For anyone with a neglected or overgrown garden or simply a garden in need of a good overhaul. Looking forward to moving house? What about the garden? Is it a brand new one with builder's rubble lurking underneath the new lawn or a long-established, well-kept show garden? Or is it an overgrown mess, full of tree seedlings, weeds and hidden dangers such as plant-swamped ponds or dilapidated outbuildings? The Times gardening columnist Stephen Anderton is here to help. Providing down-to-earth, practical advice he looks at all these problems in perspective. Whether you are a keen gardener or a horticulturally-challenged new garden owner, his sound tips on how to assess the situation and deal with it in an orderly fashion will prove invaluable. From soil-testing, tree and shrub assessment to lawncare and hard-landscaping, all facets of a new or newly acquired garden are looked at. Which tree to cut down? What to do with that broken greenhouse? How to improve that bald patch of lawn? Every conceivable conundrum is covered making this an asset to every gardener. For beginners, the reassurance that you can cope. For the more adventurous, temperance is advised to avoid costly mistakes. An A-Z of shrubs and trees and how to deal with them at various stages of their lives is extremely useful and explanation of plant clues in neglected gardens offer hope to those who may at first despair. So think positively, take your time and read this before dashing out and trying to do too much at once. - Lucy Watson
