Throughout 2022, we asked leading garden writers, garden designers and horticulturists to review recently published books for garden and plant lovers. Here are 14 books that our reviewers especially loved, making them our Books of the Year.

Why not treat yourself, or gift a book to someone else? For more gifts for gardeners, take a look at our gift guide.

The best gardening books to read in 2023

RHS How to Garden when you Rent by Matthew Pottage, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, £14.99, ISBN 978-0241459744

Read our full review of How to Garden When You Rent

Wild: The Naturalistic Garden by Noel Kingsbury, photographs by Claire Takacs, Phaidon, £39.95 ISBN 978-1838661052

Read our full review of Wild: The Naturalistic Garden

A Greener Life by Jack Wallington , Laurence King Publishing, £19.99, ISBN 978-0857828934

Read our full review of A Greener Life

The Plant Rescuer by Sarah Gerrard-Jones, Bloomsbury Publishing, £16.99, ISBN 978-1526638137

Read our full review of The Plant Rescuer.

The Modern Gardener by Frances Tophill, Octopus Publishing Group, £22, ISBN 978-0857839435

Read our full review of The Modern Gardener

RHS Roses by Michael Marriott, Dorling Kindersley, £24.99, ISBN 978-0241543894

Read our full review of RHS Roses 

Cut Flowers by Celestina Robertson, Frances Lincoln, £12.99, ISBN 978-0711269958

Read our full review of Cut Flowers

English Garden Eccentrics by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, Yale University Press, £30, ISBN 978-1913107260

Read our full review of English Garden Eccentrics

Flowers Forever by Bex Partridge , Hardie Grant Books, £20, ISBN 978-1784884345

Read our full review of Flowers Forever

Unearthed by Claire Ratinon, Chatto & Windus (Vintage), £16.99, ISBN 978-1784744472

Read our review of Unearthed

The Magic of Mushrooms by Sandra Lawrence, Welbeck, £14.99, ISBN 978-1787399068

Read our full review of The Magic of Mushrooms

No Dig by Charles Dowding, Dorling Kindersley, £30, ISBN 978-0241541814

Read our full review of No Dig

Gardening in a Changing World by Darryl Moore, Pimpernel Press, £20, ISBN 978-1910258286

Read our full review of Gardening in a Changing World.

Wild Edens by Toby Musgrave and Chris Gardner, Octopus Books, £40, ISBN 978-1914239250

Read our full review of Wild Edens

Enter our competition to win all 14 of the best gardening books

With Mother’s Day just around the corner on 19 March, it’s time to get the all-important gift sorted. There are plenty of presents out there for green-fingered mums; the choice can seem overwhelming. Whether your mum will spend her Sunday out in the garden, or wrapped up on the sofa with a cup of tea, here you will find some of the best Mother’s Day garden gifts that are sure to make this year feel extra special.

Mother’s Day Garden Gifts for 2023

Grow your own seed box

Seed sowing season is officially underway by the arrival of Mother’s Day, and this set from Garden Pack is the ultimate kit to get your mum growing. Containing a hundred packets of seeds along with detailed growing instructions, this set could transform any garden into a plant-filled haven. Sixty-five packets are vegetable seeds too, so if your mum is hoping to fill pots and beds with produce this year, then this pack will help her be well on her way. The wooden storage box makes this gift especially practical, as it can be easily stored. It even comes with a pair of gardening gloves.

Niwaki secateurs

• Buy now from Amazon (£185.00), Niwaki (£169.00).
• Buy the set now from Amazon (£493.90), Niwaki (£449.00)

These Niwaki secateurs are the real deal. Made out of carbon steel and hand forged in Yamagata, they are the pinnacle of luxury gardening tools. The 210mm Japanese pruners are useful for heavy and demanding pruning jobs.

If you want to splash out this Mother’s Day, you can also buy these secateurs as part of Niwaki’s Tokusen set (see below). The perfect present, the set contains all three of their Tokusen range wrapped in cotton and in a neat gift box – ideal for easy wrapping.  The 165mm Pruners are smaller and better for light garden pruning, dead heading and cut flowers. The final addition to the set, the Barracuda Secateurs are longer and more slender than their counterparts. These are perfect for day-to-day garden work. If your mum is planning to spend her day tidying up the garden, these tools will make it a breeze.

Garden speaker

Time spent in the garden can be very mindful, but sometimes hours of weeding need to be accompanied by a bit of music or a good podcast. Whereas most bluetooth speakers might be vulnerable to damage in damp grass or get lost amongst garden off-cuts, this speaker from Kitsound is freestanding. With a stake to hold the speaker in place in the ground, it can be easily placed anywhere in the garden. It is water and dust resistant and has up to eight hours of play time; plenty to get all those garden jobs done while listening to an audiobook.

Garden design book

• Buy now from RHS Shop (£30.00)

If your mum is planning a big garden overhaul this year, the RHS Encyclopaedia of Garden Design would be the ideal present. With tips on how to plan, build and plant an outdoor space, this book is filled with inspiration. The guide will teach you the fundamentals of garden design, help you to find your own style and show you how to bring these ideas to life. The book contains tips on building and planting up ponds and perennials as well as assessing garden drainage and laying patios. Showcasing a portfolio of garden styles, including Japanese, modernist, urban, family and cottage gardens, the book has ideas to suit all tastes.

A bouquet of flowers

The classic Mother’s Day gift, and one that will always be a winner, is a bouquet of flowers. If you’re planning on having a relaxing day in with your mum, a bunch of flowers will definitely brighten up the house. Bloom and Wild have a beautiful selection of flowers, including some Mother’s Day exclusives.

If one bunch of flowers isn’t enough, how about a flower subscription. There are some brilliant companies out there that can keep your mum’s house full of flowers for weeks to come.

Cherry blossom cushion

• Buy now from RHS Shop (£30.00).

The RHS have released a new cherry blossom collection using a print held at the Lindley Library. Kondo Yuho’s 1888 ‘Double Cherry Blossom’ print has been adapted by designers into an exclusive range of homewares, soft furnishings and accessories for the RHS. The cushions from this new collection would make an excellent Mother’s Day gift. The bold, ruffled cherry blossom design screams of spring and would be a welcome burst of colour to any outdoor sofa.

Herringbone throw

• Buy now from National Trust Shop (£42.00).

If a couple of cushions weren’t quite enough to make a Mother’s Day on the sofa more comfortable, why not add a woollen throw to go with them. This Herringbone Throw from the National Trust would be absolutely perfect. Made from one hundred percent wool, the blanket has a soft and cosy texture. It can be bought in several colours, but we think the petrol blue would go well in any room.

Indoor watering can

Houseplants are the perfect addition to any home, but they can often come with a lot of plastic care equipment that needs hiding away. Burgon and Ball have a range of houseplant accessories that you’ll want to keep on display, like this charcoal grey watering can. Moulded in steel for a smooth finish, this watering can is durable and will stand the test of time. The wood handle is made from FSC beech wood and allows precise control over watering, while the slender spout is perfect for delivering water only to the spot where it is needed. We think that this would make a perfect gift for any houseplant-loving parent on Mothering Sunday.

Gardens Illustrated magazine subscription

A subscription to Gardens Illustrated would make an excellent Mother’s Day present. Each issue is filled with planting ideas, beautiful gardens and expert advice all accompanied by stunning photography.

Year-round garden visits

• Buy an RHS membership
• Buy a National Trust membership

For a gift that will keep on giving all year, why not buy your mum a membership that will allow her to visit hundreds of beautiful gardens and parks through all the seasons.

An RHS membership grants access to all five RHS gardens, as well as over two hundred partner gardens. Members also receive a monthly magazine and personalised gardening advice. Another great membership to gift is for The National Trust. This will provide access to hundreds of stately homes and gardens, as well free parking at National Trust beauty spots all over the country.

Looking for more inspiration? Find fantastic present ideas for younger family members in our round-up of the best gardening gifts for kids.

Finding that perfect gift for the gardener in your life can be hard work. Unless they’re a complete gardening novice, your gardening friend or loved one probably has quite a lot of the tools, clothes and seeds that they need. But shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, when it comes to finding the perfect gardening gifts we’ve done a significant amount of the work for you.

We’ve put together the below list of unusual, innovative, unique gifts for gardeners who have everything. But there should be gardening gift ideas to suit every level of garden knowledge, from people who you want to encourage into gardening, to those who are starting their journey, to those who are experts.

Behind the scenes at our gardening gift guide shoot

Our list is also a round up of gifts for garden lovers – they don’t have to be into digging and mulching, they can just love the outdoors, appreciate an excellent planting plan and be enthused by the wonders of botany.

These gardening gifts are a real mixture of things we’ve spotted from our favourite brands, but also gifts that surprised us and charmed us too. Some are for entertaining in the garden, some are for the nitty gritty garden tasks, some just have a gardening theme. We’re certain you’ll find the gifts you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for garden furniture, we’ve rounded up the best.

Jump to:

• Best gardening gifts for flower lovers
• Gardening gifts for indoor gardeners
• Best gardening gifts for young gardeners and families
• Gardening gifts for fruit and vegetable gardeners
• Best garden clothing gifts
• Gardening tool gifts
• Gardening days out and subscription gifts
• Unusual gardening gifts
• Botanical gardening gifts
• Garden lifestyle gifts
• Picnic, garden party and decorating gifts

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• Garden gifts for kids: Christmas presents
• Last minute Christmas gifts: gardening memberships and subscriptions
• Best flower subscription services
• Best hand cream for gardeners

Gardening gift ideas

Best gardening gifts for flower lovers

Fresh flower subscription

• Buy now from Bloom & Wild (from £19.58)

A flower subscription makes a wonderful gift and the regular deliveries bring joy again and again as the months go on. So, it’s a great choice if you know someone who loves to have a steady supply of fresh blooms in their home.

Bloom & Wild is one of the UK’s most popular flower subscription providers, delivering fresh bouquets in fully recyclable, letterbox-friendly packaging. Delivery prices vary between £19.58 and £26.66 per month, and you can choose a three-, six- or 12-month subscription, or an ongoing monthly order.

To browse alternative packages, check out our list of the UK’s top flower subscription services. Or, if your intended recipient is more of a plant-lover, why not take a look at our favourite plant delivery boxes?

• Buy now from Bloom & Wild (from £19.58)

Seed Tin

This seed tin is sure to help out a messy gardener who is in need of some organisation. 

The team here at Gardens Illustrated love the simple yet fun design of this seed tin from Suttons. There are internal compartments to help create a neat system so seeds are easy to find. It is made with powder-coated steel and we think it would look super perched on any window sill or greenhouse ledge. The handles also make it easy to carry when on the move. 

It is also available in dark grey and cream if you fancy selecting a different colour. 

Don’t miss our list of favourite seed boxes to buy. 

Gardening gifts for indoor gardeners

Plantsmith Houseplant gift set

• Buy now from Waitrose (£29.99)

Most of us have built up a healthy house plant obsession in recent years, and succulents, which were absolutely in vogue before 2020 hit, are still high on the houseplant list for many people. Even if your loved one is a seasoned gardener, we’d wager they probably don’t have something as stylish as this  house plant care set, which will help keep your plants looking and feeling healthy.

The set is designed to offer everything you need to keep your house plants alive, with all the essential nutrients they might need.  It’s a lovely and thoughtful gift from for the gardener who has everything.

• Buy now from Waitrose (£29.99)

Jute Rope Flowerpot

The perfect way to add a touch of style to large house plants in plastic pots, this jute pot is both flexible and sturdy. 

We love the rustic appearance of this handmade item and feel it would look gorgeous in a bright, sunny porch or even a corridor to help create a relaxing feel to the space. 

When it’s not filled with beautiful plants, it can be used as a storage basket – perhaps for vegetables or plant ties, twine and your bits and pieces –  so this is a handy gift any gardener could make use of. The handles mean it can be easily carried and moved from room to room. 

It is 28cm in width and height and best fits a 25cm flower pot. 

If you want a good list of eco plant pots, don’t miss our round up. 

Take a look at more great pot cover ideas here.

Indoor Herb Growing Kit

One of the best gifts for gardeners, especially those who don’t actually have much space outside. This zesty herb kit from Plant Theory comes with everything you need in order to grow your own herbs. The seeds and compost are organic and vegan and the kit is 100 per cent plastic free.

There are five classic cooking herbs in the kit, basil, chives, oregano, parsley and thyme, alongside biodegradable bamboo pots, wooden plant labels, vegan, peat free compost, a pencil, tweezer, jute bag and instructions. A whole series of gardening gifts in one, and even those gardeners who have everything will likely put these to good use.

Haws Copper Indoor and Seedling Watering Can

• Buy now from Harrod Horticultural (£55)

As attractive as it is useful, the Haws copper watering can would make a great gift for those who take great pride in caring for their beloved indoor plants. 

It is particularly suited for greenhouse use too, so it is a solid option for a friend who has lots of greenhouse seedlings to look after. The watering can can be polished to retain the sleek finish or if left alone, it will eventually turn green, giving it a more rustic look.  

It is 16cm in height and 36cm in length and can hold 1 litre of water.  

Check out our selection of the best watering cans for gardeners.

Terrarium Bottle and Extending Tool Set

Terrariums may be all the rage, but there’s a reason for that: they’re beautiful and easy to maintain too. If you know someone who’d be great at experimenting with growing their own this 5 litre glass bottle terrarium is an excellent place to start.

There’s a telescopic shovel and rake for you to help adjust your curated ecosystem, but note: this gardening gift doesn’t come with the soil, pebbles or plants themselves. Those will need to be sourced separately. For tips on how to plant a terrarium, head to our guide.

Gold mister plant set

• Buy now from John Lewis (£37)

A stylish and functional mister made from stainless steel and complete with an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to look after your plants. The mister holds 300 ml of water and is 15 cm high. This bundle comes with a nifty plant and pot that will make the entire set look very fetching on your windowsill.

Find more cleverly designed gear in our guide to the best ergonomic garden tools you can buy online.

• Buy now from John Lewis (£37)

Best gardening gifts for young gardeners and families

Bee Brick

If you’re stumped for gardening gift ideas, this Bee Brick would make a fail-safe choice. Designed by Green and Blue in Cornwall, the Bee Brick is an innovative concrete block, created to support the declining bee population. The concrete brick can be left as a freestanding bee home in the garden or it can be built into a wall for an integrated look.

The bee bricks contain cavities for solitary bees to lay their eggs in safety; their offspring emerge the following spring and the cycle begins again. It’s an eco-friendly gift that would be perfect for a sustainable gardener or a bee-lover.

The bee brick comes with high praise too; it won the Soil Association’s 2014 Innovation Award, sponsored by the Duchy Future Farming Programme.

Looking for bee hives? We’d recommend these.

Tree Vision: Know Your Trees in 30 Cards by Tony Kirkham and Holly Exley

If you’re looking for gifts for young gardeners or just gardeners wanting to know more about trees, look no further. Both a gardening gift and an educational gift, the card game format will help players learn about a tree’s leaves, seeds, flowers and more in an accessible and fun way. Ash, beech, birch, cedar, hornbeam, juniper, lime, maple, oak, pine, spruce, sycamore, yew are just a few examples of trees that players will soon be able to recognise in a flash!

Each card is beautifully illustrated by Holly Exley and the text is written by Tony Kirkham, former Head of Arboretum, Gardens and Horticulture Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, so you can rest assured that you’ll be learning from an expert.

Here’s our guide on how to identify oaks.

The Botanist’s Sticker Anthology

Gardening is one of the most mindful activities you can do, but over the winter we have to find other activities to keep us busy. If you’re looking for a gift for a busy gardener, a young gardener, or just an arty, nature lover, this sticker anthology should tick your box. Mindful and pleasing on the eye, this sticker anthology is packed full of vintage, intricate botanical drawings; including flowers, ferns, exotic plants and fungi.

Perfect for scrapbook lovers, or gardeners in need of some plant escapism during the colder months, this is a gardening gift that brings nearly as much joy and mindfulness from the act of gardening itself.

Find more outdoor-inspired presents in our edit of the best gardening gifts for kids.

Beeswax Wrap DIY Kits

These DIY Beeswax wraps are a great, eco-friendly alternative to plastic wraps for food that will keep your produce fresh in a natural way.

A great feature of these wraps is that they are reusable. This would make a fantastic gift for an eco-conscious friend who is actively trying to reduce their plastic consumption.

The kit contains a set of detailed instructions, three organic cotton fabric squares, two pieces of baking paper, three beeswax blend bars – made with pine resin and organic jojoba oil – and a fairtrade canvas tea towel. To make the wraps, you’ll need an iron.

Looking to make them literally from scratch? Here’s our guide on how to make beeswax wraps. 

A Bee Grow Bar

• Buy now from Waterstones (£12.99)

No, this isn’t something to help your grow bees, instead it’s the gardening gift for people who care about wildlife but aren’t expert gardeners. Grow Bars makes planting extra easy and curates a series of seeds around themes. This one is catered for making bees happy – and who doesn’t like doing that?

All you do is put the bar in a container, keep it watered and place in a sunny position and eventually the seeds should start to germinate. Once they’ve grown up a bit, you can plant them around the garden. Easy.

The seeds include hyssop, verbena and lavender. A perfect gift for garden lovers and an unusual gardening gift too.

We also love these seed bombs. 

Gardening gifts for fruit and vegetable gardeners

Garden Bag

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£15)

For those who prefer not to use a traditional garden trug to carry their garden goods, this altogether more rugged canvas bag is a perfect alternative. 

Whatever needs to be carried from the garden into the house – vegetables, fruit, bulbs or even a leftover coffee cup –  this handy khaki bag is sure to help. It would also make a nifty storage bag that could live in a shed or a greenhouse. 

The khaki bag is made with waterproof canvas and has a capacity of 15 litres. 

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£15)

You can help your loved ones have a more comfortable time in the garden with this delightful kneeler from Burgon and Ball’s RHS Flora & Fauna collection.  

Spending hours at a time weeding and planting can be tough on knees, so this kneeling pad – which is made with memory foam technology – would be a perfect gift for those looking for a bit of extra support. 

It also prevents gardeners from ruining their favourite jeans so it’s a pretty useful item to have.  

Thanks to the cut-out handle, the pad is easy to carry and after a long day’s work, it can hang up in the shed for easy storage.  

You’ll find more garden kneeler recommendations in our list of the best garden kneelers.

Rob Smith Heritage Veg Selection

Begone plastic novelty gifts, here’s a gardening gift that connects your loved one directly with the earth. The perfect gardening gift for either a person new to gardening or a pro, this veg collection offers a host of seeds for planting in the coming year, something lovely and very, very tasty, to look forward to.

This gardening gift includes bean seeds, cucumber seeds, pea seeds and squash seeds, the heritage veg harks back to more traditional garden growing times: don’t expect any of these newfangled cucamelons. As such, the selection is bound to excite the gardener or garden lover in your life and what’s more, they aren’t difficult to grow either.

Here’s more on where to buy seeds online.

Apple Tree

Give the gardening gift of a lifetime this season, with this apple bramleys seedling – the ultimate English cooking apple. This particular version Is on dwarf rootstock, which means it’s the perfect gardening gift for smaller gardens.

Autumn and winter are the perfect seasons to plant a tree, something that we should all be doing much, much more of in order to support the wildlife and local eco system. These apples can be harvested from October, and ideally you’d grow this tree near another apple tree, as it isn’t a self pollinator.

We’d class this as one of the of garden gifts which is good for the gardener in your life, but also nature, birds and bees too. Plus you could also be on the receiving end of some very tasty apple pie. This apple tree needs to be planted in a sunny border in well drained soil. For more on how to plant a tree, head to our guide.

Sussex Garden Trug

This handcrafted trug is perfect for those of your gardening friends who enjoy spending an afternoon picking delicious fruit and vegetables. 

It is made with naturally rot-resistant birch aircraft ply wood in a gorgeous colour and is durable enough to guarantee long lifespan and years of good looks. 

It measures 53cm long, by 28cm wide so it’s ideal for longer produce such as leeks and asparagus… Or anything that want to look great in your new garden trug.

Ceramic Plant Labels Set of five

For gardeners who are well into their herb growing, these little labels are a thoughtful and handy present. 

These ceramic plant labels allow herb growers to organise their produce so they know exactly what they have planted and where. 

There are five sticks in the pack and you can either get them pre marked or ask for your own. 

Looking for more plant labels? We love these. 

And take a look at our favourite seed suppliers.

Gardening days out and subscription gifts

Gardens Illustrated Magazine Subscription

• Buy now from Gardens Illustrated and Save 50% on a subscription

An absolutely necessary gift for the intrepid gardener, a year’s subscription to Gardens Illustrated will be absolutely worth you while. Yes, we’re biased, but we are confident that gardener in your life will love the mixture of beautiful photography, inspiring gardens, practical advice and plant expertise. Make sure they never miss a copy by getting it delivered direct to their door each month.

What’s more there’s always a fabulous offer or two available and you can save up to 50% on a subscription in our Christmas offer.

National Trust Membership

• Buy now from National Trust (adult membership £76.80)

2020 was, to put it mildly, a tumultuous year. But one of the key things many people took away from the last few month was a greater appreciation of nature, open spaces, trees and greenery. What better way to continue the connection than by investing in a membership for the National Trust, which does vital nature management work up and down the country and conserves historic, fascinating buildings and gardens for the country.

The charity, as with many charities, suffered during lockdown, having to content with decreased visitor numbers, so supporting the organisation goes some way to helping with that.

Become an RHS Member

• Buy now from RHS (from £71)

The vital work the Royal Horticultural Society does throughout the UK is a huge part of the country’s world-beating reputation in horticulture and gardens. There are four RHS gardens, soon to be a fifth, alongside 218 RHS partner gardens, all of which have something unique and exciting to offer.As the world continues to change and understanding about nature, wildlife, the earth and growing becomes vital to all of us, the RHS stands as a place for experimentation, research and education.

If you buy a gift membership before the 24th December, you will receive a £15 voucher to spend at RHS Garden Centres.

Looking for more garden subscriptions? 

Best garden clothing gifts

 

Canvas Garden Apron, Khaki

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£28)

 

 

If your friend spends most of their time in the garden, often with damp soil on their jeans and hand wipe marks on their top, this khaki canvas apron from Garden Trading is the perfect gift for them.

Designed to ensure that their clothes will stay clean underneath, ready for a full day of gardening, the apron is a practical piece of kit. The waist strap is long enough to tie at the front of the apron for an even better and closer fit. In addition to this, there is a handy front pocket for keeping gardening tools close to hand. 

Our list of the best garden aprons will also provide you with more potential options.

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£28)

Birkenstock Schuhe Super-Birki Clog

Available in a range of colours and sizes, the versatile Super-Birki can be worn by anyone and everyone. Made from dirt-resistant polyurethane, with a fabric footbed lining and non-slip sole, these are both practical and durable. The super-resilient shoe can actually be washed at up to 60C.

Plus, the removable, cork-latex footbed can be removed and popped in the washing machine. A practical addition to keep by your door or in your allotment or greenhouse for sliding on and off.

Take a look at the best boot scrapers for clean hallways and wellies!

For more garden footwear recommendations see our list of the best gardening shoes.

Evercreatures Raspnavy Tall Wellies

A top pair of wellies are an essential piece of garden gear. 

The unembellished yet attractive design makes these boots from Evercreatures easy to wear with a range of different items, whether it’s a mucky pair of overalls or a nice pair of jeans. As well as running along the bottom of the boot, the red raspberry stripe can be found at the back too. 

For a very reasonable price, these reliable wellington boots are a practical gift that your outdoor loving friend is likely to make great use of. 

Here’s our list of the best wellies to buy.

Burgon & Ball Tweed Gardening Gloves, Medium Grey

Great for protecting every gardener’s most valuable tools, these stylish gloves will not only keep busy hands safe when working in the garden but also warm during the colder months. The gloves have an adjustable strap allowing for maximum comfort and are recommended for people with medium-sized hands. The strap itself is a rip-tape fastener so the wearer will be able to tighten or loosen the gloves with ease.

They feature some padded protection with a soft felt liner in the palms and fingers which won’t stiffen when the gloves are dried. There is also a breathable mesh that will ensure that fingers are kept cool with improved mobility.

For more stylish handwear visit our list of the best gardening gloves.

Boot Socks

These stylish Merino wool boot socks from HJ Hall are the perfect gift when paired with walking boots for countryside strolls and dog walks for any nature lover.

With 135 years in the industry you know that you’re in good hands (or socks!) with HJ Hall’s products. Merino wool is known for its ability to help regulate body temperature making these fashionable socks an appealing choice that should keep your feet comfortable, warm and dry. The socks also come with a six month guarantee.

Belstaff jacket

Made for adventurers, Belstaff products are designed to stand the test of time. Although they were originally intended for use with motorsports when the brand launched in 1924, they’ve since found fans across the world. Che Guevara, Amelia Earhart and David Beckham have all owned Belstaff jackets. And Steve McQueen wore one in The Great Escape. 

The Trialmaster has been around since 1948 and is Belstaff’s ‘definitive’ jacket. With its waxed navy cotton, checked twill lining and brushed corduroy linings at the collar, cuffs and hem, it’s a smart choice. 

Don’t miss our round up of the best garden jackets for women and the best jackets for men.

Statement Donegal Jumper, oatmeal

• Buy now from John Lewis (£112)

An 100 per cent wool jacket will keep you warm when you’re working in the cold outside and make you feel 100 per cent better about yourself. This chic, traditional style jumper is like a lovely, warm cup of cocoa and you’ll love it every time you put it on. We’d recommend for days in or for working in the garden too.

• Buy now from John Lewis (£112)

Rab down jacket

Warm yet lightweight, down jackets are becoming more and more popular, and a Rab version is a great choice if you’re looking for a slightly higher-end option. Founded by climber Rab Carrington, who started out making technical sleeping bags designed to withstand the icy conditions on mountains, the brand specialises in cold-weather gear.

This lightweight Rab jacket is the one to buy for easy storage as it comes with a convenient stuff sack, which you can clip to a larger bag. It’s filled with recycled, hydrophobic down and has three pockets and a stiffened peak on the hood. 

For more great men’s gardening jackets take a look here.

Gardening tool gifts

Fallen Fruits copper plated trowel

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14)

A garden trowel that’s brilliantly stylish as well as being very high quality. This copper plated trowel includes a leather loop for storage and measurements on the blade to make sure you’re planting at the right depth. You can use it for removing weeds as well as planting and if you want, you can get it engraved with your loved one’s name to make it an extra special present.

The perfect gift for a gardener that’s also lovely to look at.

Here is our round up of the best trowels for the garden. 

Copper plated dibber

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14) or The Worm that Turned (£16.95)

A dibber is a must for any dedicated gardener. Essentially a little stick that you push into the ground to make a hole, a dibber is perfect for planting seeds, seedlings and also small bulbs. This smart, copper-plated version has a lovely look to it and a handy leather strap from which to hang it. It also goes very well with the copper plated trowel, seen above.

• Buy now from Farrar and Tanner (£14) or The Worm that Turned (£16.95)

Copper plated row marker

• Buy now from Farrar and Tannar (£16) or The Worm that Turned (£18.95)

Complete the set with this lovely copper plated row marker. If you’re planning any kind of garden, be it vegetable or flower patch, knowing you’re planting in a straight line can be very helpful. That’s where this row marker comes in. Use natural twine to mark out the space between planting on your seed beds so you’re giving your plants enough space and everything grows in the right spot.

• Buy now from Farrar and Tannar (£16) or The Worm that Turned (£18.95)

Niwaki 4′ Tripod Ladder

• Buy now from Niwaki (from £259.00),  Harrod Horticultural (£309.99)

Tripod ladders are a garden essential, allowing you to get up close and personal with your subject for pruning, sculpting, crop picking and more. The third – front – leg negates the need to prop the ladder against anything so you can place them anywhere without requiring something firm (and bruiseable) to lean against. Niwaki have been bringing their Japanese gardening know-how to bear globally since 1997 – the tripod ladder being their first product to market, so they’re truly kings in this court!

Available in nine sizes from 4 feet to 15 feet high, there’s something for every purpose, being built-to-last from tough and sturdy (yet light and portable) aluminium.

Here’s our round up of the best garden ladders.

Niwaki Tool Roll

Niwaki tools are some of the best in the business and we’d recommend this as a gardening gift for the gardener who has everything. It’s a handy tool roll, with five lined pockets for all your essential tools. Made from weatherproof canvas, you could fit anything in it from pruners to cutlery for picnics. The linings are for the sharp items, so you won’t cut through to your clothes and it wraps easily and neatly round the waist for ease of transportation. A perfect gardening gift.

Garden scissors

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£22) and Ebay (£24)

These stainless steel gardening scissors look beautiful and are perfectly sized for simple jobs. Use them to cut flowers, prune, snip off dead stalks: have them near when you’re in the garden at all times.

These snips take their inspiration from Japanese bonsai scissors, which have precise cuts. These come in stainless steel and have a polished brass finish and come in a handwoven bamboo bag. They could be the perfect quirky garden gift for your loved one.

Here are a few more ideas for great pruners. 

• Buy now from Garden Trading (£22) and Ebay (£24)

Niwaki Rattan Kiridashi Knife

• Buy now from Niwaki (£79)

This is a hand forged blue carbon steel blade, that has a handle hand wrapped in wisteria rattan. Niwaki are the best in the business when it comes to specialist garden tools, and their designs are a pleasure to use.

This is a comfortable knife, that comes complete with a leather pocket sheath. It’s the sort of knife you can use for the kitchen, garden, craft jobs and more. It is an incredibly sharp knife, but also, because of the nature of the way it is forged and the material it is made from, quite brittle. So not for use on heavy handed jobs.

Don’t miss our round up of the best pocket knives for the garden. 

Shuro brush

• Buy now from Amazon (£9.60) and and Niwaki (£9)

This small but very very fetching hand broom is a perfect addition to a carefully thought through cleaning cupboard. The brush is made from palm fibres of Trachycarpus fortunei and bound together with copper wire. It’s the perfect tool for delicate jobs such as sweeping up around a bonsai or in corners of terraces and patios.

• Buy now from Amazon (£9.60) and and Niwaki (£9)

Unusual gardening gifts

Sprout Pencils

If you’re looking for an unusual gardening gift that they won’t expect, these plantable graphite pencils from Sprout are a great gift idea.

Once the pencils are worn and too short to use, you plant them upside down in soil and wait for them to grow. The pencils can grow into luscious flowers, fragrant herbs and even fresh vegetables.

They are made from sustainable and certified wood and are 100 per cent natural and non-toxic. This packet of eight pencils features a range of seeds, with each pencil indicating what plant it will grow. A brilliant and unusual gift for the gardener who has everything.

The Urban Forager: Find and Cook Wild Food in the City by Wross Lawrence

Another cool title from Hoxton Mini Press who publish great little books packed with class and style. The Urban Forager tackles the intriguing and enlightening subject of city foraging. If you know any urban gardeners who love nothing more than a day on the veg patch, this would make the perfect garden gift for them. Writer Wross Lawrence, a professional forager, supplies 32 vegetarian recipes, all using ingredients sourced from the city streets and green spaces. Cherry blossom shortbread or nettle ravioli anyone?

With more and more people turning to vegetarian and vegan diets due to the worries surrounding climate change, this is a timely book that would interest many an eco-savvy gardener, or help to reconnect an urban dweller to nature. Don’t forget our list of the best gardening books for more great reads.

For a practical gift, take a look at the best boot scrapers.

Emma Bridgewater Ladybird Mug

If you know of someone in need of a new favourite garden mug, this cute option from Emma Bridgewater could be a winner.

 It is made from earthenware so it’s suitable for everyday use and it is also dishwasher safe. Holding half a pint, it’s a great option for when you want a big cuppa to take outside. 

The sweet and delicate ladybird paintings make this mug a top choice when having a spot of tea and cake in the sunshine. 

Looking for more mug inspiration? Don’t miss our garden cup round up. 

Great Trees of London Map by Blue Crow Media

We are slowly understanding more and more about the wonders of trees; Judi Dench’s documentary My Passion for Trees and Richard Powers’s book The Overstory are just two recent examples which have contributed to society’s rediscovered fascination for them. If you know a tree-lover, this specialist tree map would make a fab gift choice for them. It focuses on 50 trees throughout our nation’s capital, from magnificent English oaks to delicate cherry trees.

Each tree has a description from Paul Wood, the founder of the Urban Tree Festival and Tree Talk. The map is printed on recycled paper and comes with a protective band, helpful for when you are carrying it out and about.

Don’t miss our round up of the best books about gardening. 

An Opinionated Guide to London Green Spaces by Harry Ades and Marco Kesseler

Did you know that half of the area of London is made up of green spaces? With a staggering 3,000 parks, London is one of the greenest cities on the planet. In this beautifully photographed book, Harry Ades breaks down the city’s top 50 hot spots when it comes to natural, green areas. Urban parks, canals, woodlands and stately gardens are just a few examples of what London has to offer.

This aesthetically pleasing and informative book would make a fab gift for style-savvy urban gardeners or for those wanting to discover more about city gardens and beneficial public green spaces.

The Almanac: a Seasonal Guide to 2023

Now in its fifth edition Lia Leendertz’ annual Almanac is a must-have for anyone who spends their time out in the open working through the seasons.  We’d absolutely recommend Lia Leendertz’ Almanac, which compiles all sorts of interesting lore and tales of the natural world, as well as the moon’s phases, tide timetables, sun rises, seasonal recipes and gardening tips. A perfect Christmas gift for the thoughtful, discerning, smart gardener.

Behind the scenes at our gardening gift guide shoot

Kikkerland Shovel Bottle Opener

Perhaps a gift for the gardener in your life who likes to round off a hard day’s work outside with a refreshing drink. A subtly themed and beautifully designed item which could also be classed as an essential tool.

With a copper plated finish, this is 17.4 cm in length and is part of John Lewis’ smart copper’ series. A great novelty gift for a gardener.

Gardener’s leather journal

This beautiful brown leather covered journal is the perfect garden journal for the gardener in your life. Protected from the weather and muddy feet and paws by its lovely brown cover, inside are 60 pages of plain white craft paper that can be used as you might wish. Sketches? Weather recording? Planting plans? This journal offers everything you might need from a garden journal.

It’s the perfect garden gift for those sorts of gardeners who like to think and plan and will be a cherished item for years to come. Who doesn’t enjoy looking back over their journals at what they had been up to in the past?

There is chestnut and walnut browns available in the series, plus there’s a journal size which is w15cm x h19cm and a sketchbook size, which is w19.5cm x h23cm.

Want more garden journals? Here is our list. 

Botanical gardening gifts

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

We tasted this gin as part of our quest to discover the best gin with botanicals (the results of which you can see here). It’s called Monkey 47 because there are a whopping 47 botanicals listed, including lingonberries, locally sourced near the distillery in the Black Forest.

It has a gorgeous nose and a bottle that we love – think apothecary aesthetic and there’s a great story behind the company, which was originally started by British RAF officer Montgomery Collins who was posted to Germany after the second world war and stayed for good.

Seedlip Drinks

Seedlip has been busy in the garden developing a new range of non-alcoholic spirits inspired by botanicals. The spirit garden option is infused with the taste of hand picked peas and homegrown hay and will likely transport you to the countryside at first sip. Other flavours include citrus grove, spice and the drinks are sugar and sweeteners free, calorie free, without allergens, artificial colours or flavours.

These could be a tasty, refreshing gift for a thirsty gardener who wants a drink but doesn’t want to be distracted from the job in hand. Perfect for serving while entertaining in the garden.

Looking for more botanical drinks? Here’s our list of the best botanical gins. 

Epicurean Herb Melamine Picnic Rectangular Serving Platter

• Buy now from Wayfair (£14.99)

This serving platter does a grand job of holding tasty treats for hardworking gardeners in need of a break.

You’ll find dill, parsley and thyme printed on this rectangular tray so it’s another item on our list for the herb growers in your life. It is made with shatter-resistant melamine so it’s appropriate for outdoor use and it’s also dishwasher safe. 

Whether it’s for a picnic or a party platter, this is a gardening gift that is sure to be used. 

Garden lifestyle gifts

Kilburn and Scott Wool throw

To prevent an outdoor party from being cut short, it’s always a good idea to have a cosy blanket close by. 

This woven throw from John Lewis is a beautiful addition and although it can’t be put in the washing machine, its natural fibres will make it a robust addition to your picnic plans.  Whatever the deco, this pink number would look fabulous in any garden. 

Drape it over an outdoor sofa or day bed for extra cosiness or take it inside to add a fun splash of mustard and brighten up a room. 

Here are lots more blankets we love. 

Lion wall mounted feature

• Buy now from Cox and Cox (£97.50)

This neo-classical eye-catcher is a great addition to anyone’s garden, whether it be big or small. A water feature is always a must, with the sound and motion of the fountain guaranteed to set of beautiful corners of your space and make them feel bigger and calmer. We love this lion-design, which harks to grandeur but can be presented with chic style and subtlety. There’s also LED lights atop the lion’s head so this is a perfect feature for night or day.

• Buy now from Cox and Cox (£97.50)

Gardener Man Illustration

• Buy now from Etsy (£18)

A beautiful and unique illustration, hand drawn digitally using an iPad Pro by artist Emily Lou Holmes, her print ‘Gardener Man’ is a wonderful piece of art that will make a brilliant gift for a gardener who already has everything.

The illustration print is available in sizes A2 and A3, but also as a greeting card and can be gift wrapped if desired.

It is part of a series of illustrations by the artist where she found inspiration from British gardeners and lovers of the outdoors. We think that it’s a lovely piece or art that would make a brilliant gift for any passionate gardener. There is also a female version of the print called ‘Gardener Woman’ available to shop on Etsy.

• Buy now from Etsy (£18)

Barrington Fire Pit

The Barrington Fire Pit from Garden Trading is formed in raw metal and is available in two sizes. Intended for use with logs only, the Barrington’s exterior is curved, creating an attractive and contemporary design. Similar to other fire pits left exposed to the elements, this model will naturally age and become rusted over time.

Dome Gozney oven and stand

• Buy now from Gozney (Dome oven £17,99 and stand £289)

A beautifully designed professional grade outdoor wood-fired oven, the Dome works for beginners for open air cooking and for professional chefs. You can roast, stem or bake with this oven and although wood fuel is recommended for taste, there is the option of a built in gas burner. It comes complete with a digital thermometer, excellent heat retention and a weather resistant outdoor shield that will protect it from whatever mother nature throws at it.

• Buy now from Gozney (Dome oven £17,99 and stand £289)

Trancoso beach bat set

• Buy now from Frescobol Carioca (£245)

One of the things we love best about this bat set – perfect for beach or garden games – is that for every bat sold, a tree will be planted. This bat is made from five pieces of sustainably sourced Brazilian wood offcuts and heat stamped. It is coated in natural waterproof and sand-resistant resin and comes with balls to boot. This is a bat set that will last you a lifetime and beyond.

• Buy now from Frescobol Carioca (£245)

Lexon Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

A wireless Bluetooth speaker may not seem like an obvious choice when it comes to gifts for gardeners, but these handy gadgets are a joy for those working outside for long periods, wanting to listen to music or a podcast hands free and without the faff of earphones or headphones.

When the weather is warmer, they’re also a great accessory for garden parties and entertaining in the garden. This particular Bluetooth speaker has a battery life of three hours, and takes only an hour to charge. Simply stream your music, podcast, audiobook or radio station via your smartphone or tablet.

Find more fun tech in our guide to the best smart garden products and the best garden gadgets for a quick upgrade.

Check out our handy gift guide for outdoor entertaining too.

St Ives Harbour Outdoor Pendant Light

An outdoor light is a much needed item when your garden dinner party continues late into the night. 

This pendant is weatherproof but can also be used inside. There is a 2.5m cable which can be adjusted so you can hang the light at the height of your choice, making it suitable for a variety of spaces. It could be used as a reading light over a comfortable chair, or it could hang over a table for al-fresco entertainment. 

It is worth noting that the light needs to be wired in and it is recommended that you use the help of a qualified electrician.

Here’s our list of the best outdoor lights.

Picnic, garden party and decorating gifts

Corkcicle X Rifle Paper Co Canteen

Flasks are an essential item for gardeners; they keep us cool and hydrated in the summer and warm in the winter. This water bottle is a great gift for gardeners as it does two jobs in one: it keeps cold drinks cold for up to 25 hours and hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours. 

Better yet, it has been beautifully designed by American stationery company Rifle Paper Co., known for its striking floral designs, and Corkcicle, a clever brand creating innovative barware and sustainable drinking vessels.

A practical and pretty gift, this would be a welcome addition to a gardener’s essential kit.

Each stainless steel bottle takes up to 16 oz. 

Looking for more picnic ideas?

Matchbox Seat Pads

• Buy now from Graham & Green (£35)

Garden seating doesn’t have to be dull. And thanks to these bright, retro-inspired cushions, you can really liven up dark or outdated garden furniture. If you know a gardener who loves to entertain, these would be an ideal gift for them.

Taking inspiration from retro matchboxes, these handmade cushions come in a range of quirky designs including lovebirds, parrots and cockerels – a great gift for gardeners and for nature lovers alike. The pads can be used both indoor and out too, making them a great transitional item.

Each seat pad measures 5cm in height, 40cm in width and 40cm in depth.

And take a look at our favourite selection of garden seating here.

Eucalyptus & Laurel Wreath

• Buy now from Lights4Fun (£39.99)

Bring the outdoors in with this stunning fabric work of art from decoration experts Lights4Fun. The soft fabric leaves are amazingly life-like, giving the appearance of freshly picked Eucalyptus and Laurel, while the delicate linen bow adds a stylish decorative finish. Give your guests a festive welcome by hanging the wreath on your door, or it could be hung on your wall, or even lain flat on the dinner table as a striking centrepiece.

This botanical wreath would also make a wonderful garden-themed gift which loved ones can bring out year after year, without having to worry about any unhappy, crispy leaves!

The wreath measures 50cm in diameter.

And learn how to make your own garden wreath here.

Kikkerland Ivy String Lights

A great addition to brighten up any outdoor or indoor area, these remote controlled ivy-inspired string lights by Kikkerland will add a gorgeous level of comforting light to any room or outdoors area at home. Guaranteed to make rooms feel cosier in the evenings and less up-keep than real ivy!

The lights are 10 feet long and features eight different animation settings that you’re able to toggle between using the remote control provided. Batteries are also included for the remote control when you buy the string lights and all is required is a USB port to plug the lights into.

Don’t miss our picks of the best string lights for gardens. 

Don’t miss our Christmas hub page for gift and decoration ideas.

Getting organised in the garden can feel like an impossible task, but with a gardening journal it is much easier. We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best gardening journals on the market at the moment to help get you started.

Whether you’re looking for a basic journal that you can record what you’ve observed in your garden over the year, or whether you’d like a week-by-week planner with sowing and growing tips, there will be a gardening journal out there to meet your needs.

Head to our kit hub page too for more ideas for garden equipment to get your garden organised.

Best gardening journals to buy in 2023

Wrendale Gardening Journal

This Wrendale gardening journal has been designed by Hannah Dale. As well as being beautifully illustrated, the journal includes a daily planner, perfect for the busy summer season when there are jobs to do in the garden every day. It also features planting profiles and space for notes to help you get to grips with the season and what to plant and harvest when. As well as the daily planner and the planting profiles, this gardeners journal includes recipes you can try and plenty of gardening tips too.

SmART bookx Garden Planner and Journal

The gardening journal from smART bookx is a great and affordable option. The journal starts with a year planner where you can jot down your ideas and see an at-a-glance overview of the year to come. The journal is then split into monthly intervals with each one starting with pages to list major jobs, draw out visualisations and make notes about the month. On a weekly basis, the journal provides ‘to do’ lists split into handy categories like planting, propagation or pruning. In addition to this, the journal has plenty of blank pages for recording harvests, wildlife, what’s in bloom and general gardening highlights.

Bloom Gardener’s Journal

• Buy now from Bloom (£14.00).

This gardener’s journal from Bloom is sleek and well designed. It features twelve undated months meaning that you can pick it up whenever you feel you need that extra planning support and put it down when the pressure eases. Each section has space dedicated to noting down what you’re sowing and growing as well as seasonal tasks, crucial timings and plant wish-lists. The gardening journal also contains two handy sowing calendars – one for veg and one for cut flowers – to help you when planning. Bloom journals are made in London on FSC-certified paper and using vegetable-based inks.

Antonia Fraser’s Garden Notebook

• Buy now from Antonia Fraser (£19.99).

This garden notebook from Antonia Fraser is the perfect companion on garden visits or trips to the plant nursery as you can easily jot down inspiration and ideas. The notebook is not restricted to a specific year, so it can be used continually over a long period of time and filled to the brim with gardening plans. The book is illustrated throughout with pictures of flowers and butterflies.

RHS’s A Gardener’s Five Year Record Book

This five year record book from the RHS is perfect if you’re going to be gardening in the same spot for a longer period of time. Recording what happens when throughout the year in your own garden is a great way of informing your sowing and growing habits in subsequent years. The book is structured week-by-week over five years, making it flexible enough that the user can put their own emphasis on what they record. There is also a section for noting down plants to buy, suppliers and addresses and gardens to visit.

Gardener’s Leather Journal

• Buy now from Crocus (£19.99).

This leather-bound gardening journal is filled with plain white craft paper making it the perfect companion to making regular garden observations. It is also a great tool for garden planning with the space to sketch out garden beds and crop rotations.

John Lewis & Partners Growing Calendar

• Buy now from John Lewis & Partners (£8.00).

This simple gardening calendar journal is perfect for the vegetable gardener. It is a complete growing planner to help plan vegetable crops across the year. Every month contains tips and space to write specific notes and there is even a little seed pocket at the front that you can use to keep your next set of sowing organised.

To celebrate the wealth of gardening books published in 2022, and as a Christmas treat to our readers, we’re giving away the 14 gardening books we most loved that were published in 2022.

The books include Charles Dowding’s new No Dig, Claire Ratinon’s Unearthed, A Greener Life, by Jack Wallington and Wild: the Naturalistic Garden by Noel Kingsbury with photographs from Claire Takacs.

For the full list of the books and to read the reviews, head to our list of the best gardening books of 2022.

To enter answer the question below.

Closing date 3 January 2023. All entries must be received by 11.59pm on 3 January 2023. To enter you must be over 18 and resident in the UK, including the Channel Islands. Read the full terms and conditions below.
Head to our Christmas hub page for lots more festive inspiration. 

gardensillustrated.com/competitions/win-gardening-books-2022

Listening to a gardening audiobook is a lovely way to effortlessly soak in lots of hot planting tips and techniques. There’s a whole array of gardening and planting audiobooks available, with some offering specific advice on how to successfully grow niche plants, while others involve personal gardening journeys.

We’ve selected an eclectic mix of authors including big, popular names such as Monty Don, and first time, best-selling author, scientist Merlin Sheldrake. So whether you want to discover how fungi can shape your future; the best location for your houseplants, or how gardening can benefit your mental health, our list is bound to inspire you.

So give your ears, and garden, a treat with our list of the best plant and gardening audiobooks for 2023.

For more green-fingered literature, take a look at the best gardening books to read.

Best plant and gardening audiobooks for 2023

Down to Earth: Gardening Wisdom by Monty Don

Hear Monty Don’s top tips from the popular gardener himself as he narrates his book, Down to Earth: Gardening Wisdom. It’s no surprise he’s discovered a few tricks and tips over his 50 year gardening career, and this book is an amalgamation of what he’s picked up along the way. From design, pests, containers and flowering shrubs, to musings and essential tips, this book is sure to offer an insightful view on how you can improve your gardening. He even describes the tasks he completes in his own garden, making it an interesting, and personal, book.

His soothing and engaging voice is relaxing yet gripping, making this a delightful listen!

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake

This is Merlin Sheldrake’s first book and it’s proving incredibly popular. As a biologist with a background in plant sciences, microbiology and ecology, Sheldrake delves into the fascinating world of fungi. Far more than a book about mushrooms, his work explores the intelligent work of the organisms and the important role fungi play in shaping history, providing us with medicine and how they can help us to understand our very own planet. If you’re looking for a captivating, educational and unique listen, this is certainly one to consider.

Introduction to Container Gardening by Madison Pierce

If you’re new to the container and grow bag scene, this helpful audiobook is sure to come in handy. Growing fruit, vegetables and herbs in containers is an ideal solution if you’re looking to give gardening a go, but lack time and space. Designed for newbies, this audiobook reveals the seven top vegetables for growing in a container; how to grow healthy, lively herbs and how to avoid common mistakes. This would make a lovely gift for those keen to start their gardening journey!

For more present ideas, check out our list of the best gifts for gardeners. 

The Joy of Gardening: The Everyday Zen of Mowing the Lawn by Ellen Mary

The title alone makes you feel more serene. This audiobook explores the relaxing nature of gardening as well as the positive effects of slowing down and embracing nature. You can also discover how to understand your soil; reduce garden waste and encourage wildlife into your outdoor space, so it’s packed with interesting tips!

Find out how to create a mini meadow in your garden.

Never Put a Cactus in the Bathroom by Emily L. Hay Hinsdale

If you have a bad track record of killing your poor houseplants, this handy guide could be a beneficial listen. It provides a room-by-room guide so you can correctly care for your beloved indoor garden! Whether it’s herbs or potted plants, learn how to successfully style and grow your houseplants so they can continue to create a mood-boosting atmosphere.

Looking to grow your plant collection? Here’s our list of the best bathroom plants.

The Raised Bed Gardening Compilation by Peter Shepperd

This audiobook features two separate books, one for beginners and a second for advanced gardeners, making it an accessible listen, whatever your experience. Beginners can learn about the positive factors of a raised bed garden; the best locations and positions; common challenges as well as how best to build raised beds. This is therefore well worth a listen if you’re keen to explore whether raised bed gardening would work for you, and how best to get the process started.

If you’re a pro and want to advance your raised bed planting skills, the second book offers insight into how farmers optimise yield and how to tackle the trickier vegetables. This is a great purchase if you have a household of varying gardening skills and abilities.

In need of some new tools? Here’s our list of the best gardening hand trowels. 

The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith

If you want to tap into the positive effects nature can have on mental health, confidence and wellbeing, the Well Gardened Mind is one to consider. Using a combination of science, personal anecdotes and psychoanalysis, the book explores the powerful and restorative impact of gardening. You might already feel the benefits of being at one with nature, and how it helps relieve stress, so if you want to delve into the logic behind this, you’re bound to enjoy this listen.

Read our full review of the Well Gardened Mind. 

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide by Lia Leendertz

You’re likely to find yourself dipping in and out of this seasonal guide as you approach a new month. The book describes each month’s distinctive nature, so you can enjoy every month to its fullest when you’re exploring the outdoors. It’s divided into 12 months, so you can easily jump to your month, and season, of choice. So whether you want to source the best meteor-spotting location, or discover new seasonal recipes, this eclectic and unique book is sure to make a lovely addition to your audiobook collection.

Take a look at the best bee hives for your garden. 

Master the Art of Garden Design by Kate Molina

Hoping to transform your outdoor space into a stunning landscape masterpiece you can proudly show off to visitors? This gardening audiobook is filled with styling tips, including how to select the correct colours, and how to create a specific mood and vibe. In addition to this, you’ll also come across practical money-saving tips too.

Check out our garden design ideas for a small private garden.

Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively

Rather than a step-by-step gardening guide, this beautiful book from passionate gardener and award-winning author, Penelope Lively, resembles a memoir. Lively describes gardens and locations close to her heart from Cairo, where she grew up, to North London. It also touches on the power of gardens within literature, making this a special find.

There are many reasons why we should grow our own cut flowers. The flowers that we buy from many florists and supermarkets are often flown in out of season from abroad, potentially with the widespread use of chemicals, dubious employee welfare and high carbon emissions. Homegrown cut flowers are local, sustainable and beautiful and can be grown organically. They can help us to connect us with the seasons.

There are more flower farmers in the UK than ever, and many of us are now keen to grow our own cut flowers, just as we do our food.

The recent bumper crop of flower growing books reflects this trend; we round up the best.

The best flower growing books of 2023

Grow and Gather: A Gardener’s Guide to A Year of Cut Flowers

by Grace Alexander
Quadrille, £20
ISBN 978-1787135840

‘If I had one piece of advice for you, it would be invest in your soil’. It’s a brave woman who writes about the intricacies of soil health when so many people want flash results without the hard graft. But I applaud author and grower Grace Alexander’s honesty in this book, because this is the most valuable tip for anyone wanting to grow flowers (or pretty much anything else). There’s no compare-and-despair here. Failures are given as much weight as success. Her book is so full of good sense and patient observation that you feel you are right alongside her as she sows, weeds, plans and grows.
Reviewer Caroline Beck is a flower farmer in Durham.

Cut Flowers: Bloom Gardener’s Guide

by Celestina Robertson
Frances Lincoln, £12.99
ISBN 978-0711269958

Cut Flowers is an almost pocket-sized title that contains a surprising amount of hardworking information. The book begins by setting the context for why we should grow our own cut flowers, spotlighting the mass-market flower industry. Beyond industry ethics, Cut Flowers delivers the promise of its lengthy subtitle with advice on how to prepare the ground, sow seed, nurture, harvest and fill your vases. There is much to know and Robertson packs it in. Read our full review of Cut Flowers.
Reviewer Rae Spencer-Jones is a garden writer.

The Little Flower Recipe Book

by Jill Rizzo
Artisan Books, £23.99
ISBN 978-1648290534

• Buy the Little Flower Recipe Book from Waterstones

The Modern Flower Press

by Melissa Richardson and Amy Fielding
William Collins, £30
ISBN 978-0008447366

• Buy the Modern Flower Press from Waterstones

From Seed to Bloom: A year of Growing and Designing with Seasonal Flowers

by Milli Proust
Quadrille Publishing, £20
ISBN 978-1787137349

The layout and content of this beautiful book reflects the author’s enormously popular social media content to a highly visually literate readership. The practicalities of plot layout, tool kit, and general notes on growing and floristry are dealt with quickly at the beginning of the book, after which Proust takes you through a year divided into eight mini seasons. In a post-pandemic world, many love the idea of growing flowers and creating with them and this fairy-tale inspiration, with step-by-step projects, shows exactly what you’ll need to grow to make them.
Reviewer Georgie Newbery is a flower farmer and author, and owner of Common Farm Flowers.

Flowers Forever: Celebrate the Beauty of Dried Flowers with Stunning Floral Art

by Bex Partridge
Hardie Grant Books, £20
ISBN 978-1784884345

• Buy Flowers Forever from Waterstones

The Flower School

by Joseph Massie
Quadrille Publishing, £27
ISBN 978-1787138209

How to Grow the Flowers: A sustainable approach to enjoying flowers throughout the seasons

by Marianne Mogendorff and Camila Romain
Pavilion Books, £20
ISBN 978-1911682011

• Buy How to Grow the Flowers from Waterstones

Becoming a food grower completely transformed my life. It may sound hyperbolic to say so but career changers, like myself, have a tendency to wax lyrical about the thing that rescued us from feeling unfulfilled – and, for me, that thing was growing the plants that feed us. At the start of this journey, growing edible plants was all I wanted to do with my days. Pushing seedlings into welcoming soil, harvesting sun-warm, ripe tomatoes and heaving crates of produce until I was deeply exhausted was the happiest I’d ever felt. After years over-working in a media career, I imagined a life spent seed sowing, planting and harvesting and felt hopeful. Back then, I had no aspirations to write or teach or speak about this work. I just wanted to grow.

Looking back now, I see how naive an aspiration this was for someone like me. Not only because growing food is arduous and poorly paid but because I quickly found it impossible to do this work, and experience the profound sense of reconnection with the natural world that it made possible, without reflecting on why I had felt so disconnected from it all in the first place. I felt myself called to interrogate how certain forces – colonialism, imperialism and Empire – have shaped the agricultural and horticultural landscape, both historically and into the present day, and how clearly I could see the influence of those forces mirrored in the (mostly erased) story of my Mauritian heritage. I came to realise that to grow food and care for the soil in the land where I was born but had long felt unwelcome in offered me the possibility of cultivating a belonging that had thus far evaded me.

And so, while planting climbing beans in the heat of a greenhouse in Tottenham and harvesting salad leaves from a site I tended in Hackney, these feelings and thoughts started to coalesce in my mind. I felt the urge to write my own journey into food growing – alongside all that it had caused me to reflect upon around identity, race and ancestry – into a story that would make sense of how and why I’d suddenly found myself covered in soil in my late twenties. I carried the pieces of a narrative around in my head and heart for a number of seasons before I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to write it for publication.

I wrote Unearthed through multiple pandemic lockdowns. It was an enormously emotional process to undertake at a time when all the things that I would ordinarily lean on for sustenance – family, friends, eating together – were unavailable. I thought I’d feel pride and relief on handing in each draft but spending all those months, at a time of global upheaval and climate crisis, with only my thoughts and words – and a very messy garden – for company left me feeling lost and self-indulgent. I couldn’t fathom why I’d devoted so much time and energy to writing a book about my own peculiar journey.

But then, a few days before Christmas, I shared the news that I’d written Unearthed on social media, and the messages and comments that followed showed me how desperately we need new stories that depict the myriad, diverse ways that we grow plants, steward the earth and experience our interconnection with the natural world. In the face of climate catastrophe, we need every person to be able to see themselves as stewards of the earth and my hope is that, in sharing my journey from unknowing to entirely devoted to the soil and the plants that grow in it, other people might see themselves stepping onto a verdurous path of their own. Stepping towards rootedness, towards belonging, and towards living in respectful kinship with the ecosystem of which we are a part.

Unearthed is published on 2 June by Penguin Books. Look out for our review in the July issue of Gardens Illustrated.

We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for millennia. Since time immemorial, forests have helped us to heal our wounds and to cure our diseases; they have relieved us of our worries, eased our troubled minds, restored and refreshed us. The sounds of life, the scent of soil, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air—these things give us a sense of comfort, they help us to relax and to think more clearly. We know this deep in our bones. It is an intuition, an instinct, a feeling that is sometimes hard to describe. But what lies behind it? What is this secret power of the forest that makes us so much healthier and happier?

I am a scientist, not a poet, and I have been investigating the science behind that feeling for many years. Some people study forests. Some people study medicine. I study forest medicine, to find out all the ways these environments improve our well being. Until recently, there was little scientific evidence to support what we have always known about the healing power of the forest. It was not until 2004—when I, with others, founded the Forest Therapy Study Group—that scientific investigation into this matter began in earnest. Since then, I have been researching the beneficial effects of these wild green spaces on human health by studying shinrin-yoku (森林浴). Shinrin (森林) means “forest” in Japanese, and yoku (浴) means “bath.” Shinrin-yoku is “bathing in the forest atmosphere” or, as it is more often translated, forest-bathing. Forest-bathing is not exercise, nor is it an esoteric meditative practice. It is simply being, connecting with the forest through all our senses.

Over the last 17 years, I have discovered that exposure to nature is as vital to our well-being as regular exercise and a healthy diet. That immersion in green spaces can help to boost our immune systems, lower blood pressure and heart rate, aid sleep, improve mood and energy levels, lift depression, sharpen cognitive processes, and increase anticancer protein production. Outside my own work, a growing body of evidence shows that greater exposure to nature can also lead to a lower likelihood of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma hospitalization, mental ill-health, childhood myopia, and, ultimately, death. In an eight-year study of over 100,000 women in the United States, those with the most vegetation around their homes had a 12 per cent lower death rate than those living in the least green areas (even adjusting for risk factors, such as age, ethnicity, smoking, and socioeconomic status). In a study of Tokyo residents aged 75 to 90, those with plentiful green space and street trees in their neighborhoods had a 74 per cent likelihood of survival over a five-year period, versus just 66 per cent for those with very little nearby greenery.

With its astounding benefits, forest-bathing is becoming a focus of public attention in Japan. It is now recognized as both a therapeutic activity and a method of preventing disease and promoting health. Slowly, acknowledgement of nature as medicine is catching on worldwide. Doctors from New Zealand to Scotland have begun to prescribe “green prescriptions,” such as listening to birdsong or taking a walk in a natural environment. The “Nature Prescriptions” calendar, created by RSPB Scotland in partnership with NHS Shetland, suggests daily activities such as “Step outside—be still for three minutes and listen,” and to “Really look at a lichen.” Creating and improving public pockets of greenery—especially in neighborhoods whose residents already face high health risks—would be a simple, powerful, practical public health intervention that would help to prevent and mitigate health inequalities.

Forests occupy 68 per cent of the land in Japan, meaning forest-bathing is accessible to those who can afford the time and expense of the trip. But, with our busy lifestyles, and unequal societies, we shouldn’t expect people to make a journey to receive nature’s tonic. Instead, we must bring the best of the forest environment into people’s habitats. Doing so not only provides all the well-being benefits I’ve explained, but also presents additional benefits in urban contexts: urban trees remove tons of pollution, store tons of carbon and help mitigate extreme temperatures. Their root systems absorb water and help with excess rainfall. They provide respite and relief from noise and dirt. Trees are a vital and integral part of our urban lives, as important a part of a city’s infrastructure as roads and broadband—and much more beautiful than either.

Clearly, there are vital benefits to being immersed in an ecologically rich, verdant environment, and I expect many more will be discovered. To quell the stress epidemic of our times, and avoid countless other easily preventable harms, we must protect people’s right to have contact with nature — and bring the power of the forest to everyone.

Extracted from Nature Is A Human Right: Why We’re Fighting for Green in a Grey World, by Ellen Miles. Text taken as an extract from The Secret Power Of The Forest: From A Feeling To A Science by Professor Qing Li, MD, PhD.

Nature Is A Human Right is published by DK and is out now.

@natureisahumanright @dkbooks

The Modern Gardener: A Practical Guide to Gardening Creatively, Productively and Sustainably
by Frances Tophill
Octopus Publishing Group, £22
ISBN 978-0857839435

This is a valiant attempt by gardener and presenter Frances Tophill to explore what a modern gardener should aspire to be. Passionate, environmental debate runs through the book, especially when stressing our collective need to discard an historic over-reliance on chemical-focused methodology. The argument is countered with positive, sustainable approaches applicable to all gardens, irrespective of size.

The author’s practical advice on garden design is filled with grounded ideas and solutions. A refreshingly healthy dose of realism prevails when discussing the practicalities of developing a garden space; ‘creating and implementing a design that will be manageable is critical for its long-term success’. The author draws on her own experience, suggesting that readers be pragmatic, look at themselves, and think about the skill sets they possess.

The main chapters cover sizeable, traditionally information-heavy topics, including propagation, growing edible crops, rudimentary garden design principles and developing a healthy soil. I would have expected stronger illustrative photos in areas such as propagation techniques, where the few paragraphs of text are not enough to fully convey a specific technique.

Plant lists accompany selected chapters with botanical stalwarts and those in need of cajoling through a typically wet British winter; examples including ‘Perennial herbs for heavier soil’ through to ‘Annual flowers for cutting’. Where relevant, enlightening notes highlight whether a plant may have a medicinal, cosmetic or culinary use.

The concept of plant provenance is rarely a topic even mentioned in mainstream gardening books; to have it covered here was heartening. I found this a personal, energised book filled with creative and thought-provoking ideas.