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The Gardening Book

GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
in Plants
I am reading Monty Don's 'The Gardening Book'. Great to have an up to date book for all those new to gardening. It isn't written in chapters but two pages are devoted to a subject.

So if you are unsure of your soil type or you want to know when to prune clematis. How to grow and split snowdrops or help with garden design, there is so much packed into this one book, the list goes on!

There are some lovely photos to inspire and if you find gardening bewildering you can use it as a reference book for future gardening advice. So easy to use, no need to try and find the right chapter to look for a subject.
 
You could ask questions on here but it is also good to read about the subject too. You could of course do both which would be an even better way of expanding your knowledge.  I hope you can find a copy in your local Library always worth a look before a purchase. It is books like this that get people into gardening and you can take it at your own pace. I am enjoying reading it and recommend it. Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Charity shops are great places to get gardening books. So many people seem to buy them in the hope of instant enlightenment, or they are purchased by well meaning gift givers who think that the possession of a lawn means the recipient is an avid gardener. This means that a lot of the books have barely been opened, let alone covered in coffee stains. Always worth a trawl.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I'm not convinced that there is any one Gardening Book above any others.  I've been gardening for over 50 years and have quite a few books - some covering specific interests and some covering the whole gamut.  Interesting also how even the old books have relevent info/advice applicable in todays world.
    Nothing quite like a good book ;)
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Ceres That's interesting, a great tip, will take a look in future.
    When I first started gardening, I would look for library books with photos. Now I have just a small collection of my own books that I use mostly for reference. There are some gardening books that you read once and have no desire to read again. Others are like special friends always there if you are unsure what to do next.

    Some older authors are a joy to read, however the practicalities of modern day gardening may no longer apply. Changes to weather patterns, pruning when a plant is fully dormant is one example, up to date advice is always helpful.
    Thoughts from like minded gardeners are essential, the forum is great for what is happening in the here and now.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @philippasmith2 One book that inspired me years ago was Val Bourne's The Winter Garden. At that point a season I had never considered in great detail. I have read it many times and it is like an old friend. Infact I reconsidered the whole of my back garden as a result. Get the winter months right and the rest follows.
    I often return to the old favourites like you.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    The Geoff Hamilton books are still a joy to read.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Dr DG Hessayon's slim volumes were my introduction to gardening. I still have them and occasionally peek at them but the chemicals that were recommended were mind blowingly awful. Every problem had a cure in the form of a lethal spray. I also still have the Mr Smith books from the TV series.
    I agree with @phillipasmith2 that a variety of books is a good thing and it's interesting to see how gardens and gardening have changed over the years.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    Ceres said:
    Dr DG Hessayon's slim volumes were my introduction to gardening. I still have them and occasionally peek at them but the chemicals that were recommended were mind blowingly awful. Every problem had a cure in the form of a lethal spray. 
    I always thought that about his books.  I read one once or twice and never again.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Those books were my introduction to double digging, earthing up potatoes, and crop rotation. I had a wonderful veg garden that kept us in produce for months. Thankfully double digging isn't the thing nowadays.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Monty is a beautiful writer, I re read The Irvington Diaries frequently.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @punkdoc Just got a copy of The Irvington Diaries from the library. Now seems to be a good time of year to borrow gardening books from the library plenty of choice.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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