This morning, I thought I’d share some of the sources of the wealth of knowledge I’ve accumulated on gardening. Most of that came from books over the years and I love getting a recommendation for a good book. It’s also a little distraction from the dismal weather we’ve been having (bonus Florence points if you’ve secretly been looking out of the window thinking how good it is for your garden!) that will get you ready for next month’s warmer weather and gardening boom time.

So here goes…

1. The Flower Expert - Dr D G Hessayon £6.19. Growing up, this was my bible. I used to read this book, cover to cover, every year when I was deciding what to plant. It tells you what conditions a plant likes, the size and spread it grows into and what sort of plant it is. It’s part of the best-selling Expert series with a book on nearly everything you could need and you can’t go far wrong with them. Must buys for the garden enthusiast or beginner!
2. The Kitchen Gardener: Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg - Alan Titchmarsh £13.00 I got this one more recently, when we got the allotment. Arranged year by year with list of jobs to do, what to sow and when, and chapters on how to arrange your vegetable garden and rotate crops etc, it’s a great one to turn to for reference.
3. Alan Titchmarsh – The Gardener’s Year Similar to the Kitchen Gardener, this is a month by month guide to your garden. Think of it as an old friend or taking the place of your grandad and his green thumb which could make anything grow. I love Alan’s books because he’s so no-nonsense and easy to read. No pretences and he has a healthy attitude to just getting on with planting.
4. Small Garden - John Brookes £11.04 This last two were purchased when we moved into our house. John Brookes is a fantastic garden design writer and a name to look out for if you want to buy a gift you know will be decent. This collection of small garden inspiration is a real treat if you think your garden isn’t big enough to do anything with.
5. Planting a Small Garden: Simple steps to success (RHS Simple Steps to Success) – RHS £4.89. Taking more of a practical approach, this book has lists of plants perfect for small gardens, from trees that won’t overshadow your patio spot, to plants for tricky shady borders or damp patches. It’s all easy to read and with loads of gorgeous gardens to feed your ideas!

So tell me, how does your garden grow this April?

Love,
Rebecca
xo