The Complete Gardener [Hardcover]

Monty Don (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003

Combining practical advice with stunning photography, The Complete Gardener shows gardeners how to create a self sustainable, environmentally friendly garden for the 21st century, by making the most of the available natural resources to grow organic fruits and vegetables, as well as beautiful plants and flowers. Monty Don's personal chronicle of a year in his garden, including both successes and failures, shows how an organic lifestyle can be adopted by anyone, and organic gardening can be practiced in a yard of any size.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

At a large, but not unmanageable, site in the English countryside, Don reigns over a lush and diverse garden of his own creation. Undaunted by having to start from scratch, he planned, then planted, areas for fruits and vegetables, flowers and topiary, hedges and herbs and now shares his hard-won knowledge through detailed but highly conversant text and luscious and artistic photography by Ari Ashley. From planning to construction, planting to composting, Don covers virtually every aspect of garden design, installation, and management with a predilection toward environmentally friendly practices. Though his personal garden is located in England, the basic and comprehensive information he shares can be applied to nearly any garden anywhere. With an intimate style and infectious enthusiasm, Don encourages the home gardener to view his or her domain as an outlet for creativity and imagination. This elegantly designed and beautifully produced book is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing--qualities not unlike Don's garden. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"An evocatively written and beautifully illustrated roam through the gardening year, suitable for all levels of gardener." Psychologies 01/05/06 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789493195
• ISBN-13: 978-0789493194
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Monty Don is the main presenter of BBC-TV's Gardener's World. He is one of the UK's most respected gardeners and gardening writers. He has been gardening correspondent for the Observer since 1994 and is at the forefront of the environmental and organic gardening debate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of all my gardening books, this is my favourite, August 23, 2005

By 

Alison Toon "Alison" (Sacramento, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Gardener (Hardcover)

Inspiring, warm, homely, earthy... a book to read, not just for reference... Monty takes you so deep into his garden, you can feel the mud squishing under your wellies, smell the lavender and taste the ripe tomatoes, with the feel of gentle sunshine on the back of your neck, and the scent of a thousand sweet peas helping you to forget the scratches from the pruning job you just finished.

The book is written in England, about a English garden with a particular climate and environment. But the practises can be adopted anywhere: know your land, know the climate, experiment, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

I will read this book over and over and over again. Sweet peas don't do so well in Sacramento as they used to back home in Leicestershire, but... maybe this year I'll try them at a time of year that suits them, not me!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise for The Complete Gardener, October 26, 2004

By 

Owen (Qualicum Beach B.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Gardener (Hardcover)

This is one of the most practical and comprehensive books on organic gardening I have come across. It is full of useful advice on the plants he,(Monty Don) grows in his own farm, turned garden. It is also nice that it is not your standard gardening book, that is, one that gives sterile advice on every species(hight:10',hardy to:-5 ect.). He even has information on taking care of small livestock(chickens,ducks) In order to "complete the livestock circle". All in all this book is a must on the bookshelf of any gardener, as much for inspiration from Montys beautyful british garden as for the wealth of practical advice it holds.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, January 28, 2004

By 

Gina McGarvey (Letterkenny, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Gardener (Hardcover)

A great read. Made me want to get out there and start digging. Make everything sound so simple.