There are many benefits to gardening- from the fresh air and exercise to the satisfaction of growing your own food. But for some people, getting started in gardening can be a bit daunting. If you’re one of those people, don’t worry! There are plenty of books that can help make gardening easier and help find inspiration. Here are 14 of our favorites.
1. The Art of French Vegetable Gardening by Louisa Jones
In The Art of French Vegetable Gardening, Louisa Jones offers a detailed and practical guide to creating a beautiful and productive French-style vegetable garden. Drawing on her own experience as a gardener and cook, she covers all the essential topics, from choosing the right plants for your garden and preparing the soil to harvesting and cooking your bounty.
Throughout the book, Jones takes the reader on a tour of France, exploring the country’s rich gardening traditions. From the well-tended potager gardens of the Loire Valley to the Provençal kitchen gardens of Nice, Jones shows how French gardeners have perfected the art of growing vegetables.
She also offers a wealth of tips and advice on how to create a beautiful and productive vegetable garden of your own. The result is an indispensable guide that will help you create a stunning French vegetable garden of your own.
2. Backyard Water Gardens by Veronica Lorson Fowler
In Veronica Lorson Fowler’s Backyard Water Gardens, the reader is given step-by-step instructions on how to build their own personal oasis. From start to finish, Fowler covers everything the would-be water gardener needs to know, from choosing the right location for their garden to selecting plants that will thrive in their new environment.
In addition, the book includes a wealth of tips and tricks for keeping your water garden healthy and beautiful all season long. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of serenity to your yard or you’re simply hoping to attract more wildlife, Backyard Water Gardens is an essential guide.
3. The Beautiful Edible Garden by Leslie Bennett and Stefani Bittner
Leslie Bennett and Stefani Bittner’s The Beautiful Edible Garden is a practical guide to designing and planting a garden that is both beautiful and productive.
The authors share their own experiences of starting and maintaining an edible garden, offering advice on everything from choosing the right plants to dealing with pests. They also provide tips on how to turn your harvest into delicious meals, preserves, and other goodies.
Whether you’re a beginner gardener or an experienced green thumb, The Beautiful Edible Garden has something to offer. With its helpful advice, beautiful photographs, and mouth-watering recipes, this book will inspire you to create your own little slice of paradise.
4. Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy
In her book Edible Landscaping, Rosalind Creasy provides readers with a comprehensive guide to incorporating edible plants into their gardens. Creasy begins by outlining the benefits of edible landscaping, including increased production of nutritious food and the creation of inviting outdoor spaces.
She then provides readers with detailed instructions on how to design and maintain an edible landscape. Creasy covers topics such as choosing the right plants, preparing the soil, and dealing with pests and diseases.
Throughout the book, Creasy includes beautiful color photographs and helpful tips from experienced gardeners. Edible Landscaping is an essential guide for anyone interested in growing their own food.
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5. Food Not Lawns by H.C. Flores
In Food Not Lawns, H.C. Flores offers readers a refreshing take on the traditional yard. Rather than mowing a grassy swath of lawn, Flores suggests growing fruits and vegetables in their place. Not only is this approach more environmentally friendly, but it can also yield a bountiful harvest of fresh produce.
Flores provides readers with a step-by-step guide to starting their own food gardens, complete with instructions on everything from choosing the right plants to preparing the soil. With its engaging text and practical advice, Food Not Lawns is sure to inspire readers to turn their yards into verdant oases of fruits and vegetables.
6. Foodscaping by Charlie Nardozzi
In his book Foodscaping, Charlie Nardozzi shows readers how to create a beautiful and bountiful foodscape. By incorporating edible plants into your landscaping, you can enjoy fresh fruits and veggies while also saving money on groceries.
Nardozzi provides tips and tricks for designing a foodscape that is both gorgeous and practical. He also includes ideas for using foodscaping to attract birds and other wildlife, as well as tips for dealing with pests. Whether you have a large yard or a small balcony, Foodscaping is the perfect way to turn your outdoor space into a veritable feast for the eyes (and taste buds)!
Don’t forget about our insect friends. Visit The Xerces Society for more garden inspiration.
7. Four-Season Harvest by Elliot Coleman
Four-Season Harvest is a book about how to grow food year-round, even in cold climates. The author, Elliot Coleman, is a pioneer of the organic movement and has been farming for over 40 years.
In the book, he shares his knowledge of how to extend the growing season using simple techniques like cold frames and row covers. He also discusses how to select varieties of plants that are well-suited to winter conditions, and how to care for them during the colder months.
Four-Season Harvest is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in growing their own food year-round. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, this book will teach you everything you need to know about how to reap the benefits of four-season harvests.
8. Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway
In Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemenway offers readers a guide to creating a healthy and biodiverse home landscape. Hemenway stresses the importance of working with nature rather than against it and provides readers with the tools they need to create their own sustainable ecosystem. One of the key concepts in the book is the idea of stacking functions or creating a multi-layered landscape that provides food, shelter, and habitat for a variety of plants and animals.
By following this approach, gardeners can create a landscape that is both beautiful and functional. In addition to providing step-by-step instructions for creating a stacked garden, Hemenway also discusses the benefits of using native plants, permaculture principles, and complementary plants.
With its blend of practical advice and ecological wisdom, Gaia’s Garden is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in creating a more sustainable home landscape.
9. Herbs: An Illustrated Guide by Sunset Books
Herbs are a great way to add flavor to your cooking without using salt or fat. They can also be used to make homemade teas, potpourris, and aromatherapy oils. Sunset Books’ Herbs: An Illustrated Guide provides an introduction to growing and using herbs. T
he book includes information on the different types of herbs, how to grow them, and how to use them in cooking. In addition, the book features a section on drying and preserving herbs. Whether you’re a beginner herb gardener or an experienced cook, this book is sure to have something for you.
10. How To Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons
In How To Grow More Vegetables, John Jeavons offers readers a step-by-step guide to sustainable gardening. Jeavons begins by explaining the importance of soil health, and he outlines a number of ways to improve soil fertility.
He then describes different methods of planting, including traditional row planting and the more intensive method of biointensive gardening. Jeavons also discusses the process of succession planting, which allows gardeners to maximize their yield by staggering the planting of different crops.
Throughout the book, Jeavons provides helpful tips on everything from watering to weed control. How To Grow More Vegetables is an essential read for anyone interested in sustainable gardening practices.
11. Landscaping With Nature by Jeff Cox
Landscaping With Nature is all about working with, rather than against, nature. The book provides readers with a step-by-step guide to creating a beautiful and sustainable landscape using native plants that are well-suited to their local climate.
Jeff Cox begins by discussing the principles of ecological landscaping, such as working with natural ecosystems and respecting the environment. He then provides detailed instructions on how to select and care for native plants, design an effective irrigation system, and create a planting plan that will ensure your landscape thrives for years to come.
Whether you’re looking to create a low-maintenance garden or attract local wildlife, Landscaping With Nature shows you how to work with nature to create a stunning landscape that will be the envy of your neighbors.
12. All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
In All New Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew introduces a new approach to gardening that is simple, efficient and produces incredible results. The key is to create a small, highly-productive garden using raised beds that are divided into squarefoot sections.
This method of gardening requires less time and effort than traditional methods, and it is much easier to maintain. The soil in each section is carefully prepared with a mix of compost, sand, and vermiculite, which provides the perfect environment for plants to thrive.
The use of Drip irrigation systems and other innovative techniques means that water is used more efficiently and plants stay healthy and strong. With All New Square Foot Gardening, anyone can enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
13. Organic Manual by J. Howard Garrett
In “Organic Manual,” J. Howard Garrett gives readers the lowdown on everything they need to know about organic gardening. He covers topics such as composting, fertilizers, and pest control.
Garrett’s writing is concise and straightforward, making it easy for readers to learn the basics of organic gardening. In addition, he includes a wealth of helpful tips and tricks that will enable even novice gardeners to get started with organic gardening.
Whether you’re looking to start your own organic garden or simply want to learn more about this type of gardening, “Organic Manual” is the perfect resource.
14. Vegetable Gardening Illustrated by Sunset Books
Sunset’s “Vegetable Gardening Illustrated” is a must-have guide for any gardener, whether you’re a novice or have been growing your own food for years. The book covers everything you need to know about growing vegetables, from choosing the right location and soil to planting, watering, and fertilizing.
The book also includes helpful tips on dealing with pests and diseases, as well as information on harvesting and storing your bounty. With beautiful photographs and step-by-step instructions, “Vegetable Gardening Illustrated” is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables.
Find more great garden books in our article: 55 Great Books for Gardeners of All Levels
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, these gardening books provide essential information on everything from vegetable gardening to organic farming. They cover a variety of topics, from choosing the right plants to dealing with pests and diseases. Each book is packed with helpful tips and beautiful photographs that will inspire you to get outside and start planting. So what are you waiting for? Get your hands on one of these amazing gardening books today!
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