After decades of emphasis on pest control, often achieved through chemical means, gardeners around the world are beginning to come around to a new – or, really, old – way of thinking: a garden whose very diversity of plant and animal life makes it healthy, beautiful, and productive. This masterclass in natural gardening outlines a cornucopia of tried-and-true techniques to help you develop a healthy garden ecology. Val Bourne introduces both new and experienced gardeners to the wide diversity of birds, animals, insects, and even slugs that help bring a natural balance to a home garden, and help its plants and flowers shrug off problems before they become entrenched.