Rejuvenating a Garden

Readers will find that while there's enjoyment in planting, real satisfaction can be had renovating an overgrown or forgotten garden. Like treasure hunters, gardeners painstakingly clear their way through jungles of rampant overgrowth to discover an old-fashioned peony bravely struggling, the foundation for bulb beds or a tangled vine crying for a healthy pruning. In lively prose, gardening expert Anderton carefully leads gardeners through tangled wild domains. Maintaining that even well-tended gardens need a new life after 20 or so years, Anderton meticulously explains where and how to wield the ax. He discusses the need for a solid plan and shows how to assess soil, micro-climates, existing structures and even local zoning restrictions. Of special interest is a valuable and comprehensive pruning guide listing the growing habits and specific pruning needs of hundreds of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous plants ""that have progressed down the primrose path to neglect."" This practical, colorfully illustrated book fills a much-needed gap in the field of gardening literature. A useful appendix includes a resource guide to plant societies, publications and Web sites. (Jan.)