she's learned doing landscaping over the years. She also writes in a style that is very enjoyable to read. Even if you aren't in Northern California there are lots of great tips related to design, drainage, irrigation and planting. I found this book a real gold mine of tips and tricks, guaranteed to make any landscaping project go easier.

If you're embarking on your own northern California landscape installation project, this book will pay for itself very quickly. Author Kate Anchordoguy shares time- and money-saving landscaping advice in a casual and often opinionated manner. Having landscaped hundreds of yards, Kate reveals herself to be a seasoned pro who's learned...often the hard way...what to do and what not to do. She says, "If wisdom is measured by the mistakes we've made, I am very wise." Chapter 1 focuses on planning, shopping, and working efficiently (i.e. how to save time and money). Chapter 2 covers basic landscape design. Chapter 3 discusses construction projects and their timing. Chapter 4 addresses the all-important (and often ignored) subject of drainage. Chapter 5 teaches you how to prep and improve your soil. Chapter 6 covers irrigation. Chapter 7 teaches you how to "plant like a pro". The final chapter tackles lawn installation and renovation. Also tells you when it makes sense to hire out!