Whether you’re a hobby gardener, an indoor plant enthusiast, or just want simple advice on growing flowers and mastering gardening design, there is a book that will give you all the green fingers you need.
Sit down with a cup of coffee ahead of the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show and use this selection of engaging readings to plan borders, balconies, vegetable patches, and more.
1. Almanac of the gardening world (Preface by Monty Don BBC Books, £ 16.99, published September 9)
(BBC Books / PA)
Monty Don is supported by Adam Frost, Alan Titchmarsh Frances Tophill, and other past and present members of the BBC Gardeners’ World team who contribute to this all-encompassing almanac, which provides year-round step-by-step gardening guides Provides information on planting specific plants and a range of seasonal projects.
It’s organized month after month so it’s easy to keep track of, and offers reminders, lists, and even recipes to help you get the most out of your crops. Perfect for beginners, but also useful for experienced gardeners who never want to stop learning. And the lovely hand-drawn illustrations only add to its magic.
2. The Healthy Vegetable Garden by Sally Morgan (Chelsea Green, £ 22, released September 14)
(Chelsea green / PA)
Anyone looking for a natural, chemical-free approach to growing vegetables should get a copy of Sally Morgan’s latest tome. It’s not a basic how to grow book, but rather a guide from this experienced organic gardener on the things you should be doing to promote healthy vegetable growth.
There are sections on soil regeneration through “no dig” practices; Fighting disease without the use of chemicals; Tips on accompanying plantings and barrier crops, as well as “rewilding” your garden by creating a range of habitats.
With a comprehensive guide to common pests and the damage they cause, as well as ways to keep them at bay by attracting natural enemies (bio-control). You’ll never have to spray that chemical spray gun again.
3.Pure Style In The Garden by Jane Cumberbatch (available now, Pimpernel Press, £ 20)
Muted colors, natural textures and vintage accents are part of the “Pure Style” philosophy of interior designer Jane Cumberbatch and in this book she addresses the outdoor spaces that are our retreats.
Cumberbatch works her way through the seasons, looking at everything from the simple beauty of frost-covered cardoon seed heads to her favorite tulip and the first froth of apple blossom. It also highlights the beauty of allium in bloom and dried form and ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ roses cut with Nigella branches.
Expect simple, stylish ideas on how you can achieve “pure style” with plants and accessories and ultimately furnish a garden like a room. Regardless of its size, a garden can be a source of visual and mindful pleasure year round.
4. Green Home by Anders Røyneberg (available now, Quadrille, £ 16.99)
So we know how popular houseplants have become over the past few years, but do we know how to treat them and where to put them so they will thrive? In this beautiful book, Anders Røyneberg, a farmer and plant fan with over 80,000 Instagram followers (@arcticgardener) shows you which plants thrive best in different places and how to care for seedlings and cuttings.
He gives tips on how to design your home with indoor plants and which groupings go well together, and how to divide rooms with plants. The possibilities are endless.
5. Beth Chatto’s Green Tapestry Revisited by Beth Chatto (Berry & Co, £ 30, released September 23)
(Berry & Co / PA)
In celebration of Beth Chatto OBE and their world famous and award winning gardens, which were laid out near Colchester Essex more than 60 years ago, their original book has been completely revised and updated, with descriptions and photos showing how the gardens have evolved since then to have.
Her granddaughter Julia Boulton explains in the foreword to the book how the gardens have evolved, with additional analysis from David Ward and Asa Gregers-Warg, who both worked with Chatto for years before she died in 2018 at the age of 94 and is still at work in their gardens today. Now the Woodland Garden has been added to their heritage along with the celebrated drought-resistant gravel garden and the recently redesigned Reservoir Garden.
The wisdom of our most influential plant woman of the century should provide plenty of inspiration to those who marvel at her brilliant, sustainably planted gardens.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show on the grounds of Chelsea Hospital will take place Tuesday, September 21-26.
