Gardening Books and CD-ROM's

• Gardening books
• Garden Design
• Vegetables and Fruits
• Specific plants, shrubs etc
• Construction books for the garden

With this reference gardeners can successfully replicate alpine plants' native conditions, allowing them to grow such choice alpines as gentians, daphnes, and Dianthus. Dramatic photographs and descriptions take readers through the Pyrenees, Alps, Balkans, and Carpathians to capture the charms of these unique mountain plants.

Graham Stuart Thomas made rock gardens an important part of his life's work. In this book, the first complete history and exposition of rock gardening, he provides the necessary geological background, traces the historical introduction of alpine plants and gives practical and aesthetic advice on how to create a rock garden and choose suitable plants. There are chapters on all the relevant topics - including grottoes, the history of early rock gardens, the scree garden, the alpine lawn, the peat garden, paths, ponds, the rock garden in autumn, dwarf conifers - and extensive information on suitable plants and shrubs. There is a revealing chapter on the restoration and maintenance of rock gardens, which dispels the fear that rock gardens involve a large amount of detailed work. Numerous illustration, many of which are of special historic interest, help to make this the most authoritative, comprehensive and up-to-date volume on the subject.

"The New Pyramid Bonsai Basics" explains in detail all the techniques needed to keep a bonsai alive and in good shape. Clear text and step-by-step illustrations ensure that even the most nervous newcomer can approach looking after bonsai with confidence. Filled with over 120 specially commissioned photographs and illustrations, the "New Pyramid Bonsai Basics" is an extensive directory of both indoor and outdoor trees and their characteristics.

Bonsai in the original Chinese and Japanese means "plant in a container", and it conforms in all respects to a normal tree except for its miniature size. The cultivation of bonsai depends on careful selection of suitable specimens, skilful root pruning and potting, and regular attention. The aim is to produce a tree of perfect proportion and in harmony with its container so that the whole can be seen and displayed as a living work of art. This illustrated handbook looks at how to achieve the six basic styles of bonsai. It also offers detailed advice on obtaining material, potting, pruning, training and seasonal care for bonsai.

Clematis have long enjoyed popularity in gardens large enough to accommodate them and now, with the arrival of a new generation of cultivars that excel in mixed borders, containers, and other small spaces, there is more reason than ever to grow them. As well as being modest in height, many of these new clematis are extremely floriferous and self-supporting, thus ensuring their value in a wide range of garden situations.

Evison recommends the best clematis for compact spaces such as indoor and outdoor containers, mixed borders, deck gardens, hanging baskets, and balconies, and goes on to provide detailed plant descriptions organized by flowering season. This long-awaited book celebrates a new generation of clematis and will appeal to both established enthusiasts and beginners.

"Fuchsias - The New Cultivars" follows George Bartlett's first volume, "Fuchsias - A Colour Guide", profiling another 1500 newly created cultivars with over 500 colour photographs. Starting with practical advice from an expert on how to care for this beautiful plant, it then updates the fuchsia enthusiast and specialist with entries on the very latest cultivars.

This practical manual shows how to make the fuchsia a glorious focus in any garden. The author explains how to select and buy plants, how to grow new plants from old ones, and what to do for them as the seasons change.

The Lawn Guide is ideal for the complete novice and seasoned expert alike, it explains everything you could ever need to know about lawn care.

The universal standard work on the subject of roses, this is a unique compendium, which introduces readers to the fascinating world of this most noble flower, and with more than 4,000 cultivated roses and the most important wild roses, portrays the rose in all its wonderful variety.

This volume is a well-grounded reference work for rose aficionados and hobby gardeners, as well as a sure guide for enthusiastic beginners through the confusing multitude of names, synonyms and codes to just the right rose. The descriptions of each unique variety include detailed information about its shape, colour, growth and blossoming, complemented by interesting facts about the discovery and naming of individual species.

Detailed information to select, plant, propagate, water, fertilise, and protect roses from pests and disease; Eye-popping colour photographs and profiles feature the 500 best rose varieties for North America-selected for bloom power, disease resistance, and performance; Tips and techniques to successfully landscape and design gardens with roses; Easy-to-follow information for beginners as well as in-depth answers for experts on arranging, preserving, and exhibiting roses.

GENERAL GARDEN TIPS include natural fertilizers, toilet roll planters, how to fit a garden hose, feeding the birds and removing rust from garden tools;

DEALING WITH PESTS AND WEEDS includes beating slugs, discouraging moles and banishing weeds without chemicals;

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN includes rotating crops, what to grow, the best tomatoes and storing apples and pears;

ALLOTMENTS includes checking the rules, growing flowers amongst the veg and preparing the plot;

THE FLOWER GARDEN includes what to grow for the scent , where to buy for success with roses, what to plant in a shady corner and when to dead-head spring bulbs.

"The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs" is widely recognised as an absolute classic in horticultural literature.

Over 10,500 plants representing more than 650 genera are described in detail, making it an indispensable guide for any keen gardener or botanist. This is the definitive reference work on trees and shrubs.

The horticulture notes have been compiled by members of the Hillier family from direct experience of growing plants and assessing their performance in different regions.

Trees, shrubs, and hedges are the "bones," or essential framework, of any landscape design. "Complete Trees, Shrubs and Hedges" explains how to select the finest plants for specific growing conditions, as well as plants that look good together. Over 550 colour photographs and 165 illustrations provide instruction and inspiration to landscape for four-season interest, colour, and beauty. Descriptions of over 1,000 of the best plants are included -"best" because they are beautiful, low-maintenance, pest and disease-resistant, and available at local nurseries and home centres. "Complete Trees, Shrubs and Hedges" provides all the necessary information to add privacy, shade, colour, and texture to the landscape all year round. It presents over 550 colour photographs, 165 illustrations and paintings.

Chris Baines shows the reader how to transform his or her garden into a rich wildlife haven. He sets the wildlife garden within the context of the broader concerns of regional ecology and reveals how we can each do our bit to safeguard the habitats of important indigenous flora and fauna.

A wide range of natural habitats is discussed in detail, including hedgerows, shrubberies, meadows and ponds, with lists of native wildflowers and practical tips.

The book looks at many different aspects of gardening, such as decorative beds and borders in the ornamental garden, as well as lawns, hedges and the kitchen garden. Domestic outdoor spaces are extremely variable in terms of size, function and location, and the authors explain in each case which types of wildlife can potentially benefit from a particular type of garden. Clear and easy-to-follow instructions on a range of basic techniques - such as plant propagation, soil preparation, planting, creating new habitats and general maintenance - are backed up with advice on planning and designing, showing how we can successfully share our outdoor space with wildlife. In addition, the book shows how to encourage benign and beneficial garden species by feeding and providing shelter for them as well as how best to deal with the more problematic species that occasionally enter our gardens.