Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening
American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening

UK and USA editions of this best-selling Gardening Book

The following review refers to the first UK edition of the book published in 1992

A comprehensive guide to most things that you could ever want to do in the garden. Stacks of information, usefully and plentifully illustrated. Well set out in logical sections. A wonderfully comprehensive reference guide for the beginner and expert alike. If you only buy one gardening book it has to be this one.

I have owned this book for about 9 years and still refer to it regularly. A substantial tome with plenty of very clear illustrative diagrams and photographs. Pictures that are used to illustrate a point or demonstrate a technique and not pictures that are just used to fill space and make the book look pretty as in so many other gardening books.

It's full of "how to do it" articles, sowing seeds, mound layering herbs, installing garden steps. General principles, seasonal reminders, how to prune and information on identifying weeds, pests and diseases amongst a thousand other things you could conceivably want to know. 

It's not a plant encyclopedia, but has easily enough specific plant information and lists of plants for particular situations to satisfy most requirements. In the chapter on ornamental trees for example there is a page that lists about 150 species and varieties of tree for these situations:

Exposed sites
Air Pollution tolerant
Winter Interest
Two or More Seasons of Interest
Trees for Containers
Trees for Small Gardens
Specimen Trees

Separated into two sections and twenty four chapters, the major headings are given below.

Part I - Creating the garden.

• chapter 1 - Garden Planning and Design

• chapter 2 - Ornamental trees / Dwarf Conifers / Topiary / Hedges and screens

• chapter 3 - Ornamental shrubs /

• chapter 4 - Climbing Plants / Clematis

• chapter 5 - The Rose Garden

• chapter 6 - Perennials / Grasses, Bamboos, Sedges and Rushes / Irises / Ground Cover / Chrysanthemums / Ferns / Carnations and Pinks / Wild Flower and Meadow Gardening
   / Pelargoniums

• chapter 7 - Annuals and Biennials / Sweet Peas

• chapter 8 - The Rock Garden / Alpine Houses

• chapter 9 - Bulbous Plants / Tulips and Daffodils / Dahlias / Lilies

• chapter 10 - The Water Garden / Water Lilies / Aquariums

• chapter 11 - Cacti and Other Succulents

• chapter 12 - The Lawn

• chapter 13 - The Herb Garden

• chapter 14 - The vegetable garden

• chapter 15 - The Fruit Garden

• chapter 16 - The Indoor Garden

Part II - Maintaining the Garden

• chapter 1 - Tools and Equipment

• chapter 2 - Greenhouses and Frames

• chapter 3 - Structures and Surfaces

• chapter 4 - Climate and the Garden / Frost and Wind Protection

• chapter 5 - Soils and Fertilizers

• chapter 6 - Principles of Propagation

• chapter 7 - Plant Problems 

• chapter 8 - Basic Botany

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