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RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening
This completely revised and updated encyclopedia offers expert RHS advice on the entire range of gardening techniques. It has been expanded to include new plants and gardening styles, and the latest horticultural developments. Part one, "Creating the Garden", is a complete guide to garden planning and all aspects of plant cultivation and care, including pruning and propagation. This section opens with a chapter on planning design, full of ideas and practical information to help you to achieve an ideal garden for your site and lifestyle. This is followed by chapters focusing on the main plant groups and areas of the garden - from ornamental trees and perennials to water gardening and the fruit garden. Each chapter offers in-depth coverage of every aspect of soil preparation and panting, creating effective garden features, and the routine care of your plants. Part two, "Maintaining the Garden", helps you to choose the garden equipment and materials, provides a practical guide to building a framework for the plants and sets them in the context of their environment. Annotated diagrams and photographs make every task easy to grasp, from how to select and equip a greenhouse to laying paving, putting up fencing or building a pergola, and all the tools, equipment and materials needed for each garden project are covered. Separate chapters show how climate and soil combine to affect your garden, and there is guidance on improving the soil and frost protection, with extended coverage of issues such as water conservation and organic practices.
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776 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 20, 2023
Beautiful and informative. A must-have in your library if you like plants and flowers!
February 7, 2026
Everything and anything you need to have as a holistic guide - all right here. Very good.
January 11, 2010
The RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening certainly lives up to its name – it provides comprehensive information on every gardening subject I can name.
The book is divided into two parts. The first is on ‘Creating the garden’ and starts with garden design and styles and goes through ornamental plants and water gardening to fruit and vegetable gardens. There’s a nice chapter on cacti and succulents and even a section on how to propagate ferns from spores.
In the chapters on edibles, I particularly liked the way that the listings of plants went beyond the fruit and vegetables normally covered in gardening books. The fruit section tells you all about planning a fruit garden, propagation and grafting, but it also tells you how to grow medlars, quinces and bullaces and tropical fruits like papayas. It also covers nut trees.
The vegetable section is similarly comprehensive, even covering Ceylon spinach, ice plants, wonderberries, lab lab and lima beans and cocoyams.
The second section is called ‘Maintaining the garden’ and covers all the nuts and bolts aspects on gardening. Here you will find out how to choose your tools and a greenhouse, hard landscaping, climate, soil management and composting.
Although there are sections on propagation in each chapter in the first section, there’s a detailed section here too. There’s also a directory of pests and diseases and one on weeds – both with colour photographs to aid identification.
Finishing up with a primer on botany, a glossary and a very thorough index, this is certainly a reference book that you will dip into time and time again. I’ve already found my copy useful – I harvested a few rose hips from a local bush, and found out how to propagate new plants from the seeds they contain.
At 750 pages it’s far too hefty to read in bed, but it’s also too well rendered to leave it on the shelf – put it on the coffee table so you can flip through at leisure.
The book is divided into two parts. The first is on ‘Creating the garden’ and starts with garden design and styles and goes through ornamental plants and water gardening to fruit and vegetable gardens. There’s a nice chapter on cacti and succulents and even a section on how to propagate ferns from spores.
In the chapters on edibles, I particularly liked the way that the listings of plants went beyond the fruit and vegetables normally covered in gardening books. The fruit section tells you all about planning a fruit garden, propagation and grafting, but it also tells you how to grow medlars, quinces and bullaces and tropical fruits like papayas. It also covers nut trees.
The vegetable section is similarly comprehensive, even covering Ceylon spinach, ice plants, wonderberries, lab lab and lima beans and cocoyams.
The second section is called ‘Maintaining the garden’ and covers all the nuts and bolts aspects on gardening. Here you will find out how to choose your tools and a greenhouse, hard landscaping, climate, soil management and composting.
Although there are sections on propagation in each chapter in the first section, there’s a detailed section here too. There’s also a directory of pests and diseases and one on weeds – both with colour photographs to aid identification.
Finishing up with a primer on botany, a glossary and a very thorough index, this is certainly a reference book that you will dip into time and time again. I’ve already found my copy useful – I harvested a few rose hips from a local bush, and found out how to propagate new plants from the seeds they contain.
At 750 pages it’s far too hefty to read in bed, but it’s also too well rendered to leave it on the shelf – put it on the coffee table so you can flip through at leisure.
October 24, 2011
Fabulous and invaluable "how to" book which will let a complete beginner hit the ground running but provide lots of useful info for those further along in their gardening experience.
Sections on:
Planning & design
Trees
Shrubs
Climbers
Roses
Perennials
Annuals & biennials
Rock garden
Bulbs
Water garden
Cacti & succulents
Lawns
Herb garden
Vegetable garden
Fruit garden
Indoor garden
Maintenance - includes tools, greenhouses/frames, garden surfaces, soils/fertilisers, propagation, plant problems.
Sections on:
Planning & design
Trees
Shrubs
Climbers
Roses
Perennials
Annuals & biennials
Rock garden
Bulbs
Water garden
Cacti & succulents
Lawns
Herb garden
Vegetable garden
Fruit garden
Indoor garden
Maintenance - includes tools, greenhouses/frames, garden surfaces, soils/fertilisers, propagation, plant problems.
January 26, 2012
Currently the most useful book I own: clear concise text with apt photographs and illustrations. I used it throughout my studies for an RHS certificate and turn to it often still in my work as a gardener. It's invaluable.
Currently Reading
March 21, 2008Great reference, not only for care instructions but also contains some great "how tos".
May 16, 2009
User friendly, great ideas, practical tips. Doesn't talk down to the user.
June 22, 2016
My go-to gardening book. Probably the most well-spent money ever.
Want to Read
August 25, 2018L'enciclopedia del verde
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews