Grow Your Garden Library
Posted on August 1, 2014 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
If I could have just one book in my gardening library, it would be “The Southern Living Garden Book,” edited by Steve Bender. With more than 7,000 plant 
entries, 1,300 color photos, and 1,200 color illustrations, it has been called the single most authoritative source for gardening in the South. It’s the tome I reach for to get extensive information about a particular plant, ideas for a shade garden, trees and shrubs suitable for containers, etc.
There are many other books worthy of occupying your shelves. Here are several you should consider adding to your gardening library.
“Alabama Gardener’s Guide,” by Jennifer Greer
This book tells the What, Where, When, How and Why of gardening in Alabama. After visiting more than 100 of Alabama’s best gardeners, Greer selected 173 plants that would make up a good, basic palette that would work in almost any garden in the state.
“The Southern Gardener’s Book of Lists: The Best Plants for All Your Needs, Wants, and Whims,” by Lois Trigg Chaplin
Another book recommended by many of my gardening friends, one of whom takes it with her when she goes shopping for plants.
“Tough Plants for Southern Gardens,” by Felder Rushing
This volume is like having a neighbor who knows a lot about plants. Those of you who heard Rushing’s gardening presentation in Montgomery last fall know he makes gardening seem like common sense.
While the previous books are specific to the South, there are many on particular areas of gardening.
“Instant Container Gardens and Easy Container Gardens; Easy Container Combos: Vegetables & Flowers; Easy Container Combos: Herbs and Flowers,” by Pamela Crawford
Crawford has made a specialty of investigating the best plants and best practices for container gardening, including how to combine plants.
“Lasagna Gardening,” by Patricia Lanza
This book explains a new system for creating bountiful gardens, with Lanza describing how to use layers of readily available natural ingredients to create a garden bed. There is no digging, tilling, or weeding, which makes it a great solution for our prairie soil. I saw her present this system at a conference and she is the real deal.
“Passalong Plants,” by Steve Bender and Felder Rushing
These are plants you won’t find in big-box store garden sections or even neighborhood garden centers. These are plants that have traditionally been passed-along from person-to-person, cutting-by-cutting, with helpful hints on taking care of them. Bender and Rushing write in a lively, chatty, humorous way about this special category of plants.
In addition to books, gardening magazines feature design ideas along with the latest in gardening news.
Alabama Gardener
The latest issue of this magazine has articles on ferns, hardscape, containers, and tomatoes. In addition there is a list of Summer Destinations of the South, including public gardens. A Calendar of Events for the region is a regular feature.
Fine Gardening
The August issue features solutions for dry shade, a plant trial of 78 Phlox varieties, and an especially interesting article on eight perennials that are platinum substitutes for oldies but goodies. The lush photographs are a feast for the eyes.
flower
Published in Birmingham with a national coverage, this magazine combines gardening and interior design. In the June issue, in a section labeled “design school,” James Farmer shows step-by-step how he creates a potted table arrangement that he later repurposes in the garden.
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list, but it’s a good start on a gardening library. No doubt other gardeners have their favorites, and we haven’t even started on web sites! We’ll leave that to a future column.
Betsy Coley is a Master Gardener with the Capital City Master Gardener Association. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail capcitymga@gmail.com.
