Search results for ""Cool Springs Press""

Grow some of the world's most unique and beautiful houseplants with this one-of-a-kind guide. Plus, find DIY projects for using houseplants to kick up your decorating skills! Houseplants make great house guests—they don’t talk back, they’re 100% no drama, they’re exceptional listeners, and they help beautify your bedroom and calm your senses. Plus, houseplants are fun to nurture and care for. In Creative Houseplant Projects, you’ll discover dozens of amazing, easy-to-care-for houseplants that are a perfect fit for your desk, windowsill, bedside table, or bathroom vanity. From peace lilies and ponytail palms to fairy washboards, air plants, and Venus fly traps, author and houseplant guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf has your back with easy-to-follow houseplant advice and insight.  But, Creative Houseplant Projects isn’t just about taking care of plants<

Read more less

In this updated 2nd edition of California Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, the critical elements of climate, soil, sun, and water are addressed to ensure your success, no matter which part of The Golden State you call home.California's diverse and unique growing conditions offer special challenges to food gardeners. Whether you garden in the southern, central, or northern part of the state, you'll find the answers you're looking for. From soil preparation and starting seeds to safely managing California's most troublesome vegetable garden pests, author Claire Splan guides you to your most productive garden ever. Inside, you'll find detailed profiles of over 60 edible plants that thrive in California's distinctive growing conditions, including favorites like avocados, tomatoes, passion fruits, eggplants, beets and pomegranates. In addition to vegetables and fruits, also feat

Read more less

Tiny plants are poised to take over the gardening world. And no category of tiny plants is as welcome and wildly embraceable as tiny edibles. Not only are they cute as a button, but they’re tasty and nutritious too! In Micro Food Gardening, author and small-space gardening pro Jen McGuinness, introduces you to a world of miniature edible plants and dozens of DIY projects for growing them. Not everyone has room to grow a full-sized tomato plant or a melon vine that takes up more room than your car, but everyone has space for a micro tomato that tops out at the height of a Barbie doll or a dwarf watermelon with vines that won’t grow any longer than your leg. From miniature herbs and salad greens to tiny strawberry plants, baby beets, and mini cabbages, you’ll quickly discover that micro gardening offers a surprisingly diverse and delicious array of edible opportunities. Plus, with step-by-step in

Read more less

STANLEY® Jr. Gardening is Awesome! gets kids outside with activities and projects. Kids can jump right in with an introduction to gardening. A complete basics section on vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees, and shrubs kicks things off. You’ll also learn how to make super soiland keep plants happy with the right amount of sunlight and water. A complete garden gear guide gets you ready for growing. The rest of the book is all about things to do. With plenty for adults to learn about, too, chapters and projects include: Gardening How-Tos shows you how to test soil drainage and start plants in an egg carton. Great Bed Gardens sets you up for success when planting a row garden, a colorful summer flower garden, and more.  Container Gardening shows you how to grow strawberries in a 5-Gallon bucket and create a bea

Read more less

In this updated 2nd edition of Texas Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you'll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of The Lone Star State you call home. Growing in Texas isn’t easy. It’s either too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry. The state ranges from a cold winter climate in the north to an almost tropical one in the south. And it goes from very alkaline limestone soils in the Hill Country to extremely acidic soils in East Texas. That's why this region-specific garden guide is a must-have for every Texas gardener! Seasoned horticulturist, conservationist, garden writer, and seventh-generation Texan Greg Grant simplifies the ins and outs of Texas gardening and serves as your guide to success. Regardless of whether you're tending an in-ground plot, a small container garden, or a series of raised beds,Texas Fruits & Vegetable Gardening is an inv

Read more less

In Gardening Complete, eight of North America’s top gardening experts—and Cool Springs Press authors—present 19 subjects of critical interest to anyone who wants to learn or broaden gardening skills. Whether your main interest is in designing landscapes and gardens, ornamental gardening to make your yard more attractive, or gardening to provide nutritious edibles for the family table, this book will become your definitive source of information. It is intended for serious beginning to intermediate gardeners, but even veteran gardeners will be intrigued by what these experts have to say about core gardening skills and common horticultural subjects. A large-format book boasting 376 pages and 600 photos, Gardening Complete demonstrates how to accomplish the routine activities of gardening and beyond, including: Planning and planting your garden Essential care for the garden during the growing season Dealing with pests and diseases Harvesting fruits and vegetables Attracting pollinators Container, vertical, and raised bed gardening techniques While many gardening books focus on regional plant species or devote large sections to some form of plant catalog, this book is different. Gardening Complete serves not only as a self-contained manual for gardening skills and information in all regions, but also as a sampler that may help you determine where to focus your gardening hobby in the future or even help you identify authors you’d like to explore further. Each of the eight authors has an impressively broad background in publishing and lecturing on gardening, and you may discover a new favorite writer in these pages. We haven’t just allowed these authorities to express their individual views—we’ve encouraged them to do so. As is true in a healthy garden, we’ve aimed at diversity for this book. This book is not an organic gardening book per se, but if you have any previous familiarity with Cool Springs Press or any of these authors, you will know that we tend to take a low-impact approach to gardening. Thus, our authors generally offer advice that is gentle to the soil, to the environment, and to beneficial insects and animals. Success in your yard and garden awaits you with the help of Gardening Complete. Our authors are among the most passionate gardeners you will ever meet, and they have helped thousands of home gardeners just like you.

Read more less

BLACK+DECKER Complete Guide to Bathrooms brings you design advice, how-to instructions, and all the facts you need to achieve the bathroom of your dreams on your own.This fifth edition of the perennial bestseller from the BLACK+DECKER Complete Guide series covers all the bases when it comes to bathroom remodeling. From freshening up decor to a down-to-the-studs remodel, all of the information you need to design the job and do the work yourself is right here. Through step-by-step photography and instructions, you'll see how to update lighting, ventilation, flooring, surfaces, cabinetry, toilets, bathtubs, and accessories. This comprehensive buyer's guide takes you through one of the most important steps in any remodeling project, and a complete and up-to-the minute section on bathroom design provides education and inspiration. This new edition of BLACK+DECKER Complete Guide to Bathrooms also includes updated information explaining how to remodel or re-imagine your bathroom to better meet the needs of aging in place, with projects that conform to Universal Design Standards. You'll see a start-to-finish demonstration on how to replace a shower or tub with a curbless shower stall. To maximize access, a wall-mounted sink is hung and hooked up - and you see every step. Replace a traditional bathroom sink faucet with a hands-free model so you can turn on the water even if you can't reach all the way to the faucet handle. Add a frameless glass shower surround and learn how to install and plumb a vanity cabinet and sink basin. The list of projects is long and the information, vetted by the experts at BLACK+DECKER, is complete and current.

Read more less

BLACK+DECKER™ The Book of Home How-To Complete Photo Guide to Outdoor Buildingis jam-packed with popular projects for better backyard living. From building an attached wood deck or a patio to designing and creating a shed or pergola, you’ll see exactly how to get the job done in this illustrated guidebook. Complete plans, including technical illustrations and even cutting and shopping lists, will lead you through the building process, punctuated by clear step-by-step photographs and how-to descriptions. If you value entertaining, recreating, or growing vegetables and flowers in your own yard, you will find everything you need to create the structures and hardscaping that support your interests. The projects are all selected based on more than 30 years of publishing BLACK+DECKER™ books for the home DIYer. The most requested and most frequently chosen backyard projects are all included. Among them are: Attached wood deck Patios of multiple types Sheds Raised planting beds Pergolas and trellises Garden walls And more! If you are ready to up your backyard game, Outdoor Building is just the spark you need to get started.

Read more less

Build a self-sufficient life with these 60+ photo-illustrated projects for growing and preserving your own food, keeping animals, harnessing alternative energy, and more. Learning to do more things yourself is healthy, rewarding, and fulfilling, and benefits the environment. Whether you live in the suburbs or have 80 acres in the mountains, Step-by-step Projects for Self Sufficiency guides your way with clear plan drawings, precise instructions, and detailed photos. Organized into the categories Chickens & Other Creatures, Nourishing Your Garden, Garden Projects, Food Preparation & Preservation, Homestead Amenities, and Outbuildings & Fences, projects in this volume include: A portable chicken ark Two types of beehives Solar cookers Firewood storage A potato-growing box Hoophouses and greenhouses Raised planting beds Rain barrels A cider press Compost bins Drying racks And more With these easy-to-follow projects, make progress, step by step, toward your goal of more independent living.

Read more less

Be inspired by new design and follow the latest codes as you custom build the deck of your dreams.Architecture, building codes, and design are not static; they change constantly. That’s why there’s a new edition of the best-selling BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Decks, incorporating updates to national building codes, as well as new developments in building materials and design. Calling attention to composite deckboards and railings, as well as other PVC products made from recycled plastic, the new materials systems featured in this book are environmentally friendly, easy to work with, rot resistant, and very low maintenance.Whether you opt for manufactured deck products or wood, the success of your project depends upon a sturdy deck undercarriage. Accomplishing this isn’t difficult, but building the framework requires that you have the latest information on building codes. In recent years, these codes have changed significantly, affecting everything from post diameter to allowable joist hangers to railing height and even the size of concrete footings. BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Decks Updated 7th Edition is the only DIY deck book that’s fully updated to conform to the latest codes.Chapters covered in the book include: Deck Planning & Design Deck Materials & Tools Structural Support Decking Stairs Railings Accessories Finishing & Maintaining Your Deck Custom Deck Projects Gallery of Inspiring Decks BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Decks Updated 7th Edition offers complete step-by-step photos and instructions, so even homeowners with limited DIY experience are assured of a deck that meets their needs. So, don’t wait any longer; build the deck of your dreams and start enjoying it!

Read more less

BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Sheds Updated 4th Edition has the perfect plan for building your own tool shed, habitable shed, garden shed, and many other types of sheds. With more than 20 complete building plans, the most popular plans from previous editions are preserved, from small garage-style sheds with overhead doors, to kit sheds, to contemporary utility sheds with a dramatic flair. This new edition delves into new styles that are drawing strong interest today, including tiny sheds, miniature tool sheds, and even small habitable sheds that are designed to function as a private home office or a quiet retreat for practicing a particular hobby or activity. As with all of the hardworking, practical sheds from earlier editions, the new varieties include full-color step-by-step photos, complete building plan drawings with cutting lists, and clear how-to instructions. Other shed projects include: Garbage & Recycling Shed Bike Shed Gothic Playhouse Salt Box Storage Shed Sunlight Garden Shed Shed-building, like any other building process, starts with good techniques. That’s why the general skills section has been updated and improved. With this complete guide, you can build just about any shed you dream of. Plus, you’ll find information on new tools and products that will make your project go faster and more smoothly. Rounded out with helpful information on important considerations like siting and zoning, BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Sheds Updated 4th Edition truly is a complete guide to this very popular DIY activity.

Read more less

For over 15 years, BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Wiring has been the best-selling home wiring manual in North America. With this 8th edition, get the clearest, most up-to-date advice available.As the most current wiring book on the market, you can be confident that your projects will meet national wiring codes. You’ll also spend more time on your project and less time scratching your head thanks to more than 800 clear color photos and over 40 diagrams that show you exactly what you need to know about home electrical service; all the most common circuits, all the most-needed techniques, all the most essential tools and materials. Chapters include: Working Safely with Wiring Wire, Cable & Conduit Boxes & Panels Switches (including wall switches and specialty switches) Receptacles Preliminary Work (planning your project, highlights of the National Electrical Code, and more) Circuit Maps Common Wiring Projects (whole-house surge arrestors, underfloor radiant heat systems, doorbells, backup power supply, and many more) Repair Projects (light fixtures, ceiling fans, lamp sockets, plugs and cords, and more) The information in this book has been created and reviewed by professional electricians under the watchful eye of the experts at BLACK+DECKER. You can find plenty of articles and videos about wiring online or in other publications, but only The Complete Guide to Wiring has passed the rigorous test to make it part of the best DIY series from the brand you trust.

Read more less

Design, build, and equip your very own greenhouse with the building plans and photo-illustrated step-by-step instructions in BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to DIY Greenhouses 3rd Edition. A start-to-finish book on building greenhouses for the home gardener, this is the most complete book on DIY greenhouses you’ll find anywhere. Featuring full-color step-by-step photos and comprehensive how-to instructions, the book features full plans for structures that are designed to extend the gardening season. From ornate, Victorian-style greenhouses to basic cold frames and simpler kits, you’re sure to find a project that meets your needs and fits your space. The projects include: DIY Gabled Greenhouse PVC Hoophouse Sun Porch Kit Shed-Style Greenhouse Old-Window Greenhouse Low-Maintenance Sunroom Companion projects, including a Cold Frame Box, Raised Planting Bed, Potting Bench, and Trellis Planter And more! Also included is an updated look at new materials and products, along with tips for siting and orienting, which will help you make good design choices. Complete sections on heaters, ventilation, and watering systems show you how to set up and operate your greenhouse for maximum benefit. Building a greenhouse, even a relatively complex “stick-built” style, is a surprisingly easy DIY project and one that is sure to delight any gardener in your family. Find all of the most up-to-date information you need to build and run your own greenhouse, all in one place!

Read more less

BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Plumbing Updated 8th Edition is the most comprehensive, up-to-date book on achievable home plumbing projects for DIYers of all skill levels. From fixing a toilet to installing and plumbing a vanity sink or curbless shower, this book has the answer to any home plumbing problem you’re likely to have. Whether your home is newer or older, you'll appreciate the clear color photos, illustrations, and easy-to-understand descriptions. The basics of home plumbing systems are clearly explained and all of the most popular plumbing projects are shown with clear directions and art.Projects include: Plumbing and tiling a curbless shower Installing a jetted spa Replacing a toilet Installing a dishwasher and garbage disposer Repairing faucets Accessibility projects that meet Universal Design standards Flooring Wallcoverings Lighting Ventilation Bathroom cabinetry Get those home projects you’ve been dreaming about accomplished and done right, with a little help from the experts at BLACK+DECKER.

Read more less

BLACK+DECKER The Complete Guide to Bathrooms brings you design advice, how-to instructions, and all the facts you need to achieve the bathroom of your dreams. This sixth edition of the perennial bestseller from the BLACK+DECKER Complete Guide series covers all the bases when it comes to bathroom remodeling. From freshening up decor to a down-to-the-studs remodel, all of the information you need to design the job and do the work yourself is right here. This new edition also features smart home projects, from advanced toilets and add-on bidets to freestanding tubs, dimmable lights, and touchless faucets. Through step-by-step photography and instructions, you’ll see how to update lighting, ventilation, flooring, surfaces, cabinetry, toilets, bathtubs, and accessories. This comprehensive buyer’s guide takes you through one of the most important steps in any remodeling project, and a complete and up-to-the minute section on bathroom design provides education and inspiration. It also includes information explaining how to remodel or re-imagine your bathroom to better meet the needs of aging in place, with projects that conform to Universal Design Standards: You’ll see a start-to-finish demonstration on how to replace a shower or tub with a curbless shower stall. To maximize access, a wall-mounted sink is hung and hooked up—and you see every step. Replace a traditional bathroom sink faucet with a hands-free model so you can turn on the water even if you can’t reach all the way to the faucet handle. Add a frameless glass shower surround and learn how to install and plumb a vanity cabinet and sink basin. The list of projects is long and the information, vetted by the experts at BLACK+DECKER, is complete and current.

Read more less

There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. In The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers, Sean and Allison McManus, the gardening pros behind the popular website and podcast Spoken Garden, answer all of your questions and more.Caring for outdoor plantings can be intimidating, especially if the process is completely new to you. Before running to the hardware store to stock up on plastic bags of mulch and tools you don’t really need, arm yourself with the know-how to plant and tend outdoor areas correctly and safely. Doing so saves you time, money, and energy—and helps make the process a whole lot more fun! With help from this easy-to-follow beginner gardening guide, you’ll learn: Tips for selecting the best plants and flowers for your growing conditions The best planting techniques for different types of plants How to mulch trees, shrubs, and garden beds correctly Pruning dos and don’ts for common garden plants Ways to keep weeds out of outdoor areas—without using synthetic herbicides How to recognize and manage different pests and diseases naturally Insider tips on everything from the difference between annuals and perennials to choosing the best organic fertilizer Plus, you’ll find time-management advice and tips for effective, resource-conscious gardening You will close the book not only knowing how to care for your home's outdoor plantings using earth-friendly methods, but also knowing the satisfaction of a beautiful, all-natural landscape. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener Guide series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables. Each book in The First-Time Gardener Guide series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that's presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Read more less

In No-Waste Composting, you’ll discover the hows and whys of composting and find over a dozen practical step-by-step plans for building both indoor and outdoor composting systems that require a minimal amount of space. “I don’t have enough space to compost.” “I don’t know what’s safe to compost and what isn’t.” “I live in the city, so I don’t think I can compost.” “Indoor composting systems are smelly.” “I don’t have a garden, so I don’t need to compost.”If any of these is your excuse for not composting, then this is the book for you! Small-space composting has never been easier, more efficient, and more eco-friendly. Composting keeps millions of tons of waste out of landfills and creates carbon-sequestering, nutrient-dense compost that can be used to help fuel plant growth (including houseplants!) and build soil health. Build a DIY worm-composting system for a cupboard or garage Craft a layered, under-the-sink composting system from terra cotta pots Construct a simple outdoor compost bin from repurposed wooden pallets Use upcycled wire fencing to build a mobile composting system on the driveway Learn how to compost larger sticks and branches to build new food and flower gardens Upcycle a plastic bucket to make an indoor compost fermenting system Plus, you’ll find plans to keep cat and dog waste out of the landfill by using a groundbreaking (and safe) DIY composting system. And if you don’t garden, author and composting professional Michelle Balz offers plenty of other ways you can utilize the wonderful, crumbly compost you create. Whether you’re just starting your no-waste journey or you’re a seasoned recycling and repurposing pro, No-Waste Composting is an invaluable tool to have at your side.This book is part of the Cool Springs Press No-Waste Gardening series, which also includes No-Waste Kitchen Gardening and No-Waste Organic Gardening.

Read more less

You’re excited to plant your first vegetable garden—but where to start? In The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables, you’ll find the answers you’re looking for. *Winner of the GardenComm 2022 Media Awards Silver Award of Achievement in the Photography/Book General Readership Category* Homesteader Jessica Sowards, the warm and energetic host of YouTube’s Roots and Refuge Farm, is the perfect teacher for new gardeners, offering not just know-how but inspiration and time-management tips for success. Before you sink your hands into the soil, she’ll answer all those questions rolling around inside your head: Where do I put my new garden? How do I prepare the soil? What vegetables should I plant? Is it better to start new plants from seed or should I buy transplants? What about watering, feeding, and taking care of my garden? What do I do if bugs show up? There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. Not only will you learn how to prepare, plant, and tend your first vegetable garden, you’ll also learn: How to design an eco-friendly layout How to grow with the seasons How to maximize your harvest, even if you only grow in a small space Jessica wants your first food-growing experience to be a positive one, and she’s prepared to go the distance to make sure tending the earth becomes your new favorite hobby. A single growing season is all it takes to fall in love with growing your own healthy, organic, nutrient-dense food. With Jessica as your guide, you’ll soon discover all the satisfactions, challenges, and great joys of growing your own food garden. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers and The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening. Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Read more less

Setting up your first raised bed garden? With help from YouTube gardening star CaliKim, you’ll soon be growing your own fresh, organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers like a pro. Whether your yard is big or small, raised beds are the perfect fit. They allow you to create a controlled growing environment, filled with fertile soil, where plants thrive. Raised beds help gardeners overcome rocky or less-than-ideal soils, there’s little to no weeding involved, and they can be as large or as petite as you’d like. You can even use an elevated or mobile raised bed if the only sunny space you have to grow is on a patio, deck, or driveway. In The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening, you’ll learn how to select the best raised bed for your space, what to fill it with, and tips for staking and trellising plants to save space and improve yields. Additional advice found inside includes: DIY plans for building quick-and-simple beds Info on the best soil mixes for filling raised beds How to mulch, water, and fertilize your new garden Illustrated planting plans to help you determine how many plants fit in each bed Step-by-step project plans for unique raised bed trellising systems The best beginner-friendly crops to get you started How to maximize production from a small raised bed garden Tips to get growing in a way that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed halfway through the season Raised bed gardening is perfect for beginners, as long as you have a pro like CaliKim sharing her essential know-how and cheering you on to veggie-growing victory. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers and The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables. Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Read more less

“Straightforward instructions, matrices, photos, and illustrations make this one of my new favorite gardening books.” —Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor Growing your own fresh, organic food in containers is a great way to begin your gardening journey! This friendly guide includes everything you need to know to get started. What’s holding you back from growing your own food? Are you nervous about having enough space? Do you question whether or not you have the time to make it happen? Are the growing conditions you have a little questionable? Is your budget at a bare-bones minimum? Then container gardening is the answer to all of your concerns! With a minimal investment in time, money, and space, and The First-Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening at your side, start your very first garden in containers, instead of in the ground. You just may find you’re capable of growing fantastic yields in spite of all your initial hesitations. Container gardens can take up as much or as little room as you’d like. They’re portable, so you can locate them wherever conditions are optimal for plant growth. And, you can grow just about any veggie in pots, as long as you have the right container, the right soil blend, and the right care tips. In these pages, author Pam Farley of BrownThumbMama.com lines the path to container food gardening success in clear, simple steps. Not only will you learn how to get started, you’ll also discover: What size container you need for each different veggie Why filling the pot with the perfect soil blend matters so much When to fertilize and how often to water Where to locate your container food garden for optimum production What to do if problems arise and how to fix them Tips for everything from staking and pruning your veggie plants to knowing when it’s time to harvest Plus, find a dozen fully illustrated planting plans for themed container food gardens, including a Smoothie Greens Garden, a Spring Stir-Fry Garden, a Spaghetti Sauce Garden, a Salad Greens Garden, and many others. No room? No problem. Lousy soil? Nothing to worry about. Not enough time? Think again. Growing food in containers is fun, easy, and perfect for beginners. This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Gardener: Raised Bed Gardening, The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers, and The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables. Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Read more less