In this updated edition, best-selling author Mel Bartholomew, an efficiency expert with a background as a civil engineer, explains how to grow a wide range of plants in a small space with less weeding, less watering and more production. The process involves dividing the planting area into 1' squares and precisely planting within them, as well as growing vertically on low-cost frames. Beginners can follow the step-by-step instructions easily, but even veteran gardeners will find lots of valuable information, especially regarding space efficiency. Color photographs and helpful tips throughout. Softcover book, 7" x 10", 272 pages. "Bartholomew, author of the popular Square Foot Gardening (1981), has refined his original square-foot gardening concept by adding ten improvements, including a new location for the garden that is closer to the house, a special soil mix, and six-inch deep, 4' x 4' above-ground boxes with grids. His techniques do not require heavy digging or fertilizers and feature advice on using vertical gardening to save space. He clearly explains the square-foot concept, from the rationale behind it (the square-foot garden takes up much less space than traditional row gardening and saves time, money, and aggravation) to how to plan the garden, build the boxes and vertical supports, and employ his planting and cultural techniques. There are also helpful charts for succession planting and spacing plants and a schedule for starting seeds indoors. Despite its somewhat annoying tendency to read like an infomercial, this attractive, easy-to-understand, and well-organized book for both novice and experienced gardeners is recommended for all libraries." — Library Journal