I love gardening but certainly am not an expert. I also have areas in my yard that are very challenging – full sun (more than 8 hours) while others have shade. Soil in some areas is good, while other areas are heavy clay.
I spend a great deal of time amending soil and often find myself moving plants. Although I try my best to do my research before purchasing plants, there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet and easily obtainable information is not always specific to the area in which I am located. So trial and error was a way of life.
Recently, Lisa E. gave me a book that is amazingly helpful. It addresses so many things that I was spending hours researching and I am now more confident as I plan my garden. This book is a jewel: The Southern Gardener’s Book of List – The Best Plants for All Your Needs, Wants, and Whims, by Lois Trigg Chaplin.
In this book you will find over 200 lists that tell you shade, sun, soil preference, drainage, drought, size and so much more. The lists include trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, ground covers, grasses, vines, ferns, bulbs, roses, azaleas, deciduous or evergreen, and even tells you which are fragrant. Best of all, it addresses what areas of the South they will grow (lower south, middle south, upper south, coastal, etc.).
Advice from experts accompany each list. To make it easy to research a particular plant you might be considering, an index will tell you on what pages you can find that specific information.
I am grateful to Lisa for giving me this treasure of information and will be feeling much more comfortable as I build my gardens.