Gardening Book
There is no gardener who doesn’t have at least one gardening book in the house. Even experienced gardeners need to read a gardening book from time to time in order to clarify some aspects of their occupation. The way you choose a gardening book says something about your particular interest in this occupation.
The American Hort. Society’s A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is one great example of a very complete gardening book that could answer almost any question you may have related to plants. The disadvantage of such a publication is the very scientific content presentation, since most readers will prefer something accessible to the average user rather than complex and difficult to understand. Hence it is a good idea to check some reviews, leaf through content and see what impression it makes.
If you are just learning the basics of this occupation, then a general gardening book will be enough, at such a stage it is pointless to go into deep information about soil varieties, plant species and fertilizing. Many amateur gardeners start with a bed or two and do their apprenticeship at a reduced scale. Only skills and experience can support a large garden. Then, you will know when to read a more advanced gardening book to move to the next level.
Look for those publications with a decent photo coverage because you need details on seeds, roots, flowers and leaves. 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. You can get an idea about a certain gardening book by leafing through it before the actual purchase. Some materials are more comprehensive than others covering from 100 plants to 1,500+ species.
