We dug into the research to find the most outstanding books on gardening and plants. Our top pick, “Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden,” covers all the basics, defines the most common gardening terms, and answers questions an aspiring green thumb might be too afraid to ask an expert. Here are the best gardening books for gardeners of every experience level. “This gardening book…covers topics like soil, compost, seeds, pest control and weeds, using easy-to-understand language that won’t confuse novices.” “Can teach you everything you need to know to grow beautiful veggies, from basics like tomatoes and carrots to more unusual varieties of produce.” “Contains a wealth of expert advice, addressing everything from how to pick the best growing site to tips on maximizing the lifespan of your plants.” “The top-rated gardening guide…will teach you how to create an amazing garden in just a few square feet.” “Includes personality profiles, growing needs, and troubleshooting tips for 160 common indoor plants, from ivy to bonsai trees.” “Delves into vertical growing strategies using string supports, trellises, pergolas, raised beds, skyscraper gardens and more.” “This kid-friendly gardening book will help you teach your children the basics of plants while providing innovative ideas for fun outdoor projects.” Rodale’s covers all the essential knowledge you’ll need to delve into the wonderful world of gardening. There’s a skills section that tackles questions such as “How do I plant a seed?” and “What’s the best way to dig?” and the book also covers topics like soil, compost, seeds, pest control and weeds, using easy-to-understand language that won’t confuse novices. Further, more than 100 basic gardening terms are defined throughout the text, ensuring you feel confident when you head out into the garden. This gardening book contains projects, plant guides, sample garden layouts and more — it really has it all! Reviewers say this book has really helped their gardening endeavors, anticipating and answering their questions thoroughly. Price at time of publish: $12 This book is based on Ed Smith’s W-O-R-D gardening system, which he claims will work in all North American regions. W-O-R-D stands for wide rows, organic methods, raised beds, and deep soil — four gardening strategies that will help increase your harvest when used correctly. The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible includes thorough profiles of hundreds of popular vegetables, giving you all the insights you need to successfully grow them at home. Further, you’ll find tips on how to succeed with fussy plants, grow unusual varieties and extend your growing season. Reviewers write that this book contains everything you could ever want to know about vegetables, and even more, experienced gardeners say they still use The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible for reference. Overall, this book is a must-have if you’re serious about planting an impressive vegetable garden. Price at time of publish: $13 The Flower Gardener’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Colorful Blooms All Season Long will help you plant vibrant, flourishing gardens that bloom all season long. The book contains a wealth of expert advice, addressing everything from how to pick the best growing site to tips on maximizing the lifespan of your plants. In addition to stunning images, you’ll find actionable advice on how to improve soil, fight off pests, arrange your gardens and make 400 types of flowers bloom with radiant color — essential information for any serious gardener. This book is appropriate for both beginners and advanced gardeners, and reviewers say it contains lots of good information and resources to help you identify dozens of different flowers. However, make sure you buy a physical copy, as many say the Kindle version is poorly formatted. Price at time of publish: $15 The gardening techniques in this book have been around since the 1980s, and they’re still every bit as useful today. The updated guide explains how you can create a small plot close to your home and use vertical gardening techniques to grow beautiful, healthy plants. What’s unique about the methods in this book is that there are no complicated tools or ingredients. You just need the basics, which makes it a perfect guide for beginners! Reviewers say that Mel Bartholomew’s methods really do work and are great for novice gardeners. Many note the book is easy to understand and that it has lots of useful information. However, the one downside cited by several gardeners is that the recommended soil mixture can be pretty expensive, depending on where you shop. Price at time of publish: $40 This book is a must-have for new plant parents. The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual, written by expert gardener Barbara Pleasant, includes personality profiles, growing needs, and troubleshooting tips for 160 common indoor plants, from ivy to bonsai trees and everything in between. The guide is broken up into three sections: two directories with in-depth plant profiles, and a third that delves into proper care of indoor greenery. You’ll find answers to all your pressing questions, including important topics like acclimatization, watering, fertilizing and more. Many reviewers praise this book, writing that their plants are thriving thanks to the tips in The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual. Buyers also note that the book is well organized, easy to navigate, and full of essential knowledge — a worthwhile investment if you have a chronic brown thumb! Price at time of publish: $13 Vertical gardening might sound complicated, but this guide makes it easy for even novice gardeners to understand. Vertical Gardening focuses on varieties of climbing plants, which are actually less prone to insects, diseases and animal pests, making them easier to care for. The various growing strategies use a mixture of DIY and commercial supports, and there are plenty of tips on how you can reduce work, increase yields and make harvesting easier. Overall, this book is a hit among reviewers, who say it has great ideas that are very doable. They say Vertical Gardening provides excellent alternatives to traditional planting methods, and most are incredibly happy with the results they’ve seen. Price at time of publish: $24 In Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots, you’ll find 12 easy-to-implement projects, designed especially for kids. For instance, there are instructions for a “Pizza Patch,” where you create a wheel-shaped garden and each “slice” is used to grow an essential pizza ingredient, such as tomatoes or basil. Other projects include a “Moon Garden” of night-blooming flowers or a “Flower Maze” full of brilliant blooms. The book also provides care instructions, as well as a list of kid-friendly plants that are easy to keep alive. Reviewers write that Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots is full of beautiful illustrations and wonderfully fun project ideas. However, a few note that you’ll need basic gardening knowledge to make the most of this book. Price at time of publish: $11
Lists and Definitions
Your book should answer every question you might have and provide definitions for words you don’t recognize. A book on a specific aspect of gardening, like vegetables or flowers, should provide lists, pictures and characteristics of commonly grown plants, and how to care for them. Many will include ideas for projects and step by step instructions on how to complete them.
Subject and Format
You will find gardening resources on-line, at the newsstand, and in bookstores everywhere. Some resources, especially those with diagrams and complex illustrations will work best in an actual book. Animated, dimensional illustrations and how-to videos are viewed easily on your computer. Whether you want to grow flowers or create a water garden, be sure to choose the resource written about your specific topic of interest. A book about indoor plants probably won’t help you figure out how to start vegetable seeds.
Why Trust the Spruce
Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener and herbalist. She works with honeybees and other pollinators to grow organic fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs on her 8-acre hobby farm.
