what are the top 10 classic gardening reference books: are the yellow book, plantfinder or gardenfinder [rhs]?

Question

in the running for the top 10 books no gardener should be without, or are there far better candidates [in your opinion!]?

Answer 1

When I was a lecturer in horticulture I was often asked to make recommendations, and the following ten are among those that I particularly value for my own practice. I've not included really specialist stuff.
In no particular order:

The RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants

Hillier's Manual of Trees and Shrubs

Principles of Horticulture by Adams and Early (Fourth Estate)

Ornamental Shrubs Climbers and Bamboos
Perennial Garden Plants both by Graham Stuart Thomas

Diagnosis of ill-health in trees. Forestry Commission (HMSO)

Garden Design by Sylvia Crowe

Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden by Gertrude Jekyll

RHS Propagation

Pruning and Training Plants by David Joyce (Mitchel Beazley)

The Rix and Phillips Pan Garden Plants series are very good in providing pictorial references, allowing comparison between cultivars.
Cassell Illustrated Monographs are exceptionally good, but are out of print, but are worth looking out for on ebay or 2nd hand bookshops.

If you go to the RHS website: rhs.org.uk and click on education, you should be able to download the recommended reading for the RHS Level 2 Certificate, which would form a good basis for developing a working library.

Answer 2

Unless it is something completely unfamiliar with as far as planting and care instructions I never use the books. If I need information I go on line. The only books I have or on water gardening and pond building simply because I like the pictures for ideas. lol! I enjoy the gardening so much I feel its is something mother nature will teach me thru trial and error. Of course this is only my "OPINION " I watch shows on HGTV. I'm really just a hands on type learner.
If you put into search bar ; top 10 gardening books
You will find is comes up as a by the state gardening.
Sorry I have none to offer you.

Answer 3

Rhs Plant Finder A-z

Answer 4

Southern Living Garden Book is a great reference for ornamental plants.

Answer 5

These are my list of must haves. I work at a nursery and primarily use books that are reference type of books. I do have books on a specific genus, but here are my general books that I feel are my best ones:

Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants: Mark Griffiths (I can't wait for the update to this one. If you want the proper botanical name, this is your book.)

Hortus Third: Bailey Hortorium (I like this one too but the above book is better.)

The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs: Hillier, Coombes (Lots of concise info. with good pictures.)

American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Garden Plants: Cathey, Brickell (Pretty informative, good info. and lots of pictures. A good perennial reference book.)

American Horticultural Society of Herbs (I like this book because it is a good reference herb book. I doesn't go into herb lore and history of herbs and stuff like that, it simply lists the plants and then the different species and varieties with pictures.)

The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: John Greenlee (Love the layout of this book and full of great information.)

Botanica's Roses: David Austin (A good reference rose book, there is another rose book that I like but I can't recall the name of it and it's not right here with me.)

Botanica: R. G. Turner (This was put out by Barnes and Noble and was re-issued with a different name but I can't find the other name. You can still find it under Botanica too. It's a good perennial reference book.)

Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia: Sean Hogan (Again, it's another good perennial reference book. Good info. and pictures.)

Sunset Western Garden Book: Brenzell (If you are in the western U.S., this is a must have. Great local reference and more local zoning is a nice feature.)

So, these will give good cover a wide plants of types: herbs, perennials, shrubs, grasses and roses... Happy Gardening! :)

P.S. I can't wiat to see everyone's selections so I can add to mine!

Answer 6

I only have one:

The Collingridge Encyclopaedia of Gardening.

That is all you will need.