Growing media for ornamental plants and turf, 3rd edition By Kevin Handreck and Neil Black ISBN 0868407968, published in 2002 by University of NSW Press, softcover, 542 pages Price $A69.95 plus $A11 postage within Australia, overseas postage please request a quote

For nearly 20 years this book has become established as a core text for students of horticulture, and an essential reference for practising horticulturists and their suppliers, landscape gardeners and designers, and greenkeepers. This third edition is substantially revised from the 1994 second edition, is comprehensive and clearly written, expanded by 70 pages and 48 new illustrations. Topics covered include choosing materials for potting mixes, fertilizers, efficient use of water, drainage, salinity, turf management, soil-borne diseases, hydroponics, and the preparation of soils for landscape planting. Every Australian horticulturist - and all students of horticulture - should own a copy of this edition.

About the authors

Kevin Handreck is Managing Director of Netherwood Horticultural Consultants, Adelaide. He has qualifications in chemistry and agricultural science from the University of Melbourne. Previously he worked for CSIRO on various aspects of soil chemistry and plant nutrition and the dissemination of technical information. He was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1982 and the Nursery Industry Association of Australia Award of Merit in 1990.

Neil Black is Director of the North Coast Institute of Technical and Further Education in New South Wales. He has qualifications in agricultural science (University of Sydney), horticulture (Sydney Technical College) and education (University of Technology Sydney).

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• 1. Plants: needs for good growth
• 2. The basics
• 3. Texture and particle size
• 4. Some simple chemistry
• 5. Organic matter - the vital component
• 6. Problems with organic materials
• 7. Clay and humus: soil colloids
• 8. Structure and pore space
• 9. Growing media and water
• 10. Supplying air to roots
• 11. pH
• 12. Composting
• 13. Choosing materials for potting mixes
• 14. Plant nutrients
• 15. Fertilizers
• 16. Fertilizer practice in nurseries
• 17. Foundations for good turf
• 18. Turf plants
• 19. Managing turf soils
• 20. Fertilizing turf
• 21. Salinity: a growing problem
• 22. Watering: when and how much
• 23. Irrigation overview
• 24. Drainage
• 25. Life in growing media
• 26. Soil-borne diseases in nurseries
• 27. Nutrient solution as a medium: hydroponics
• 28. Temperature
• 29. Soil and landscapes
• 30. Containers
• 31. From nursery to landscape
• 32. Collecting samples for analysis
• 33. Simple tests.
• Conversion tables
• Sources of help: analytical services
• Further reading
• Tolerance to salinity
• Australian native plants of known tolerance and sensitivity to phosphorus
• Index