Nine Essential Books for Every Garden Enthusiast

Few activities deliver as much joy as gardening. Not only does it keep us active, but it enables us to enjoy and be part of nature and to revel in colour, aroma, wildlife and beauty. Aside from cultivating beautiful plants that delight our senses, we can also grow food and even herbal cures for minor ailments in our gardens.

Dig into this selection of books on gardening, horticulture and landscape design, for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. From titles on classic English gardens and landscape design to cut flowers and medicinal plants, this reading list will open your eyes to the potentials of your own garden, no matter its size.

1. Garden People  

Described by the Sunday Times as ‘an endearing chronicle of a lost age’, Garden People is a glorious photographic record of the postwar English gardening scene by Valerie Finnis, one of the people at its heart. Showcasing a spectacular cast of characters at home in their gardens, from Roald Dahl and his family in their garden at Great Missenden to Vita Sackville-West in Sissinghurst, this book will be devoured by anyone with a love of British gardens or horticulture in general.

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2. Soil to Table 

In any garden, no matter the size, understanding your soil is essential: its health is reflected in the health and success of the plants we grow. In Soil to Table: The Land Gardeners, Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy show you how to create the perfect ecosystem for plants to thrive by offering a clear path to understanding the make-up of your soil and how to care for it. With recipes from chef Lulu Cox and paintings by Nancy Cadogan, Soil to Table is both a celebration of the garden and an informative guide to cultivating healthy soil in order to produce glorious food.

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3. Secrets from the Flower Farm 

In Secrets from the Flower Farm, a flower farmer reveals how you can grow an abundance of cut flowers no matter where you live. This climate-conscious guide details plant trends and hero flowers, offers advice on hardy and tolerant plants capable of handling unpredictable conditions, and offers tips on giving seeds the best start. Secrets from the Flower Farm will encourage even new gardeners to try their hand at growing their own cut flowers and surround themselves with colour.

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4. The Preserving Garden 

Extend the life of the food you grow and learn to preserve your fruits and vegetables with the aid of The Preserving Garden. It shows you how to make a vegetable patch or small orchard in any space – including where to begin, when to plant and how to care for your garden – and brims with tips and notes to help your plants thrive. Over forty scalable, easy-to-follow recipes and techniques for chutneys, relishes, jams, marmalades and more will help you make the most of your home-grown produce.

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5. The Super Bloom Handbook 

There is real joy in tending flowers, but figuring out what to grow in your space can be tricky. How do you get started? What should you plant?

The Super Bloom Handbook by Jac Semmler will show you the way. From bearded irises and roses to pelargoniums and zinnias, Semmler teaches even beginners how to care for flowers, from seedlings to planting and pruning. Start small, gain confidence and grow your way to a floral wonderland.

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6. The Book of Garden Flowers  

‘Christopher Stocks explores the flowery folklore and fascinating history of nineteen garden favourites, including tulips, auriculas, marigolds and nasturtiums. Illustrated with more than sixty joyful watercolours and prints by the artist and gardener Angie Lewis, this new book is as beautiful as it is interesting to dip into – and would make the perfect gift for a gardening friend’ House & Garden.

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7. Herbarium 

Described by Yotam Ottolenghi as ‘informed, useful and completely divine’, Caz Hildebrand’s Herbarium is a stylishly illustrated compendium of 100 herbs and their hidden properties. From bergamot, comfrey and dill to sassafras, vervain and wasabi, each herb is explained through the fascinating history of their uses and symbolism. There are also tips on how best to use them, as well as advice on when and how to grow them.

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8. Edible 

Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Google searches for ‘vegan’ have risen by 700 per cent over the past five years, and consumers are increasingly on the hunt for plant-based options.

The plants profiled in Edible offer something for everyone. Described by the New York Times as ‘a cheerfully illustrated guide to some of the hardiest, and tastiest, treats Mother Nature has to offer’, Edible takes the reader on a richly illustrated visual journey of edible plants from around the world, from the more familiar to the lesser known. Offering vital insights into relevant growing conditions and flavour profiles, as well as helpful tips for growing, cooking and eating, Edible provides a rich source of inspiration for anyone keen to discover, try and grow new food themselves.

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9. Big Garden Design 

Landscape designer Paul Bangay creates contemporary yet timeless gardens that feel as though they’ve been there forever. Whether designing grand gardens in France or a forest grown from seedlings, Bangay relishes the challenge of working at scale.

Big Garden Design offers an in-depth exploration of Bangay’s meticulous design process, showcasing a sumptuous collection of landscapes he’s created alongside garden plans and extensive planting lists. With photography by Simon Griffiths, Big Garden Design illustrates the principles of landscape design from the most precise detail to the grandest vista.

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