This new title in the highly successful Collins Practical Gardener series tackles the fine art of cultivating flower beds -- from seeds and plugs to glorious carpets of colour and scent!The book begins with a potted history of the subject of bedding plants. The reader is then guided through all stages of planning, planting and care -- how to go about designing a bedding arrangement, whether to buy in plants or propagate yourself, and how to keep your bed looking its best throughout the season. A special section shows how to care for tender perennials so that they last for several years. The main section of the book is a comprehensive directory of every conceivable bedding plant available. Each entry includes a visual chart listing the best varieties and indicating when to plant, length of flowering season, spread, height, moisture requirements and hardiness. In addition, quick-access care charts provide a hit list of care requirements and problems to look out for. Contents include:* Introduction and History of Bedding Plants; Assessing Your Garden; Design -- planting combinations; Buying or Growing; Growing Bedding Plants from Seed; Growing Bedding Plants from Plugs and Seedlings; Planting & Aftercare; Perennial Bedding Plants -- propagation and care; A-Z of Bedding Plants; Troubleshooting; Pests & Diseases