Top 10 Gardening Books

Reading gardening books is a great way to bridge the gap between the end of winter and early spring when you can finally get outdoors and work in your garden. Today, I’m going to share 10 of my favorite gardening books that not only offer practical gardening tips but will also inspire for the upcoming growing season.

Here in Oregon, we are in our rainy season. I love to take this time to read through my garden book collection or check out gardening books from the library and plan my gardens for the year. Want to join me? Here’s my list of the top 10 gardening books I reach for:

10 Gardening Books That Will Inspire Your Next Growing Season

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1. Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein

The Cut Flower Garden is such a gorgeous book written by Erin Bensakein from Floret Farms located in Skagit Valley, WA. She highlights a variety of blooms and showcases various flower arrangements.

I love reading through this book when choosing what flowers to incorporate into my garden for the growing season and brushing up on their best-growing practices. Other times, I simply love to flip through this book and admire all the pretty pictures of flowers.

(Discovering Dahlias and A Year in Flowers are two more wonderful books from Floret Farms that are worth reading as well!)

2. Welcome to the Farm by Shaye Elliot

While this book is probably considered a homesteading book rather than a gardening book, I love the narrative style of her writing and the practical gardening advice and recipes that are sprinkled throughout. Furthermore, reading this book always inspires me to get outside and get my hands dirty in the garden. (Shaye Elliot also writes on the Elliot Homestead blog.)

3. The First Time Gardener by Jessica Sowers

Of all the beginning gardening books, this is one of my favorites. It is incredibly practical but also offers a ton of helpful information for seasoned gardeners as well. (If you like Jessica Sower’s books you will probably also enjoy her Roots & Refuge YouTube channel.)

4. The Layered Garden by David Culp

I just recently added this book to my gardening book collection. I love how the expert gardener, David Culp, combines so many different types of plants to create pockets of interest throughout his yard at Brandywine Cottage. The pictures are stunning and quite inspiring.

5. The Potager: From Garden to Kitchen by Kali Ramey Martin

This book is sweet and simple and is a combination of great photos, recipes, and gardening tips. I picked this book up because I discovered that the author lives in the same area of Oregon that I do, and it’s always great to learn from others who are gardening in your zone or close to it. I found her book warm, inviting, and beautiful.

6. French Country Cottage: Inspired Gatherings by Courtney Allison

The French Country Cottage: Inspired Gatherings is a stunningly beautiful book. I pull this book out to bask in the rustic tablescapes, seasonal blooms, and curated garden party pictures. The author’s photography is simply stunning and inspiring for gardeners at any level.

7. Tasha Tudor’s Garden by Tasha Tudor

While this is an older book and no longer in print, it’s worth mentioning. And if you can find it at a thrift store or online book site, you should grab it. Tasha Tudor is known for her beautiful garden-inspired illustrations, and in this book, you get a tour of her gardens. It’s a lovely and charming read.

8. Gardening Projects for Kids by Jenny Hendy

A great way to teach kids about gardening is to have them garden right alongside you. This book takes it a step further and offers crafts and activities that foster a love for gardening as well as, the outdoors.

9. From Seed to Bloom by Milli Proust

Beautiful and practical, Milli Proust shares her romantic and playful floral designs from the flowers she grows and collects from nature. I’m not amazing at flower arranging, but this book inspires me to grow in this area, using the seasonal flowers and greenery that grow on our property.

10. The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden

This is the hand-drawn nature journal of Edith Holden, and it’s full of her delightful findings and nature paintings. While it was of the English countryside in 1906, it’s charming and ever-inspiring to read today!

Gardening Books Q & A

1. Where can I buy gardening books?

Gardening books are available in stores and in various places online. My favorite places to buy gardening books include: Amazon, Thriftbooks, bookstores, or local garden centers.

2. How do I choose the right gardening books?

Before you purchase a gardening book, pinpoint what you are looking for. Do you want beginner garden tips, design ideas, plant references, cottage garden styles, cut flower techniques, or inspiring plant images? Once you determine what you want, consider your experience level, your garden space, and the author and make your selections.

3. What are some good beginner gardening books?

A few beginning gardening books include: The First Time Gardener by Jessica Sowers, Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners by Tammy Wylie, and Vegetable Gardners Handbook by Old Farmer’s Almanac.