Books for gardeners and other nature lovers

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Christmas is coming and many gardeners love a good gardening book to get them through the winter. This is my selection of the books which are currently available. Because the idea is to help people buy Christmas presents, the majority are available new. There are a few which I know are really good which you can only buy second-hand. Some of the older second-hand editions of the reference books are extremely good value. You may not want to give these as a present to someone else, but I often find that I have to buy myself one or two presents in the course of Christmas shopping!
I have tried to produce a reasonably comprehensive list of topics 
Reference Books
Practical Gardening
Garden Design
Plants and Planting
Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs
Organic Gardening
Water Gardening
Wildlife and Wild Gardens
Inspiration
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Royal Horticultural Society 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING

​Perfect for the new gardener I'm new to having my own garden and really didn't know where to start. My dad (a keen gardener), bought me this as a Christmas gift and it's perfect. The sections are easily laid out ..The pictures are great... My dad also has this book and he as a more experienced gardener finds it really helpful ....Would definitely recommend this to any other newbie gardener like me, or just as the staple book in your gardening collection. Em. Faulkner 2014

Royal Horticultural Society
​A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN PLANTS

Great buy, worth the money.
Absolutely brilliant. I am an apprentice gardener and this book has given me all the information I need for my plant identification.
Amazon Customer 2016

​I own the original 1996 edition of this wonderful book which is still available second hand. It contains information on about 15000 plants, including their origins, cultivation needs etc. This new edition updates information on recommended plants and new varieties.

Biggs, McVicar & Flowerdew THE COMPLETE BOOK OF VEGETABLES, HERBS & FRUIT​

Great reference book This is a brilliant book jam packed with loads of information on a huge range of fruit veg and herbs. Its a fantastic reference book but the experienced person will find gaps in the knowledge pretty quickly. As its so big and heavy its a reference book only, but I do recommend it for those starting out.
Marie Tuttle 2009

​The review above is from the original 2004 edition which is still available second-hand

Royal Horticultural Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBS
​

Not just for gardeners! I got this book whilst I was working as a gardener, very useful, but it's also excellently useful for reliable detailed information on home herbal use...Super book I'd recommend it to anyone with any interest in herbs, even if you don't even intend to grow or use them, just are curious about learning more
Ashbeth 2008

This is the latest 2014 edition of this brilliant book, which has of course been updated. The above review is of the 1995 edition. 

Royal Horticultural Society
​ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PERENNIALS

Highly recommended I was looking for a book which told me where a plant grows in the wild and thus its ideal growing conditions (rather than just buying plants I like and hoping they'll grow where they're planted). This book does this and lots more giving you all the information you could possibly need. Excellent value for money for what will be a well-thumbed book. SarahA 2012

Royal Horticultural Society
​ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN
​PLANTS & FLOWERS

Excellent if you are a beginner or first time home buyer I purchased my first home a year ago, and had little idea about plants for inside or outside the home. This book could not have been more helpful...I love the different sections, and now have a better idea of how to care for my plant purchases, as well as shade/sunlight placement. A great present for first time home buyers or gardening enthusiasts.
A Customer

Royal Horticultural Society
COMPANION TO SCENTED PLANTS

This new edition is equally excellent for reference purposes. This is an updated version of an earlier book which I have used for years as a reliable guide to scented plants. The new edition is equally excellent for reference purposes, and obviously uses more recent developments. So many modern hybrids disappoint in regard to perfume, sacrificing it to colour and form even if they mention perfume, but this book is an unbiased guide. Excellent.​
Southerner 2015

​​Royal Horticultural Society
WHAT PLANT WHERE
​

A great help This book is a huge help for me. I have a large garden with lots of very wet areas, some clay, some chalk and woodland. This book makes it so easy to browse suitable plants for every tricky place. Highly recommended and would make a wonderful gift for a keen gardener
customer 2014

PRACTICAL GARDENING

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

GARDEN DESIGN

Royal Horticultural Society
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN
​DESIGN

A must for the amateur and professional garden designer  This book gives a fool-proof method of designing a garden with all you need to know as a beginner, plus great inspiration for us old-fashioned designers who still use a drawing board regarding new computer software and inspiring modern schemes that give a new slant on traditional techniques.... The whole book is illustrated by beautiful photographs and is both useful and entertaining.
​F.M. Brown 2009

Howcroft & ​Majerus
​GARDEN DESIGN: A BOOK OF IDEAS

Great book This is an excellent book for my needs. I'm a garden designer and often use books like this one to help me get a better understanding of my client's personal tastes and preferences. Browsing photographs with clients is a good way for me to find out what they do and don't like and this book is full of great contemporary design, materials, features, planting etc
​C. Cummings 2015

Alan Titchmarsh
GARDEN DESIGN

A no-fuss guide to garden design that's packed with ideas...This guide to garden design might be relatively thin.., but it's pitched just right for anyone with a blank canvas or major garden re-vamp...The first part of the book deals with the principles of design such as site survey and levels, but also including a look at particular styles ... A quick guide to hard landscaping techniques then follows,.... . Just under half of the book is devoted to plants - designing.., planting for the seasons and solutions for...areas such as shade, damp, dry and windy.....thus making a book that is packed with information and ideas.
Wiltshire Bookworm 2009

Andrew Wilson
​SMALL GARDEN HANDBOOK

Inspirational I picked this up as inspiration for a garden design course I am taking and I am very pleased. It is full of excellent photographs and with lots of ideas for materials to use or new ways to use commonplace materials to give an edge to a garden.Overall, the design emphasis is more contemporary than traditional although there are examples or more traditional gardens and materials. The planting ideas are excellent and I like the fact that there are sections covering maintenance & garden housekeeping.  
​Marand 2014

Peter McHoy
​DESIGNING & PLANTING SMALL GARDENS

Passionate about pots! The book is conveniently divided into two sections: the first, titled The Small Garden, introduces elements of design, planning your garden through to dealing with surfacing, boundaries and finishing touches. Double page features are devoted to themes such as planting for texture, colour themes, autumn leaves and berries, and dwarf conifers...It's with the second section, titled The Container Garden, that the authors have devoted most attention. Covering just over half the entire volume, this section boasts 160 ideas for planting pots and tubs, window boxes and wall planters, chimneys and buckets. ...If you're passionate about pots, ...this is the purchase for you. 
ceriithomas 2011

Rosemary Alexander
THE ESSENTIAL GARDEN DESIGN WORKBOOK

The Essential Garden Design Workbook  After ploughing through endless variations on this theme it's good to find something that's user friendly and totally practical. The best feature is that the book follows the design process in a logical manner identifying principles and showing you how to apply them in a practical way; it also shows you what works in design terms and what doesn't plus some tricks to achieve more professional results with plan presentations. Another thing of interest is the quirky graphic style of illustration used to highlight non- plan points. Extremely useful throughout.
Sally Allenden 2005

Julia Fogg
​CREATING PRIVACY IN THE GARDEN

A highly informative insight into creating a private garden What a pleasure it is to have someone put into simple and practical terms what so many of us see as being out of reach - to create one's own private space in the garden and have somewhere to truly relax. Julia Fogg presents a highly informative book, beautfully illustrated with a mixture of charming pictures and skilful drawings. Fluidly written, the author provides a well-informed vision of stunning and creative designs which will appeal to gardeners of all abilities. A delight to both look at and absorb.
sue@beardshaws 2001

Linden Hawthorne
GARDENING WITH SHAPE, LINE & TEXTURE

First class design book. I have a large collection of books on all aspects of planting, gardening techniques and design theory but this book is outstanding ... For me, the most useful part...are the introductory chapters .....The author explains clearly what she means by example and underpins this with sound theory... I went out and put her ideas into practice and produced a new bed which looks superb...  I'm currently "editing" all my other borders using the principles from this book resulting in a vast aesthetic improvement...it's not often I find a book this good...Money well spent, a good source book and a book which will repay re-reading.
Kev the Greenman 2012

PLANTS

Oudolf & Gerritsen
​DREAM PLANTS FOR THE NATURAL GARDEN

If you only want one book on herbaceous perennials, this is it Quite simply the most useful book on herbaceous plants you will ever need. By grouping the plants by how they behave in your garden Oudolf and Gerritsen have taken all the guesswork out of herbaceous planting. Clear plates, teamed with the author's concentration on only the best varieties of each species help to choose the most appropriate plants. As a professional garden designer I have taken to keeping a copy of the book in my car... Such simple descriptions as "Grows anywhere and is always beautiful, use it" can only inspire. 
​A Customer 2001

Andy McIndoe
THE CREATIVE SHRUB
GARDEN

Buy it yourself or put it on your wish list!  A book that I would rate indispensable. Written by an expert who understands the complexities of selecting and grouping shrubs with other plants to great effect. Well set out for easy reference with stunning photos. I bought it for my gardening library but it would make a very acceptable present. I particularly like the photographic binding without a dust cover, it will take hard wear and still look new, take it with you when you go to buy plants. You won't buy the wrong one again!.
Ashtree 2014

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

​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

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! Delve deeper into the text and the Expert Insights....and you'll find great practical tips. So, for gardeners from dry Essex to rain-swept Lancashire, this book is the one to give . . . and to put on your own wish list.
A Customer 2001

Alan Titchmarsh
GARDENING IN THE SHADE

Reliable advice in a logical format This is set out in a very clear way which is rarer than you'd think in a reference book. Whilst the chapters on planting & propogation are very similar to the ones in other books the sections on types of shade, microclimates and designing for shade were good, simple & easily understandable.The 'plants for shade' section is excellent; set out in exactly the way that makes sense and as a consequence is becoming really well thumbed already. If you are trying to sort out a problem area of garden this is a brilliant book. Mr Titchmarsh writes with the openness of someone who knows his subject thoroughly & is happy to help & share as opposed to the many gardener writers who try to blind you with science in attempt to reinforce their (obvious) sense of superiority.
tired & cynical 2009

Karen Junker
​GARDENING WITH WOODLAND PLANTS

A gardening classic This book stands alongside the great gardening classics of our time..this is wholly an English book, the author's own woodland garden and nursery being in Somerset. It is rare to find such intimate and scholarly horticultural knowledge matched with such an engaging, easy-to-read, even sometimes gently romantic, writing style... One reviewer comments on the absence of illustrations ...This, too, is inevitable given that over 2,000 are mentioned ! But even so, this book probably has more illustrations than any other book of comparable stature...This is a gardening classic, which will fully stand the test of time; and on its special topic, may never be surpassed.
Jeff Walmsey 2010

Graham Rice
PLANTING THE DRY SHADE GARDEN

We all need help like this...The main part of the book describes a range of plants suitable for the toughest conditions, a source of inspiration to those gardeners who have about given up hope with their own shady areas. Around 130 plants are listed and illustrated, with descriptions written in a style that suggests he knows them personally. The well-illustrated sections are divided into Shrubs, Climbers, Perennials, Groundcovers, Bulbs and Annuals and Biennials. We already have a few of the plants suggested ....but I am happy to say that I learned a thing or two and plants I might have not considered were brought to my attention....All in all I would recommend this book....It is written by a well-respected and knowledgeable plantsman and aimed at garden owners on both sides of the Atlantic. ....it could make an ideal stocking filler this Christmas.
Mr. Colin G. Elliott 2011

Peter Beales
CLASSIC ROSES

Addictive stuff!   Old roses, once they get hold of you, won't let you go. The mystique that surrounds roses in our culture is all about these roses,.....this book is a wise investment. It is a working manual for the practical gardener, not a coffee-table book ...The text is arranged according to the botanical families of rose, and this may seem unnecessarily obscure, except that closely-related roses share the same traits and enjoy the same conditions, so grouping roses this way helps the gardener make sense of a vast range of varieties... there is a key picking out which varieties will tolerate poor soil, which grow well in shade, which will accommodate themselves to a large container, which have particularly good scent, and various other useful tips. The general advice on planting and growing roses is good stuff too, and well written...
Peasant 2011

Nick Bailey
365 DAYS OF COLOUR

Excellent guide to successional planting This is an excellent book, beautifully photographed... The author takes a clear and methodical approach to colour in the garden and various ways of putting colours together before...
explaining how to get year round colour. Thereafter he looks at seasonal plants - chapters filled with plants each accompanied by a splendid photo and a description which includes suggestions for companion plants and follow-on plants. ...there is a good section on foliage. I have pretty good plant knowledge but came across a few gems that I had not seen before... Every now and again there is a little insert with useful notes e.g. Top 40 365 day plants, 10 mid-summer plants. I particularly like the chapter on longest flowering plants..., there is useful horticultural information and helpful suggestions for difficult sites.
Marand 2016

Dr D G Hessayon 
THE FLOWERING SHRUB EXPERT

Very informative You will have to look no further than this excellent guide its the complete A to Z of flowering shrubs. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a novice like myself this book will appeal to all...For each shrub you get : its Latin name,its common name,expected size,deciduous,climber or evergreen,available colours,flowering period,berrying period,a varieties description,info on site and soil,pruning info,propagation info,a colour photograph and a colour drawing.....Also in this series are :The Tree and Shrub Expert,The Bulb Expert and The Lawn Expert and these I can wholeheartedly recommend...
Foxylock 2008

The first gardening books I bought were Expert books and I thoroughly recommend this series, particularly for new gardeners.  

Sarah Raven
​THE BOLD AND BRILLIANT GARDEN

A fantastic and inspirational book!
Having borrowed this book from my local library several months ago and renewed it so many times I feel guilty, I've come to realise that I simply must buy this book... This book is full of suggestions for filling your garden with a riot of colour and dramatic foliage with sections on suggestions for damp, dry, sunny and shady areas with helpful planting plans. Not a book for those who like their gardens sedate and pastel coloured but for everyone else it really is a must have book. Honestly one of the best gardening books I have ever read.
A Customer 2001

This is one of the books I own myself and I love it! For someone who enjoys rich reds and purples, it is perfect. The illustrations are 'gorgeous' to quote another reviewer.

Christine Walkden
NO_NONSENSE CONTAINER GARDENING

A wonderful book. This is a wonderful book I would highly recommend to others. As someone with a small garden who relies upon containers for seasonal colour, this book will prove a godsend for ideas and tips of how to get the best from containers. I grow the usual bulbs and flowers but the section on growing your own lunch is inspirational to someone who has only grown lettuce and the occasional tomato! I particularly like Christine Tips on every page - precise and to the point, and extremely useful. It really is a no nonsense book packed with advice, and beautifully written and illustrated. A winner in my eyes!
Christine Plume 2013

David Austen
OLD ROSES

Fantastic for rose addicts I saw this advertised when it was due to be published in one of the Women's County' magazines and managed to get it for Father's Day for hubby, who is the Rose Addict in the family...He is over the moon with it. It is packed with information and detailed pictures of 'Old Roses' introduced prior to 1900. A Glossary Index at the back, as well as Index of names and also a Bibliography. The Contents is split between 'The Original Old Rose ' and 'The Repeat-Flowering Old Roses'. This would be a very special present to your self or any Rose enthusiast. 
Avid Listener 2013

Robert Parer 
​THE PLANT LOVER'S GUIDE HARDY GERANIUMS

Happy reading with hardy geraniums
​I am thoroughly satisfied with my purchase of Plant Lover's Guide to Hardy Geraniums - and with the price too, an excellent buy. I just need many more sunny days sitting in my garden browsing this most helpful book because hardy geraniums are so addictive - more so after finding more varieties in book!
Cat Crazy 2016

The latest book on hardy geraniums. I had a look inside and this looks like a really lovely book about one of my favourite flowers. Apart from being beautiful, hardy geraniums are also very useful and extremely well-behaved.

Robert Parsons
​SWEET PEAS: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Correct title - it is essential I have some 20 books on sweet peas already so....I had to think whether I needed yet another.  Of course I did...It is a first class book. The book is very well written in plain, simple no nonsense English. It is authoritative being...written by someone who grows, knows and loves these flowers...of enormous value to serious growers;....the perfect book for anyone starting to grow sweet peas. There is no snobbery in the book and a beginner... is not left feeling that they are taking short cuts...If you are pondering whether to buy it for yourself or as a present don't hesitate- buy it you won't regret it.
R Clark 2011

Linda Beutler
THE PLANT LOVER'S GUIDE TO CLEMATIS

So many wonderful clematis to suit everyone's garden I am so glad I decided to add The Plant Lover's Guide to Clematis in this very good series to my book collection, because it is such an informative and enjoyable book. No time to work in garden until I have been inspired fully by this excellent book!. Purchase price was helpful in my decision to purchase!
cat crazy 2016

Another favourite of mine which I find almost possible to grow in my soil, but I'm working on it!

John Nicolass
A GARDENER'S GUIDE TO 500 FUCHSIAS

Where do you put 500 fuchsias? A very good book from a well respected garden designer and plants-man. Just what I expected, answered every question I had in my mind, surprising that, I normally end up buying another book, but not in this case. Ten out of Ten.
G. Wood 2015

​A lot of people collect fuschias. This book is probably not for the serious professional, but for an enthusiastic amateur who suddenly finds themselves with more fuschias than they realized!

Richard Wilford
THE PLANT LOVER'S GUIDE TO TULIPS

A new perfect book on tulips. I see this is the second book by Richard Wilford on the tulip genus. I missed knowing about the first one, however this latest book on tulips is a very worth while purchase. I found his photos and words on combining other plants in the beds of tulips very educational. His designing with tulips is so delightful in this age of digital photography. Naturally his 100 recommended tulips is well produced in this new book on tulips, fantastic photos. Buy it and enjoy it.
Rodja NZ 2015

Alan Titchmarsh
HOW TO GARDEN: GROWING ROSES

Look no further This must be the BEST book around if you want to know everything about roses. From Choosing your rose, to how to plant them ..., pruning, placement, diseases, Types and characteristics, History and even a category of some most famous and most loved roses at the back...he puts everything down in such a simple and easy to understand manner that even beginners like myself can get it. This is the how to do roses bible that i would recommend everyone to get. Definitely worth the money. Simply; GET IT!
Jonny M 2013

Jane Sterndale-Bennett
THE WINTER GARDEN

​Excellent book! My son recently bought me this book, and it is the best guide to winter plants that I have seen... It is very straight-forward and suggests the most suitable plants for various locations, and soils. The descriptions/explanations are easy to understand, and the illustrations and photos are good and plentiful. You don't have to be an experienced gardener to use this. To my mind it is virtually fool-proof, and if you can't manage to plant successfully for winter colour in your particular situation and soil using this book, then it would be better to give up gardening!
mhbt 2014

Sue Olsen & Richie Steffan
THE PLANT LOVER'S GUIDE TO FERNS

Fern Lovers
This is a comprehensive and well illustrated book on ferns for the price. It will be of interest to long term fern collectors and average gardeners alike.
Roger H 2015

lovely book full of good information ...lovely book full of good information cannot fault it would recommend for anyone interested in ferns especially if you are a novice
Poppy Williamson 2015

Susan Sumner
GROWING ROSES

Practical and readable book. This is a small and comprehensive book which really does give all the information needed to grow roses well. Within minutes I realised that I'd just planted a rose in the wrong place, so it'll have to be moved. Fortunately, the book also tells you how to successfully plant a rose so that it has the best chance of prospering...The book is well structured and advice, often given in bullet-point form, is easy to read and follow. Planting, nurturing, disease and pest control, and pruning are all covered ...I like the additional chapter on drying roses...some are so beautiful that I might give it a try.
Amazon Customer 2012

Jonas Reif & Christian Kress
CULTIVATING CHAOS​: GARDENING WITH SELF-SEEDING PLANTS

If like myself, you are a lover of the semi-wild...If, like myself, you are a lover of the semi-wild garden, and plants that thrive and self-seed, then this is the book for you.It has a great section on Dungeness, and the pictures are amongst the best I've ever seen of the late Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage, plus the general area it is located in. The lists of suitable plants are very good too. It's a great escapist book for those of us with tiny urban patches to work in and on. One to pore over on long winter nights when spring seems far away. I can't recommend it enough.
Mr. R. Edwards 2015

FRUIT, VEGETABLES and HERBS

Jo Wittingham 
​GROW SOMETHING TO EAT EVERY DAY

Inspiring book Being new to growing my own, I eagerly jumped at the chance at this new book. Lots of beautiful vibrant pictures, and information being broken into bite-size segments for each month - providing a valuable prompt of what to sow, plant, and harvest. There is also lots of inspiring information on how to make the most of your hard work - including how to freeze and make fruit cordial! There is of course the usual run down of vegetable groups and types. I have only had this book a few days but it is already my favourite and one that will get used quite a lot. Definitely worth buying, even if you already own a few grow your own books
Mr M Lloyd 2011

DK (Simon Ackeroyd)
A LITTLE COURSE IN GROWING VEG & FRUIT

From novice to 'grow all'..Excellent for beginners this starts really simply and assumes no in depth knowledge. At the same time the later chapters apply to more competent gardener a so it covers all bases and allows you to grow as a gardener. It was exactly what I was looking for as it starts with small pot projects allowing confidence and experience to be built over time...I found it difficult to find a book with such a simple straight forward approach that would take me from novice through to more ambitious projects and for that reason I think this book is well worth the money.
Moz33 2014

Joy Larkcom
CREATIVE VEGETABLE GARDENING

This is gardening 'porn'..For all of us brought up with parents or grandparents, ...who showed us the 'rules' of vegetable gardening,... reading Joy Larkcom's book feels like a rather guilty pleasure. The idea that veg don't have to be grown as single crops in formal rows, .., feels so wrong and yet so right!...Full of beautiful pictures of vegetables (!), this book qualifies as coffee table material - it's where art and gardening meet - but is also fascinating, inspiring, and written with such unbridled and infectious enthusiasm...I have already done some things that would make my poor old grandfather turn in his grave, such as starting to growing runner beans up through the climbing roses...Whether you need some creative inspiration, heaps of practical advice or if you just enjoy beautiful pictures, I would strongly recommend this book.
Emma 9466 2010

Alys Fowler
​THE EDIBLE GARDEN

The lovely edible garden! Alys Fowler has created a gorgeous book....She is an experienced and accomplished gardener and her recommendations are very good - trees that will rob your garden of productivity vs trees that give you beauty, scent and marvellous fruit. She also covers how to make the most of the space you have ... Divided into 3 simple parts: Things to know:...includes foraging, growing in pots, decorative edible vegetables...She also takes you through fertility and compost, ..seed sowing , pricking out, hardening off, weeds ..., watering and pests and diseases... speedy crops and plant protection....Things to grow:..favourite fruit, vegetables and flowers - because they taste good, provide a plentiful harvest and look good. ....Reaping your harvest: Includes bottling and preserving ... freezing and apple drying....
Pompom 2010

Kay Maguire
​GROW YOUR OWN CROPS IN POTS

I wished I'd got this book earlier! I have wanted to growth my own fruit and vegetables for years. Its not that I haven't tried. I have. I have had allotments, but found them too large to manage and my success at growing was pretty limited.I now have a small vegetable plot in my garden. Works OK and produces mostly peas and sweet corn. Well it did before I read this book and my garden is now complemented by a large number of pots containing, carrots with chives, leaks, courgettes, cucumber, sweet peppers and shallots.
The book is a mine of information and not just tips on growing but also great information on compliment plants ie chives with carrots to keep the carrot flies away. The book is now my reference point for my fruit and vegetable growing and I can't get enough of it.
Mr G. Bridgeman-Clark 2013

John Harrison
​THE ESSENTIAL ALLOTMENT GUIDE

Allotment Guide When I started on my allotment 2 years ago, being a complete novice I needed all the advice I could get. I bought a number of books on keeping allotments but found that page after page of instructions were impossible to assimilate. Then I bought Essential Allotment Guide How to get the Best out of Your Plot and realised that this is what I had needed all along. The information is presented as if you are chatting to the author, with tips and humorous asides which make it much more easy to remember . If you only have only one book for your allotment make it this one, it's not a huge book only 155 pages but what a feast of useful information in a user friendly format.
Carolina 2010

Dr D G Hessayon
THE NEW VEGETABLE & HERB EXPERT

The best value vegetable growing guide - made even better. My previous copy of this book dates from 1997,and whilst it was still perhaps the best guide to growing veg and herbs, it was starting to show it's age,due to advances in growing techniques, varietal choice etc- like everything else, gardening isn't immune to change! Therefore this new additional is very welcome indeed. It provides what it says on the cover,in spadefuls. I recommend this book to novice growers unreservedly- it really is the BEST veg guide out there,and is an absolute steal for the money. More experienced growers will still find plenty of information on newer varieties to consider growing. I've had an allotment now for 18 years,and have built up a fair library of gardening books.This is by far the best! 
Astroman 2014

Alan Buckingham
GROW VEGETABLES

The only veg book you need for 95% of things I'm an experienced gardener with a big library of gardening books, ...and out of all of those, this is the book I go to for everything. I've had it for three years and keep discovering new little titbits! It's broken down by group of plant ..., and has 1-4 pages dedicated to each vegetable...In each vegetable's section, there is information on sowing from seed, harvesting, pests, other problems, growing guidelines, as well as recommended varieties. ...So this book is great both as a global overview but also with some more specifics, so it really suits an experienced and an new gardener...What I also love is that it's not dry. It's very clearly laid out, with tons of gorgeous, inspiring photography, great production quality, and great for at a glance reference and detailed reading.
Jenny 2012

Tara Nolan
​RAISED BED REVOLUTION

Great project ideas! This book is very well done. It's bigger than I thought it would be. The photos are great, and the step-by-step instructions are useful, especially for "unhandy" people like me. I love the creative ideas included in this book - especially the lettuce table and the suitcase planter with the pipe legs. I've made two raised beds for my garden in the past and wish I'd had this book before I made them! The gallery of raised bed possibilities is cool, too. Next year, I want to try building the potato box.
wallflower 2016

This book was published in June 2016 and there are no reviews on the Amazon UK site yet. The above review is from the US site. I've used the Look Inside facility on Amazon and the book looks fantastic. If you have limited space in your garden, or only have a balcony or a terrace or roof garden, this is the book for you (or the person you're buying for!). I'm definitely going to buy it.

Royal Horticultural Society
​ALLOTMENT HANDBOOK & PLANNER

Great for those starting out with gardening/allotmenting This is a fantastic book, especially for the price. If you're interested in growing food I'd highly recommend it because it walks you though step by step what you need to do, what tools you'll need, when you should plant things (month by month), when things will harvest, how you get ready for future years, what the best things to grow are (even a guide about what's easy to grow but expensive to buy for example), etc. Also, it's a big book - because of the low price I assumed that it would be quite small, but it's A4 size and it's over 200 pages long. A very nice book overall, I'd be lost without it now!
Simon 2016

Martin Crawford
​HOW TO GROW PERENNIAL VEGETABLES

Low-maintenance, Low-impact Vegetable Gardening There are lots of good reasons to grow perennials, as this inspiring book demonstrates. You don't have to till or dig, which is good for gardener's backs, healthier for the soil and keeps CO2 in the ground. They allow you to extend your growing seasons and harvest food all year round. And since perennial plants tends to have deeper and more extensive root systems, the food is often richer in minerals and nutrients too. ... It begins with a guide to growing them, with notes on co-planting, mulches and planting patterns. There are useful lists of plants that fix nitrogen, or that are good in the shade. That's the first quarter of the book. The rest of it is an A-Z of perennial vegetables, and it's an exotic collection indeed. There are hedgerow plants and wild foods like ramsons or rosebay willowherb....
Jeremy Williams 2012

Royal Horticultural Society
​VEGETABLES & FRUIT IN POTS

Excellent book. Concise but full of information from the..... Excellent book . Concise but full of information from the planning stage, through what varieties to grow in containers, to harvesting you goodies. Sections on pests and what to do about them includes a section on pest predators from ladybirds to thrushes. Ideal book for a beginner with a small garden.I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.
Henrietta 2014

Gardener's World
​FIRST TIME VEG GROWER

Good little book I'm a first time vegetable grower. This book is very useful, especially the section on foolproof vegetables. I keep on referring back to it for planting directions and general advice. I like the little nuggets of information set out in the green boxes. This book together with "The Essential Allotment Guide" by John Harrison are really the only books you need to get you started.
Mr. P. Clark 2011

Dr D G Hessayon
​THE NEW FRUIT EXPERT

An essential gardening book Dr D.G. Hessayon's gardening books are an absolute must own if you have a garden, ....it contains all you need to know to choose & grow: Apples, Pears, Plums & Gages, Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Figs, Mulberries, Quinces, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Boysenberry, Dewberry, Hildaberry, Japanese Wineberry, Loganberry,... Blackcurrants, Gooseberries, Red Currants, White Currants, Cranberries, Blueberries, Grapes, Melons & Kiwi Fruit... There's also advice on various maintenance tasks, such as pruning. It doesn't contain advice on growing Rhubarb, if your looking for that... it's on page 88 of the Vegetable Expert, 
J. Duck 2010

Alan Titchmarsh
​GROWING FRUIT

Valuable help. I needed to know how to plant fruit trees and currant bushes as I had never grown these before. Alan explains things in very easy to follow terms and everything was in place much quicker than I thought with tips on which compost and fertilizer to use and how to apply them. Having read through his pruning advice I feel I will be able to keep everything in order as the explanation, together with illustrations are very clear. I would recommend any Alan Titchmarsh books, I have several and they have never let me down.
Allotment Lil 2012

Alys Fowler
​ABUNDANCE

An Abundance of Inspiration! A lovely book with great pictures and loads of clear instructions, advice about equipment and inspiration,.... A good starting point for anyone who would like to get a little bit closer to self sufficiency or would like to enjoy their own produce made to their own tastes. The recipes call for small amounts of ingredients ...enabling production of small quantities of lots of different things - a much better way to enjoy your harvest through the winter! Just need to find room for more plants in the garden next year now.
a simple life 2014

This review is from the 2013 edition which seems to be identical apart from the cover.

Maureen Little 
​THE KITCHEN HERB GARDEN

Beautiful recipes and helpful herb growing advice ...This book is full of inspiration and practical advice about cultivating a kitchen herb garden, and there is detailed information about how to plan, plant, grow and maintain specially selected herbs....The book includes information on:- Which culinary herbs to plant,and how to grow them. Illustrated planting plans for designing different types of herb garden. Using herbs to flavour oils, vinegars, butters, sugars and jellies. How to harvest, dry and preserve your herbs. How to grow herbs in containers and .. I have awarded this beautiful book 5 stars for excellent recipes, easy to follow herbs propagation and harvesting advice, useful appendices at the back of the book, two indexes - one for recipes and one for herbs, and...written in a clear and concise manner.
K Booth 2012

Jekka McVicar
​JEKKA'S COMPLETE HERB BOOK

An absolute classic from the queen of herbs! I believe Jekka McVicar is a national treasure.... It's a gorgeous book and Jekka uses the term 'herb' in its widest sense, covering medicinal, culinary and other uses. So plants like Meadowsweet...and Betony...have equal billing alongside the more familiar Mint and Thyme. The bulk of the book is the A-Z of herbs ...and covers over 150 plants. You'll find plenty of history and folk-lore alongside the expected details on cultivation, harvesting and uses... After the A-Z, there's a shorter, more general section covering propagation, planning a herb garden (including several designs), container growing, pests & diseases, harvesting,...I think it's a perfect gift for a complete beginner or an expert .....
Wiltshire Bookworm 2009

Jessica Houdret
​THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GARDEN HERBS

The definitive book on herbs This is a no expense spared definitive book on Herbs. Every page features high quality photographs printed on gloss paper. It makes a vast subject simple to read and easy to understand - each herb is described comprehensively giving its attributes, preferences and its English and Latin names. I could take this book and design, source and plant anything from ornamental parks to ornamental pots. In my book this is worth ten out of ten!
Sandy 2007

Jeff Cox & Marie-Pierre Moine
​THE HERB GARDEN FOR COOKS

Very useful, very informative, can't put the book down! Great little book with great ideas, very informative, even bought seeds for the herbal teas to try! Some of the recipes look easy enough too. Totally blown away with this book and keeps me quiet for a while.
Amazon Customer 2014

James Wong
​GROW FOR FLAVOUR

AMAZING! I have gardened all my life..AMAZING! I have gardened all my life, I trained and worked in horticulture, have 3 allotments(!) a greenhouse and a garden and grow loads of my own food. This book is quite simply the BEST book I have EVER read on the subject. Every page is packed with original info (not as usual recycled from other people's books) and inspiring information. Anyone who grows even one tomato should be issued with this book by the government! At last, a refreshing book based on real science rather than tradition and heresay.. which informs and inspires page after page...Do yourself a favour and buy this book now for anyone you know who grows food.
reader 2015

John Harrison
VEGETABLE GROWING MONTH BY MONTH

Excellent read. Guaranteed to impress. As the title suggests - down to earth guide..the information goes further than the usual veg books, rather than the usual colour photos of tools, veg etc, its crammed with tips and advice that are usually passed down from generations. There are diagrams and sketches when needed - simple clear and easy to follow. Another thing I liked was the author covers all methods and doesnt 'preach' a certain method, just gives the facts so you can choose yourself. VERY highly recomended and very thorough. Easy to read and a book I will keep close at hand - fits in the handbag. Such good value for money, every page has been used to its full. Well done John Harrison
Paula 2008

Joyce Russell
​THE POLYTUNNEL BOOK

Excellent polytunnel book..As a novice polytunnel gardener, I find this book extremely helpful and inspirational. It offers a month-by-month gardening program, and has an easy to follow format with stunning photographs. It is companionable and makes one feel encouraged in one's own polytunnel endeavour. It is set up in monthly chapters and has a handy index should one be wondering about something specific. I would heartily recommend using this as the primary resourse for any and all polytunnel gardeners.
MEF 2011

Klaus Leitenberger
VEGETABLES & HERBS FOR THE GREENHOUSE & POLYTUNNEL

Excellent book for experienced and novice tunnel growers  I initially reviewed an earlier version of this book and..., I think worth repeating. I was really impressed with this book. It covers every vegetable you could want to grow in enough detail. He even includes some varieties I've not heard of and I'm a very experienced grower. There is a useful section on what to do each month and tables giving optimum germination temperatures etc. which are really useful. The writing style is easy to read but make no mistake, this is a serious book not some coffee table job dreamed up by a marketing department. It's the sort of book you read and then keep handy as a reference work.... 
John Harrison 2013

ORGANIC GARDENING

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 

Charles Dowding 
​ORGANIC GARDENING

Great book! I've been growing vegetables for a few years and wanted to become more Eco-friendly in my approach. As the title suggests this is supposed to be an organic gardening book. However I found the book much more about the no dig way...I think it's important to point this out. The organic principles could have been developed more. Nonetheless, this didn't distract from the quality of the content. I've learned loads and intend to use many of the authors tips next year. In fact I read the book front to back!... Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, my favourite vege book to date and you don't need any experience as the basics are well covered. 4 out of 5 for the misleading title, 5 out of 5 for content.
Eoin McG 2013

Ace McCloud
​GARDENING: ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING MADE EASY

You can master organic gardening.  This is a wonderful book about the essentials of organic gardening. It takes you through the process step by step, so if you are new to the process you can follow the directions and grow your own vegetables. It covers the planting and care process, tools needed, choosing seeds, feeding the plants, as well as a lengthy chapter on organic pest control. I was amazed at the amount of chemical free approaches...You will learn how to build a variety of gardens suited to your situation. I also appreciated the section on the nutrition of vegetables and the recipes that were included in the book. All in all this is an excellent book to help you create your own organic garden and avoid the chemically treated veggies from the store.
Liz 2016

Royal Horticultural Society
​ORGANIC GARDENING

Modern and easy to follow. This is a brilliant book. The suggestions and ideas it offers for organic gardening can easily be transferred from the book to gardens of any size.. it talks you through everything step-by-step, without over-simplifying any of the information. All topics are covered equally, from growing flowers and vegetables to protecting them pests using natural methods. This is a superb book for anyone interested in becoming an organic gardener. Its contents will please novices and experienced gardeners alike.
A Customer 2000

​This book is unfortunately only available second-hand but I do recommend it.

M. Grande
COMPANION PLANTING

Very useful for the vegetable gardener. I just read this book front to back then proceeded to plan my garden beds for this summer. I love this book! It gives a detailed description of which plants work well together, it even tells you what herbs help certain vegetables and confuse harmful insects from destroying your plot. I'm very excited to see my results, I highly recommend this book if you are serious about vegetable gardening.
BDB Published on Amazon.com 2015

Patrick Whitefield
THE EARTH CARE MANUAL 

Well written book that guides you every step of the way to a new (old) way of living .... initially being a little daunted by the size, I am absolutely hooked. The late, great Patrick Whitefield, has written this book in a way that makes a "new" concept understandable and achievable. He educates without bias and explains the more complicated theories and the simple processes in a consistent manner,...What Patrick has achieved here is he's adapted and worked with the original concepts and suggestions and applied them to the climate we have within the UK. This is, in my opinion, the go to resource for all things Permaculture. 
Topper 2016

Stella Cubison
ORGANIC FRUIT AND VITICULTURE PRODUCTION

Best book I have read on viticulture Fabulous book. Purchased for ongoing organic gardening project....
The book is concise and well laid out. It contains numerous well taken pictures and comprehensive information.
The information contained is in depth enough to provide sustained interest to more experienced gardeners but also explains things in a down to earth way ideal for beginners. This book is an inspirational text which I would highly recommend - great for reading from cover to cover but also ideal as a quick reference.I would recommend this book to other Amazon readers with an interest in Organic Gardening.
Kitty 2014

Joy Larkcom
THE ORGANIC SALAD GARDEN

Attractive and instructive An excellent introduction and reference book for growing salad plants... Creatively illustrated with marvelous photography, Larkcom firstly arranges chapters of salad plants such as stems and stalks, fruiting vegetables etc., as you would expect, but also flowers, herbs and wild plants. She then turns her attention to cultivation and finally ends with a few recipes. Anyone interested in starting a small kitchen garden, allotment or potager will find this invaluable and desperately inspiring. Joy Larkcom has been growing food since the seventies and her knowledge and clear style are inspiring.
Myrtle 2006

Jeff Lowenfells
TEAMING WITH MICROBES

f you want to learn how to garden sustainably... This is your book
I have only read the first few chapters and I am hooked already. These guys make some technical stuff really easy to understand. I also did not realise how critical, not just important, good soil biology is...helps me grow better crops in an interesting and understandable way...Getting this right will give you a stable and sustainable foundation to deal with most of the diseases and attacks on our gardens...I am not a "tree hugging greeny", even though my surname is Trees... I just want to put healthy food on my table for my kids and our friends. Understanding the soil and how it all works down there...It's a win-win. Care for it and it then provides produce that cares for you...Go for it.. Live well.
D S Trees 2013

Bob Flowerdew
COMPOSTING

uperbly written and illustrated. An excellent book! My grandfather was a former professional gardener who always had compost being processed through three vast bins in his garden. Unfortunately,...the art of compost making was something I didn't learn from him... Compost making is a gardening activity I have long wanted to indulge in without really knowing where to start . This superbly written and illustrated book by Pauline Pears has set me in the right direction with very clear ideas of how I should proceed. This book illustrates the various types of compost bin/heap and provides a clear guide to the waste materials that can and can't be incorporated into one's compost. An excellent book which covers its subject extremely well.
Alan J Reynolds 2014

Josie Jeffery
​GOOD COMPANIONS

A godsend  This is the kind of book that gardeners dream of. It lies flat affording easy access to 75 plants that just love growing together. It is an easy to use format, the pages are split and symbols are used. If the symbols match up with one another, then the plants can be grown together. There is a short history of companion planting, information on working with nature and achieving harmony in the garden, a guide to planning your garden and the directory of perfect matches. Brilliant. Design your garden with ease. Josie gives us the ability to produce healthy crops. Some of the photos let the book down a bit, but the information is what matters and that is top class.
​K Platt 2013

Piers Warren
​HOW TO SHARE YOUR GARDEN PRODUCE

Excellent suggestions for storage Have managed to read most of the ways to store garden produce suggested in this book. Nothing outside the realms of possibility, very clearly written advice. The suggested recipes for chutney, jam, wine, etc. are easy to follow, although you do have to refer back to the advice in the first half of the book, but once you get the hang of it, it makes sense. I would recommend this for those who are new to home production of fruit and veg, and don't want to throw anything away.
C Smith 2010

WATER GARDENING

A & G Bridgewater
PONDS SPECIALIST GUIDE

Don't know where to go? All you need to know is in this book...if like me you have zero knowledge...and are clueless as to the difference between types of pond, butyl liners versus rigid liners, pond plants, fish and how water features actually work, then this book will be your bible. It presumes that your knowledge is limited and guides you...step by step through every stage....The best part of this book are the wonderful full colour diagrams and drawings of cross sections and the visual aids...You will be inspired and designing ponds in no time. I'm sure you will love this book and keep it as reference for as long as you own your pond.
Book Scout 2010

This is a 2016 edition of The Pond Specialist. The review is from the 2014 edition. 

Royal Horticultural Society
WATER IN A SMALL GARDEN

Excellent A book written by an expert advisedly picked by RHS. Go to Rowden Gardens, from whence the author comes, especially if you want irises. I used this book when putting a pond in my garden. The only extra advice I would offer is to bring your butyl rubber up behind stones or bricks so that when the water level lowers one does not see butyl rubber. Good luck with your pond.
James Fleming 2009

Anthony Archer-Wills 
THE WATER GARDENER

the best of what I've laid my hands at! At a visit to a friend's house this morning, I was really amazed seeing the beautiful garden he had with small pools spread around with many different sorts of plants on the sides. When I asked him how he succeeded in creating such a nice garden, he went inside and came back with a book titled "The Water Gardener" written by ANTHONY ARCHER-WILLS, JOHN BROOKES. I am back at home now and ordering .... a copy of this particular book. Thanks for it.
A Customer 2000

​Alan Titchmarsh
​WATER GARDENING

Well worth the space on your bookshelf. Considering this costs the same as a magazine it's excellent value and packed full of all the relevant information you could need to get started planning a new pond or water feature. Lots of colour pictures and construction diagrams for all types of pond with concise but factual information.
​TBag 2014

Note: A 2015 review by John points out that two aquatic plants mentioned in the book, Eichhornia Crassipes major (Water hyacinth) and Lagarosiphon major (Elodea Crispa) will be banned in 2016 as they are too invasive.  This is still a good basic book on pond construction.

Peter Robinson
​PLANTS FOR PONDS, ROCK AND WATER FEATURES

Great book! This book is wonderful! It gives general information on a lot of plants. Not only does it give you info on pond plants, but also moisture loving plants. There is information on common pests, propagation techniques, grasses, trees/shrubs, garden layouts and so much more. An excellent book to gather lots of information on gardens, to adapt and make your own amazing backyard oasis. A must have!
Jen 2012

Greg & Sue Speichert
​WATER GARDEN PLANTS

Excellent resource for the selection and maintenance of pond plants I have had a pond for 30+ years. This is one of the best and most detailed resources that I have come across. It is one of the few that details the type of waterlily corms that each variety has. This is extremely helpful in identifying plants that have spread naturally and are not blooming. Great photographs. Uses both common names and scientific names.
E. Boydstun 2007

Ben Helm
THE WATER GARDENER'S BIBLE

Very nice book if you are serious about building a garden pond This is a must have book if you are serious about a garden pond. It has basic information about building a pond, but it really shines with its information about plants, fish, maintenance, and the ecology of how to have a balanced pond. I bought a few books while researching building ponds, and this is the best book by far.
Chuck E. 2013

​Art Ludwig
​THE NEW CREATE AN OASIS WITH GREYWATER

A must-have resource for a sustainable water future..Having used in this newest, 6th edition. Mr. Ludwig has expanded the book to include more about integrated design for water conservation...This book comes out of Art's continual exploration and investigation of better, more efficient, and more sustainable greywater systems and includes ways they may be integrated with other water reuse, rainwater harvesting and sustainable landscaping....I urge anyone interested in greywater reuse, for their own home or as a professional, to buy this book...It is a must-have resource for a sustainable water future.
Amazon Customer 2015

WILDLIFE in the GARDEN

Chris Baines
RHS COMPANION TO WILDLIFE GARDENING

Helping nature and beautifying my garden too - invaluable resource! Finding myself with a chunk of garden needing a redesign, I wanted to take the needs of my local wildlife into account....That's where Chris Baines' valuable Companion to Wildlife Gardening came into play...I'm so glad I read this book before buying trees, plants and flowers. This useful and informative guide really opened my eyes to the plight of our wide-ranging wildlife and the plants that support them most. Not to mention the depletion of traditional native British wildflowers, plants and trees....There are so many thought provoking suggestions and ideas... I've got lots of notes on plants, ideas and thoughts to consider. I need to focus on the things I can implement successfully and plant species that are both beautiful and useful to our struggling wildlife...I feel empowered after reading the RHS Companion to Wildlife Gardening and will go forward with a plan to beautify my garden with plants that help/feed/shelter our gorgeous wildlife as well.
​Kimberley G9 2016

Adrian Thomas
​RSPB GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE

It has got me fired up! Bought this book for ideas to create a friendly garden for birds, bees and butterflies. That was as far as I thought I could go. However, this book has opened up a whole load of ideas and information for doing so much more. I had given up dreaming about creating a meadow area because the only info I had ...made the whole subject seem too complicated, and info on web searches was always incomplete. But this book has a chapter devoted to the subject - easy to understand, with complete information... I highly recommend this book to anyone who interested in doing their bit to help Mother Nature... Full of beautiful and inspiring photos and easy to understand language. The book is also well laid out and indexed.
J. Burgess 2012

Holden & Abbott
​RSPB NANDBOOK OF GARDEN WILDLIFE

Excellent Guide Covers everything you would expect to find in your garden, plus things you may never see. Tells you what food and habitat each creature likes, together with a photo for identification. There is also a monthly guide of things to see and jobs to do in the garden to encourage wildlife. I got this book as a free gift on joining the RSPB but bought another copy for my partner as she was so impressed by it. Would recommend as a convenient guide to anyone interested in wildlife. 
Ian 784

John Lewis-Stempel
​THE WILDLIFE GARDEN

Incredibly useful and well written Don't let this book's small size and lack of pictures put you off - it is absolutely packed with useful information, written in a concise yet enthusiastic fashion. This guy knows his stuff! I own several books on wildlife gardening, all of them large and full of lovely glossy pictures but I feel like I have learnt a great deal more from this one and it is the one book I flick through again and again, absorbing all the author's snippets of wisdom before I head out into the garden or off to my local garden centre. I wish a copy of this book could be given out to every garden-owner in the UK!!
MsB383 2016

Pam Lewis
​MAKING A WILDFLOWER MEADOW

A must have for meadow design and more. What a great book, if you want to make or design a wildflower meadow I n your garden or plot. The benefits to wildlife is great. I have superb variety of butterflies and moths. Cultivated hover flies and ladybirds when there were none. Hedgehogs love it too. Did I mention the birds and...8 varieties of bumblebees in the first year. The advice is sound and advises on buildings...a meadow suited to the surrounding area. I have two meadows and a pond. One meadow near the small copse/woodland that forms part of my garden.. I am just lucky to have such a plot, but the book will be a great aid for smaller meadows and wildflower planting.
Foxfire 2016

Peter Holden & Tim Cleeves
​RSB HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS

A must have for bird watchers. This is a beautifully illustrated book which is jam packed with information about all the birds you are ever likely to see in Britain. It certainly helps with identification but it goes so much further. It gives masses of information about habits, voice, feeding, breeding etc as well as a small distribution map, showing where you are likely to find them in the British Isles. It is a joy to browse through and you can learn so much from it. As this is the only bird book I have used I don't know how it compares with others on the market. I would strongly recommend having a copy handy when you're watching the bird in your garden.
Ted Nu 2016

Couzins & Partington
THE SECRET LIVES OF GARDEN BIRDS

Superb I get a lot of various species of bird in my garden and after spending years watching them, and their mannerisms, I treated myself to this book.I have read it a few times, and now read each months section as we go into a new month. It has helped me understand the mannerisms of the birds and their reasoning for doing what they do. It's certainly given me a better understanding of the birds and what to look for, and has helped me to attract more birds into the garden. A pleasure to read and extremely informative. If you enjoy our feathered friends in your garden, then this is a must for you. I'm now ordering more for Christmas gifts.
Mr James 2005

Couzins & Partington
THE SECRET LIVES OF GARDEN WILDLIFE

Garden wildlife. This is the third "secret lives"books the previous two dealing with British birds and garden birds.The author adopts an interesting presentation by describing the garden by months....The garden is considered to be anything from a postage stamp size to large country house gardens. Each month starts with a marvellous 2 page drawing by the artist Peter Partington ...It is really these drawings which make the book...The text is well written and interesting but is only a supporting act.
The photographs which illustrate the animals to be seen month by month are excellent. The RSPB is to be congratulated in producing such a splendid book...
G I Forbes 2009

INSPIRATION 

Robinson & Darkey
​THE WILD GARDEN

Every gardener should read this! I read this many years ago in paperback form, with black and white engravings from the original. It is not really a how to do it gardening book but more of a 'sit by the potting shed in the autumn sunshine, and plan what you'll do when you have the time' kind of book... have a notebook by your side! I find it incomprehensible that there are no other reviews of this... perhaps there are of older printings. Suffice to say 'buy it' for the text which reads like a Victorian diary full of hints and tips of the most useable kind. It is a gem to be treasured!
Ms Moira A Carter 2011

Tankard & Wood
GERTRUDE JEKYLL AT MUNSTEAD WOOD

A very human person By concentrating on the life, rather than the "work" of Gertrude Jekyll, she becomes a whole, rounded and very human person, not all that different from women of the next generation that I have known myself. This approach also includes more about the working parts of her own garden along with its development, rather than concentrating only on its ornamental and artistic aspects. It also provides wonderful insights into the client-architect relationship behind the house at Munstead Wood, and into the development of Lutyens as an architect.
nwl 2016

Sackville West & Raven
​SISSINGHURST

..The Creation of a Garden...I have just completed my review of Sarah Ravens latest book and I wanted to tell her that I think this is the best work ever done on Sissinghurst, by far. The black and white photographs are sublime, simply breath-taking, even leaving one emotional. To have access to such material and family knowledge makes me extremely envious. Sarah's love of the place is obvious to see... I only had the review pdf to work from but I still could not put it down. The book really is wonderful, thank you Sarah for writing about it, I will recommend it to everyone at my talks.
Stephen Harmer 2014

Jarman & Sooley
​DEREK JARMAN'S GARDEN

Spare beauty found in a book....Derek Jarman, the filmmaker and sometime Artist, was a prolific creator of things rich and strange: a prime example of which is his garden. This was, arguably, his most important work. A thing that acted as a moving testament to both his æsthetic and human beliefs - a spare beauty is found in his garden, nestled in the single of Dungeness. This book manages to capture the essential and luminous aspects of this garden through the poetry and prose of Jarman himself, and Howard Sooley's ravishing photographs. ..
A Customer 2001

Jackie Bennett
SHAKESPEARE'S GARDENS

Shakespeare and beautiful gardens, this book is a delight This book inspires garden dreams, as it shows us five of Shakespeare’s gardens... In the “wise woman’s garden” useful plants that Shakespeare wrote about are grown, including mullein, bugle, clary sage, sweet Cicely, valerian and chamomile. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where his wife grew up, now has the ideal English country gardens. . When he was 33 Shakespeare bought the run down New Place in 1597 as a home for him, his wife and their two daughters. There he created a home and gardens that reflected his status as a well known playwright and poet. He lived there until his death at 52. ...This book is a great treat for any gardener.
Terra Hangen 2016

Jackie Bennett
THE WRITER'S GARDEN

Beautiful A beautiful book, loaded with information and illustrated with fabulous photos. I now wish to visit all the locations with literary connections. Would make an excellent Christmas gift (and treat yourself too!). Highly recommended.
SukiB 2014

Vivian Russell
​MONET'S GARDEN

A delightful book about a delightful garden If you're planning to visit Monet's house and garden in Giverny, this is an essential read before you travel. A very well-written and photographed account of one of my favourite gardens.
Regular Amazon Customer 2011

Lewington & Parker
​ANCIENT TREES

Simply amazing. This is the most wonderful book that has taken me several months to read because there is just so much to take in. The descriptions of the venerable giants all around the world made me want so much to see them for myself. From conifers to olives to ginkgos, from holy trees to trees used for medicine, shade and food, the critical importance of trees, especially these massive examples, shines through. The photography is absolutely magnificent. The age of some of the trees is staggering, up to 3,000 years or more. There is also a sense of the fragility of some of these species and a question over how long they may continue to survive and thrive.
Four Violets 2015