American Horticultural Society Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening

By: American Horticultural Society

Published by Cool Springs Press, 2026-01-06

From the foremost authority on gardening in North America, the American Horticultural Society, comes an authoritative handbook focused on the important practice of ecological gardening. The AHS Essential Guide to Ecological Gardening shares insight on the many ways gardeners can embrace nature for a healthier, more vibrant home landscape. True ecological gardening goes far beyond the battle cry of "Leave the leaves!" spread across social media every autumn. It is about making thoughtful decisions in your garden each and every day, knowing they impact the millions of plants and animals living there and the greater environment beyond. Becoming a responsible steward of a thriving garden ecosystem has never been more important. This modern and increasingly popular approach treats the garden as the living ecosystem it is. Some of the ecological gardening concepts you'll learn in these beautifully illustrated pages include how to: Design a garden that's both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound Foster a greater diversity of plants and animals through considerate gardening practices Prevent stormwater runoff with the use of rain gardens and rain-capturing systems Reduce and replace resource-intensive lawns Maintain your garden in a nature-friendly way Incorporate keystone plants in your garden that support a broad diversity of life Manage weeds and pests safely Conduct wildlife-friendly garden cleanups Foster pollinators, soil organisms, and other wildlife by focusing on native plants By adopting and implementing the principles of ecological gardening, you and your garden will become part of the solution...and you'll have a beautiful, resilient garden you can feel good about. Also included in this series is AHS Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening and AHS Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening.