The harder gardeners work, the more problems seem to multiply. But if we let them, plants can do much of the hard work for us. This remarkable book, first published in 1997 and now revised and reillustrated, shows how plants can be combined into self-governing communities to create naturalistic low maintenance gardens. The universal principles of `matrix` gardens are explained, and illustrated with case studies showing detailed applications. Further chapters explore soil health, biological controls in the garden, pools and wetlands, shrubs and perennials, and how to pull it all together in a string self-sustaining design.