Want to know how to redesign your garden or how to look after an indoor jungle? The RHS has just republished books on the subjects – updated with new info and pictures. I’ve been taking a look. (Books supplied free in return for a fair review.)
RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design
There’s an awful lot of information out there on garden design so is this massive book really necessary? It’s a question the Editor-in-Chief, Chris Young, tackles head-on. This book, we’re told, is rare in that it covers everything from plants to fence posts.
It is comprehensive – there’s no aspect of designing a garden that’s missing whether it be knowing what you want someone else to implement or how to go down the DIY route.
It starts with the basics: what sort of garden do you want? This covers how you will use it, what you want it to make you feel and how it’s likely to look. All are illustrated with images that capture the essence of each type.
Different garden styles are explained and there’s an in-depth exploration of each: key design elements; influences on the style; different interpretations; gardens to visit. A close look at some gardens, including original plans and photos of the finished space make this a really informative section, while the piece on ‘natural gardens’ is a nod to contemporary concerns about gardening with nature and in the face of climate change.
But knowing what you want is only half of the journey and the book moves on to the practicalities from weighing up what’s already there to using hard landscaping and drawing up a plan. It is a thorough review that spans different types of texture, alternatives for boundaries, and how to build a retaining wall.
A plant guide with details on conditions needed and eventual size along with look at different materials round off what is a exhaustive review of the subject.
Along the way, there are nuggets of good advice: successful design is about collecting and then editing ideas; it’s worth taking the time to get things right on something you will see all the time; plan for ‘low’ rather than ‘no’ maintenance.
Easy to read with bite-sized pieces of information, clear diagrams and inspirational photos, this book is ideal for anyone taking on a new garden project or wanting to refine an existing space.
Chris says he hopes this fourth edition of the book will be a “refuge in this ever-crowded, information-heavy world”. It’s certainly a place to daydream and, perhaps, plan a little.
RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design, Editor-in-Chief Chris Young, is published by DK with and RRP of £30. You can buy it here for £25. (If you buy via this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.) Alternatively, you may wish to buy from an independent bookseller here. All prices correct at time of publication of this post.
RHS House Plant
Although this is a new book, the information in it was first published in the RHS Practical House Plant Book and the RHS Cactus and Succulent Book, both written by Fran Bailey and Zia Allaway. Pulling the two together seems sensible as most houseplant growers will have plants that span a wide range.
It begins by offering ideas for ‘designing with house plants’ – how to group them, how to match the size of the plant to the size of the room, what to grow them in – before moving on to growing spaces and considerations of light and temperature.
There’s practical information on choosing the right compost, pruning and propagation and a whole range of ‘plant projects’ ranging from making a succulent wreath or a moss picture frame to planting a dry terrarium or indoor rockery.
Nearly half of the book is devoted to plant profiles, all illustrated, and with information on the plant size, care needs and appearance.
With a troubleshooting finale of advice on pests and diseases, it’s a far-reaching look at the world of house plants.
RHS House Plant by Fran Bailey and Zia Allaway, is published by DK with an RRP of £20. You can buy it here for £15.99. (If you buy via this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.) Alternatively, you may wish to buy from an independent bookseller here. All prices correct at time of publication of this post.
Top image: Dorling Kindersley: Peter Anderson / RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2014
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Excellent Christmas gift ideas for gardeners.
I always love being given books. 🙂