Frances Tophill
​FIRST TIME GARDENER

Beautiful, comprehensive, a must buy FULL of information, FULL of ideas, and FULL of charisma. That is without mentioning the stunning photography on each and every page. I own many gardening books and buy gardening magazines by the bundle, and it's true that there probably is not any unique information in First Time Gardener. However, the presentation of this book makes it feel so alive so full of vibrance and evocation. It is a fully comprehensive gardening book but just so much more fun and enjoyable than the rest....
Whippet 2016

Alan Titchmarsh
THE COMPLETE HOW TO BE A GARDENER

Excellent starter kit for any gardener or designer Titchmarsh has a warmth and enthusiasm which is infectious, and which comes across in the book. It's a very well organised package, well written, illustrated throughout with photographs and diagrams to demonstrate techniques and explain concepts...Combining the two dimensions of gardening, the practical and the aesthetic, provides much intellectual stimulation - you can begin small, dream, plan, and build for the future...this is the ideal book for the beginner or the reluctant gardener. It's a book which will give years of service and which can be quite inspirational...
omnigadrum 2005

Carol Klein
​MAKING A GARDEN

A great offering from Carol K..This is a great book. The text and illustrations are very good. The perfect book to look through during a long,dark,wet UK winter. Good for inspiration at any time in fact. The fact that actual gardens are the source of the pictures and the case studies help a lot too.
​Mr R Edwards 2015

This book is apparently virtually identical to Carol Klein's Grow you own Natural Garden: Taking Inspiration from Nature. I have no idea why. In any case, it has good reviews and would make an excellent present for anybody who enjoys watching Carol on Gardener's World.

Toby Buckland
​PRACTICAL GARDENING HANDBOOK

Positive review I have been given Toby Buckland's new book, Practical Gardening Handbook, and couldn't put it down. I found it very informative, comforting even, making me feel I too could grow vegetables, salad crops, anything in fact! I feel really enthusiastic and will keep this book handy to refer to as I go along. I would recommend it to anyone, especially those new to gardening, as nothing seems too complicated. 
MacFamily 2010

Buczacki & Harris
PESTS, DISEASES & DISORDERS

Very good book  A very good comprehensive book for anyone, whatever your level of expertise, wishing to identify pests, diseases and disorders of hundreds of garden plants, trees, fruit and vegetables. One of the better plant pest and disease books available to gardeners and horticulturalists. Easy to use with many colour photographs and updated on the previous edition. Containing some of the more recent pests and diseases that gardeners may encounter. Well worth buying.
Mark the Plantsman 2016

Royal Horticultural Society
​PRUNING & TRAINING

Finally a successor to the ABC of gardening Many years ago,.. I purchased a secondhand copy of The ABC of Pruning ... I have referred to it constantly ever since as no other volume came close to its concise, informative, easy-to-follow text...Well now I have one...I have recently planted some more exotic shrubs and climbers in the hope that they will establish themselves in our warming climate. They are all here, and what I particularly like is that the information includes what to do from cradle to grave; how to train it in its young, formative years...specimen right up to renovating an aged plant.
​Peter 2007

Royal Horticultural Society
​PESTS & DISEASES

A good general book about garden pests and diseases  I really wanted fairly specific advice on fruit pests and diseases. This tome was too general for me, but would suit a gardener with a variety of plants. It's easy to read and wide ranging, with up to date advice.
If you are a general gardener, I wholeheartedly recommend it, if not you might find your special area a little thin.
Dr G Gregg 2013

Royal Horticultural Society
PROPAGATING PLANTS

Ideal for the thrifty gardener! Although I am a gardener of almost fifty years ...standing I still learned an awful lot from this super book. For many years I have grown vegetables and flowers from seeds successfully ..However I have never been much into taking cuttings and this is where this book is a huge help to me... I already have cuttings of Hydrangea and Spirea shrubs growing well...This book is extremely well laid out with clear diagrams and photographs.....Whether you want to raise plants from seeds,cuttings or division this book is ideal...Thoroughly recommended! Happy gardening!
Michael Bermingham 2010

Laetitia Maklouf
​SWEET PEAS FOR SUMMER

Delicious 'recipes' for gardening This is a great book to read through and get inspiration - it really makes you want to get out and do something now, and makes it possible to do most of the 'recipes' even if you've done hardly any gardening before. There is an introduction to...basics like soil types and planning a garden, but then most of the book is arranged by month....no matter the time of year, there's a project you can tackle immediately... I've already completed two of the projects - a sweet pea screen and a viola pot - and I have a lovage plant ready to go in.
PoppySeed 2012

Matt James
​HOW TO PLANT A GARDEN

Excellent book for those wanting to be serious gardeners, starting from scratch This is a wonderful book for those itching to obtain green fingers, and have a dump of a garden to start with! It's very thorough and detailed, including lots of scientific (Latin) names throughout, so it's not dumbed down. This isn't a quick makeover book, it's a proper Royal Horticultural Society book, and reaches the level expected of that society. Photographs are superb ...and helpful.
CMB 2016

Monty Don
​THE COMPLETE GARDENER

Intelligent, thoughtful and practical This is by far the best gardening book I have. It explains in detail the reasoning behind the organic approach and applies the author's personal experience... His passionate commitment is backed up with nuts and bolts detail - such as exactly what bacteria do in soil (as much as we know.) This is an articulate and heartfelt book full of sensible, usable advice. 
Bookworm1973 2003 ​

Peter Jones
​MAKING GARDENS

A delightful book for all those interested in gardening This is the best book around to give to gardening friends for Christmas or at any time of year. It gets to grips with the nitty-gritty of gardening - soil, weather,pests and diseases, the right plants for the conditions - and is also a visual feast. Masses of gorgeous photos show how ordinary gardeners in England and Wales create and look after beautiful flowerbeds, even when they face the challenges of steep slopes, searing winds, deep shade, salt spray by the sea, poor or waterlogged soil. Just reading the picture captions is a treat! ....you'll find great practical tips.
A Customer 2001