Groundcovers

By the time this volume reaches chapter two, it's off and running--but not breathlessly. Roach, a gardening columnist for Newsday , proceeds in a leisurely and friendly fashion, explaining what beginning and intermediate gardeners need to know about the subject. The book is filled with helpful information--how to calculate (to the inch) the number of plants needed to cover an area, step-by-step propagation methods for shrubs and vines, descriptions of and tactics against pests. Plant portraits constitute the bulk of the book. Although basically listed alphabetically by horticultural names (and cross-referenced under common names), many entries are grouped by popular categories such as succulents, ferns, ornamental grasses and vines. Further divisions include herbaceous perennials and woody plants. There is nothing too taxing or difficult to be found here, which is as it should be in a Burpee-sponsored book. Still, the scores of plants included will provide readers with a wide range of choices, and the cultural information will give them a good entree into a landscaping trend that is burgeoning in popularity. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)