Gardener's Bookshelf

A Garderner's Bookshelf

Even the greenest of green thumbs appreciate the advice of great garden reference books. Experts from Botanical gardens and horticultural specialists nominate their favorites:

General reference

American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden plants: A comprehensive volume of information on most of the trees, shrubs, flowers, and foliage plants grown in American Gardens. 

Reader's Digest illustrated Guide to Gardening:  If you had access to no other source, you could develop some terrific skills with this book alone. It explains techniques in easily understood terms and provides excellent illustrations.

Trees and Shrubs

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: An unsurpassed resource on the characteristics, culture and habits of most of the trees, shrubs, and vines grown in the United States.

Gardening.

Annuals and Perennials

Burpee American Garden Series: The annuals and perennials editions are excellent for beginning gardeners. Basic, reliable information, on how to start seeds, plant, transplant, and maintain annuals and perennials with tips on creative garden and container designs.

Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants: This does for perennials what Manual of Woody Landscape Plants does for woody plants. Concise and complete.

Houseplants and Wildflowers

The New House Plant Expert: Most gardening books of British origin have limited value to American gardeners. This is the exception. Houseplants are houseplants the world over.

Organic Gardening

The Chemical-free Lawn: The best book on growing healthy lawns without major chemical dumping. Recommends regionally specific types of grass and grass cultivars.

The Organic Gardener's Home Reference: All about growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs to peak quality, using organic techniques.

Miscellaneous

The Complete Shade Gardener: Creative garden design tips for shady sites and lists of plants that will grow in light to full shade. Also, complete information on how to grow each recommended plant.

Gardening by Mail: The ultimate source book for seeds, plants equipment and books.