Best Gardening Books For Beginners 2023: Top Picked Reviews

Best Gardening Books For Beginners In 2023 (Reviews with Buying Guide): Gardening can seem like a very therapeutic hobby. Making beautiful things grow and then marveling at everything that you helped create is one of the most fulfilling hobbies. This is why you need to take the utmost care of your trees. The best way to do this is to have the most knowledge. Hence, you should read as many books about gardening as possible before you get started.

There are multiple gardening books to choose from, each focusing on a specific aspect of gardening. A few examples can be found in “Plants You Can’t Kill” and “The Complete Gardener.”

If you are someone who is just getting into gardening, things can already appear a bit daunting for you. So, keeping you in mind, in this article, I am going to highlight the best gardening books for beginners. I would recommend reading the article thoroughly so that you can transform your garden into a magical place.

How Important Is It To Choose A Good Gardening Book?

Reading books can be time-consuming. Paired with your busy schedule, it can seem impossible to make time for them. So, you might be wondering if it is that important to read gardening books to help you out. Of course, it is. Below I have mentioned some reasons for gardening books that can help you out.

Better learning

Books help you learn better; that is a universal fact. When you read gardening books, it can be easier for your brain to hold onto the information. You can also recall it better when needed. The memory centers of your brain can be influenced more quickly.

A convenient way to find information

You do not always have to read a whole book about gardening to learn how to do things better. You obviously have to while reading them for the first part, but you can make things more convenient when you plan to skim through certain parts for a second time.

While reading, you can mark the relevant and important things to your gardening activity. You can use a bookmark or sticky note to mark them. This way, when you need to look for certain information quickly, you do not have to read the whole thing and can easily go to the part that you need at that moment.

Variety of information in one place

Yes, information can be present in various ways everywhere. Yet, when you want to learn things online, you sometimes have to look specifically for them. In gardening books, they usually cover a lot of things together. Hence, you do not need to look for other things specifically elsewhere. You can already find it in one place.

In addition, gardening books are written by professionals who actively take part in gardening and do a lot of research. They know what they are talking about. So, it is better to learn from their expertise and experience.

What Gardening Books Should Beginners Read?

Now that I have emphasized the importance of gardening let’s dive into the real things. Picking which book to read can be an extremely confusing and strenuous activity. Thus, to make things easier, I have mentioned some of the best gardening books for beginners below.

Top 8 Best Gardening Books For Beginners In 2023: Reviews

1. How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants do by Linda Chalker-Scott:

 

Published in 2015, this book has 236 pages and is fairly short. The title focuses on the scientific aspect of plants, their physiology, and how they function. If you have any questions about how your plant does this and why you will probably find all the answers here.

I liked the most about this book because you can literally feel the author’s passion for gardening on every page. She is a horticulture expert, after all. Also, this book is an extremely easy read, despite focusing on the complex science stuff. The more you learn about how your plants and flowers work and their interactions, the better you can cater to them.

The author starts with the basics. Photosynthesis and how it can affect the position of your plants, and then she focuses on the deeper elements. The latter parts can be a little difficult for you to understand. How Plants Work also offers a lot of practical information and tips that can be very easy to apply.

In addition, the details and instructions provided by Linda Chalker-Scott are very detail-oriented and in no way vague. So, it will be extremely easy for you to grasp what she’s trying to say. Even when some parts highlight technical things, they are presented in a way that you can understand. As a beginner, this is fairly important for you.

I would also suggest reading the book’s index as you read through it. This way, if you have any difficulty understanding certain terminologies, you will be able to steer clear of them.

2. The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening by Montagu Don: 

 

I have already mentioned this book once, but now you can find its details in this section. The Complete Gardener was published in 2003 and had around 440 pages. Do not be intimidated by the page length; it only implies how comprehensive the book actually is.

This book is for everyone. The author, Montagu Don, is a lead presenter on the BBC’s Gardeners World. He shows that any yard can be transformed into a garden in the simplest of ways. Montagu mentions organic ways that can be easily implemented using natural resources that you can find in your home.

Moreover, all his methods and advice are feasible and environmentally friendly. He also notes his own failures in his garden. You can learn from his mistakes and avoid them in the future. The author mentions basic guidelines in a very detailed manner, such as harvesting, composting, etc. His aim is to work with nature rather than in opposition to it.

Montagu Don has received tremendous praise, not just for his extensive guidelines but also for the brilliant photography portrayed throughout the book. His vision can help you create your own magical land.

Despite being so experienced, the author’s writing style has a good pace, and you will never be bored. Moreover, the author’s stories about his gardens, his practical bits of advice, and the wonderful pictures can even become a comfortable read for you.

3. The Flower Gardener’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Colorful Blooms All Season Long by Nancy hill:

 

Get this book if you want your garden filled with lush flowers and the most vibrant colors. Published in 2003, the book has a whopping 3983 pages. The book is filled with details covering every aspect of flowering, starting from the soil and fighting diseases.

If you are confused about where to begin when it comes to growing flowers, the book offers a comprehensive guideline about popular and rare flowers. The directions are simple to follow, along with the overall writing style. You will also find pictures of different types of flowers, urging you to devour the book in one sitting.

Not only does Nancy Hill offer expert advice, she really dives deep into every aspect of growing flowers. Increasing the lifespan of said flowers, catering to sensitive flowers, crucial information about the blooming season, and pests, you will find it all here.

In addition, the author also included an alphabetical directory. It includes more than 250 varieties of flowers, bulbs, vines, and many more. You will come across a lot of rare flowers, enabling you to make your garden a place of wonder.

4. Plants You Can’t Kill: 101 Easy–to–Grow Species for Beginning Gardeners by Stacy Torino:

As mentioned before, plants you can’t kill are ideal for beginners like you. The book was published in 2017 and is only 192 pages long. So, not only will it be a quick read, but you can learn a lot in a short span of time.

In my opinion, this is the first book you should get in order to start your gardening journey. The special thing about this book is that it shows that you can always fix your mistakes. So, when you feel guilty about your plants dying, this book is there to remind you that you are not the only one. “I kill everything I plant” is a very famous saying from this book.

Hence, this book offers instructions on how to avoid certain mistakes when it comes to gardening, along with a lot of solutions when you mess up. Alongside, the book offers a lot of plant names with relevant information for your selection. You will have multiple new plants to add to your garden.

The writing style of Stacy Torino has depth, but that does not mean the book is difficult to read. The author is a thoughtful person, and you can understand that by reading the book. The information is already portrayed in a very interesting way so that you can read it without getting bored.

5. The Truth About Garden Remedies: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why by Jeff Gilman:

 

Published in 2008, The Truth about Garden Remedies has 212 pages. Jeff Gillman primarily focuses on home remedies as per the title. With the help of science, he highlights the challenges of organic harvesting and how to fix their problems.

In addition, the author also evaluated previously acclaimed historic advice such as urban legends. It is a bold move, but Gillman’s thoughts are logical and viable. He can also help you understand your plants better, as the book looks into the functions of different plants with the help of his scientific studies and experiments.

As the book includes a lot of experiments conducted by the author, I could surely tell that Gillman has a lot of fun in his garden and that his mistakes do not deter him. By reading this book, perhaps you can develop the same attitude.

Along with the author’s humor, the writing style is direct. It will definitely be an interesting read. His remedies are feasible, and you can simply use the resources at your home to use in your garden. He even uses beer in certain experiments, and they actually work out!

6. Vertical Gardening: Grow Up, Not Out, For More Vegetables and Flowers in Much Less Space by Derek Fell:

 

This book came out in 2011 and had 384 pages written by Derek Fell. After multiple experiments, Derek Fell came up with his own grow-down system. It is basically what a good combination of ground-level plants and climbing plants can look like. With this book, you can get a better idea of how to place the plants around your garden, no matter the space.

Fell offers expert advice about vegetables and plants that work best with the vertical gardening system. He also emphasizes the benefits, such as fewer garden beds to maintain and more space to try out new types of plants. The author can also help you shrink the space in your garden to support new plants.

With lots of DIY techniques, the book also has creative aspects with vivid pictures and decorative ideas to give your garden an aesthetic look. You can do so by using materials from your home. The author has your expenses covered as well. The writing is quite easy to follow and covers a lot of areas.

7. Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home by Jill McSheehy:

 

Only 154 pages long, this book was published in 2020. Vegetable gardening can have multiple benefits. Not only does it make your garden look better, but it can also cut down on your expenses so that you do not have to buy extra groceries. This is why you have to put the utmost effort into vegetable gardening. Vegetable Gardening for Beginners is the right book for you.

This book covers every detail you need to know about vegetable gardening, including costs, materials needed, simple techniques, and common mistakes. The book’s primary focus is divided into three sections: problems with weeding out, the garden outline and its specifications with plants, and beet-by beet gardening.

The book goes into great detail about various aspects of gardening along with practical advice. The book also has colorful illustrations, which can make your reading experience better. The author also offers various advice about a full-season garden outline, raised beds, and a lot more.

Vegetable gardening for beginners has a wonderful introduction section offering encouragement before you get into gardening. It is incredibly inspiring. Additionally, the book is divided into different sections so that it is easy for you to navigate. All the instructions are easy and sustainable.

8. New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden by Kelly D. Norris:

 

New Naturalism was published recently in 2021 and had only 208 pages, filled with immersive pages about how to have a modern garden. The author, a modern plantsman, offers guidance about having an environmentally friendly garden and tips about a garden’s aesthetics.

The author starts with the basics, such as the biology of plants. Then the author moves on to planting recipes. There are also aspects of how to use natural resources to your advantage instead of going for artificial ones. With the help of this book, you can also learn a lot about biodiversity.

The book is divided into two sections. The first focuses on the proper environments for plants and various creative techniques for growing them beautifully. The latter focuses on how to use different spaces, such as outdoor spaces and shaded areas for gardening. There are also many tutorials and recommendations about different plant materials.

Designing a creative garden is what this book is mainly about. There are guidelines on how to improve shrub beds, foundation paintings, etc. There are also instructions for canopies and meadows. On every page, you will get a glimpse of the creative depth of the author’s mind.

Vibrant pictures are also there to give you a clearer picture of what the author is trying to help you achieve. Norris also included multiple articles about architecture and ecological systems to help support his ideas.

Conclusion

Now that you have some pretty good options to choose from, I hope you have more confidence to fully commit to gardening. Everything seems a bit scary at first, but after putting in a lot of effort, the fulfilling rewards make up for everything. And gardening offers the best rewards of all.

With this article and from the list of the best gardening books for beginners, I hope you know what to pick and that you diligently follow it. I wish you all the best and happy gardening!