The Los Angeles times planning and planting the garden

the long version

"In this book, author Robert Smaus, the popular gardening editor of The Los Angeles Times, settles on a program of rules and procedures that will demystify the art of making a beautiful and successful garden. From the practical suggestion to keep a gardener's notebook and advice on what to put into it, to the nitty-gritty of planting, there is invaluable advice here for every gardener. The reader is also guided through the process of the actual planting and given answers to a host of common questions about soil preparation, readying the flower bed, mulching, watering, staking, and planting in pots.