New Gardening Books to Inspire

As the hazy summer nights start to draw in and we look towards embracing a new season, take your lead from these gorgeous new gardening books. By Katrina Harper-Lewis

IMAGE: TAKEN FROM ‘GARDENERS’ WORLD: A YEAR IN A SMALL GARDEN’ BY FRANCES TOPHILL

That autumnal cosiness and comfort that we begin to crave at this time of year isn’t just about hunkering down indoors – it can be achieved through growing and gardening, too. As our plants and plots take on a new appeal, with rich autumnal colour and fruitful abundance, here’s where to find everything you’ll need to keep them looking their best (indoors and out), whether you have a petite terrace, a rambling plot or a passion for house plants and cut flowers. Your coffee table is calling for these beautiful new gardening books, brimful of expert advice, striking photography and inspirational ideas.

Small Space Gardening

(LEFT) FRANCES TOPHILL (RIGHT) POTTING UP HERBS. IMAGES FROM ‘GARDENERS’ WORLD: A YEAR IN A SMALL GARDEN’ BY FRANCES TOPHILL

The third book from BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Frances Tophill, one of the most exciting names in modern gardening, takes the reader through the steps to crafting a small garden from scratch in an achievable and accessible way. Much of the book is based on her own experience of doing just that at her terraced first home’s bijou plot in Devon, with extracts from her journal and photography of her progress through the course of a year. But, she also touches on ideas from community garden projects that she’s worked with, as well as growing food, and sustainable, environmentally friendly planting, for a thoughtful and insightful overview.

Container Gardening

IMAGES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SARAH RAVEN’S POT-FILLED GARDEN AT PERCH HILL; A CHEERFUL WINDOWSILL PLANTER; SARAH RAVEN. ALL IMAGES: JONATHAN BUCKLEY FROM ‘A YEAR FULL OF POTS’ BY SARAH RAVEN

The doyenne of modern gardening, Sarah Raven, will be the first to tell you that vibrantly filled pots aren’t just for summer. We love her ‘more is more’ approach when it comes to pots, whatever size your space, as well as her ingenious colour analogy – choose a ‘bride’ as the star of the show, a ‘bridesmaid’ to complement, and a ‘gatecrasher’ to add contrast and bring the whole scheme to life. As always, Sarah’s latest book and ode to year-round colour reflects all the energy and fun that she brings to her own patch at Perch Hill. A relatable, entertaining and inspiring read.

Cottage Gardening

IMAGES: MARK BOLTON, FROM HIS NEW BOOK ‘A NEW COTTAGE GARDEN: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CREATING A PICTURE-PERFECT COTTAGE GARDEN’

Garden-photographer-turned-amateur-gardener, Mark Bolton, shares his journey to creating his own South Hams patch in this personal account. With 25 years’ experience of shooting plants and plots for magazines, books and the garden industry, Mark has a keen eye for how a well-thought-out garden should look, but started with only a basic knowledge of how to achieve that. This is the perfect read for novices who are keen to design and nurture their own classic cottage garden from scratch. You’ll find plenty of practical and easy-to-follow advice and, naturally, the pictures are stunning.

Cut Flower Gardening

ALL IMAGES FROM ‘OUTSIDE IN: A YEAR OF GROWING AND DISPLAYING’ BY SEAN A. PRITCHARD

The eagerly awaited debut book from award winning founder of the eponymous garden design studio, Sean A. Pritchard, is a real beauty that deserves a prime spot on your bookshelf. It’s packed with ideas for bringing the outside in, from growing and planning a garden that will offer an abundance of interest and colour, to harvesting and arranging gorgeous seasonal displays for your home. Take a visual trip to Sean’s cottage home in Somerset for a guide on what to grow when – from dazzling daffodils in spring to summery dahlia blooms, through autumnal foliage to late winter catkins – for a nature filled home all year round.

Gardening for Wildlife

(LEFT) RACHEL DE THAME, IMAGE: JONATHAN BUCKLEY; (RIGHT) DAHLIA ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN LUSK, BOTH FROM ‘A FLOWER GARDEN FOR POLLINATORS’ BY RACHEL DE THAME

This delightful tribute to our small yet mighty pollinators, from the BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Rachel de Thame, talks you through how to fill your garden with nectar-rich flowers for thriving hub of activity and interest all year round. In an easy-to-follow season-by-season format, and illustrated with beautiful watercolours and photography of some of Rachel’s personal favourites, this informative book will be your guide to supporting the vital work of bees, butterflies and other insects which are facing climate-change induced habit losses, from your own back yard and beyond.

House Plant Gardening

(LEFT TO RIGHT) FROM THE BIG BOOK OF HOUSE PLANTS BY EMMA SIBLEY. IMAGES: ADAM LAYCOCK

Author and houseplant afficionado, Emma Sibley, founded London Terrariums ten years ago for those with a passion for gardening but with no, well, actual garden. The business really struck a chord at a time of renaissance for indoor gardening, and this is her latest in a series of books dedicated to the humble houseplant. It features glossy pictures of 110 of the most popular plants, from large palms and delicate ferns, to cacti, succulents and flowering pots. With each one you’ll also find tonnes of useful advice on growing, size and flowering, to ideas for nurturing and expanding your personal collection.

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