The Anxious Gardener’s Book of Answers

As all gardeners know, mistakes go with the gardening turf. From the too-big plant in the front of the border to the badly pruned shrub, making ugly and visible errors is the tuition gardeners pay. Garden writer Chace offers help in this well-organized compendium of common mistakes that can be avoided or, if not, fixed. In separate chapters, Chace covers everything from bulbs (how deep to plant? which end is up?) to weeds (how did they get into a new planting bed?). She first explains correct techniques and then offers fixes if the gardener has goofed, an especially helpful feature. (Some things can’t be fixed, so, for example, never top a tree.) Illustrations by Colleen Coover help the anxious gardener lighten up. Less experienced gardeners will most appreciate this book of answers, but everybody makes mistakes. (Mar.)