5 of the best gardening books to read now

“At this season of the year, when so much in nature happens so quickly, I find it difficult to keep my head,” Vita Sackville-West, the famous English writer and gardener, wrote in 1940.

Sackville-West might have added: no time, either, to flick through gardening books. Who has the luxury of reading about others’ projects when you have so many of your own to complete?

Seasoned gardeners would argue that a big day in the garden should begin with a browse through your trustiest gardening books. We all need a plan, don’t we? And a few good tips? Then look no further, we say …

Paul Bangay’s Guide to Plants

By Paul Bangay (Lantern, $59.99)

Paul Bangay’s 30-plus years’ experience shines through in his 2015 plant guide – a must for all Australians living in the cooler eastern states and one of our most recommended gardening books. Those two pesky questions – what do I plant and where do I plant – are addressed in his A-list alphabetical rundown of local annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

The Edible Garden: Cookbook and Growing Guide

By Paul West (Plum, $39.99)

Chef, farmer, gardener and sustainable-living advocate Paul West is also the host of River Cottage Australia. Now, he has a new book, which includes 50 recipes using home-grown produce, plus hundreds of tips, from growing your own microgreens to making a worm farm, and managing your tomato crop.

Australian Dreamscapes : The Art of Planting in Gardens Inspired by Nature

By Claire Takacs (Hardie Grant $70)

Internationally-renowned garden photographer Claire Takacs last year turned her camera on 22 of Australia’s most beautiful gardens. From rural settings and arid environments, to coastal homes and suburban backyards, the subjects of her study share a semi-wild aesthetic.

Gardenista: the Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces

By Michelle Slatalla (Artisan, $55)

Eight years ago the clever US team behind interiors blog and website Remodelista started their Gardenista sibling. Three years ago the many ideas, tips, design and planting strategies and photos were turned into a book. Gardenista is one of our favourite go-tos and is a terrific gift for new home owners with garden dreams.

The Artist’s Garden

By Jackie Bennett (Quarto $50)

For the gardener who has everything, The Artist’s Garden will provide joy and surprise. Via its pages, we visit 20 gardens and learn about more than 30 artists who found inspiration in the natural world. Flowers, trees, hedges, gardens, ornamental lakes, bridges, garden furniture – these have all appeared at some stage in the world’s great works of art.

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