There is no gardener who doesn’t have at least one gardening book in the house. Books are a great source of inspiration, while they also work well for reference, regardless of whether you just want to improve knowledge or you seek for specific content. The way you choose a gardening book says something about your particular interest in this occupation.

A rather complete gardening book is the American Hort. Society’s A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. The disadvantage of such a publication is the very scientific organization of the content, since most readers will prefer something accessible to the average user rather than complex and difficult to understand. Hence make sure to read some reviews, check the content and leaf the gardening book before buying it.

Get a very easy gardening book if you are just learning the secrets of this occupation, and do not go into very complex information about fertilizing, soil varieties and plant species. You can start your gardening apprenticeship with one or two beds and extend when your skills improve. Only skills and experience can support a large garden. On advanced knowledge levels, you will appreciate a different gardening book format.

A good gardening book must include good pictures with close details of leaves, flowers, seeds and roots. This is why we need to insist on the importance of previewing a book before purchasing it. Online orders may be tricky from this point of view, as you check little from one or two reviews. A serious gardening book is not always what you need; sometimes a simple notebook will be enough. It all depends on the task.

The gardening sections of bookstores are normally organized on more detailed sections. And the same system is valid for online retailers. There are some in the basic categories and then, others in specialized classes: garden design, cultivation of perennials and annuals, soil preparation, hydroponics, aeroponics, greenhouse gardening and much more. Check every gardening books for photos and read a few lines here and there to make a general impression. Certain publications are more comprehensive than others covering from 100 plants to 1,500+ species.