The New Rose Expert [Paperback]

D.G. Hessayon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

Reach for the world's most popular book on roses, newly revised and expanded, with over 3 million copies sold in earlier editions. You'll find 150 new varieties and ideas for care printed for the first time in any book. Yet the basics still remain: a guided tour through the seasons, an encycopedic description of 388 popular roses; advice on purchase selections, planting locations, and pest and disease control; growing instructions; and an array of useful information.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr David Hessayon initiated a major innovation in gardening publications in 1959 with the first of his Gardening Expert guides. These best-selling guides have had an unparalleled influence on gardening over the past 50 years. There are over 51 million copies in print. He was awarded the 1993 Gardening Book of the Year Award from the Garden Writers Guild and received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement 'Oscar' at the National British Book Awards. In 1999 he received a Guinness World Record Award as 'Britain's best-selling living author of the 1990s'. He lives in Essex, and has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Expert (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0903505479
• ISBN-13: 978-0903505475
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 7.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,447,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basic Primer of Limited Use, March 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Rose Expert (Paperback)

I found this book to be a decent basic primer on the differnet types of roses, such as hybrid tea, floribunda,etc. After that, however, the book was of limited use. Most of the information is based on the assumption that the reader lives in England. The climate maps, planting schedules,etc only guide the gardener growing roses in England, and because I live in California the book did not help me make decisions about what types to buy and when to plant, prune, etc. So, if you live outside of England, search for a book that will provide better information on growing roses in your geographic area.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well organized presentation with detailed information, October 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Rose Expert (Paperback)

The New Rose Expert divides roses by hybrid tea, floribunda, patio, miniature, ground cover, climber & rambler and shrub with small labels at the bottom of each category for quick location and each rose is presented with beautiful photo, general description, and the specifics: blooms, foiliage, health, and awards for efficient comparisons. In depth coverage of planting, care and propagation with pointers for the novus are included. I especially liked the guides to selection of roses depending on the fragrance, color and proposed use (ground cover, climber, etc). An excellent primer!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Comprehensive Introductory and Reference Book, February 27, 2003

By 

Dave Valente (Petaluma, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Rose Expert (Paperback)

As a landscape professional and part-time rose nurseryman I find this book the most generally useful and comprehensive (if not as effectively organized) of all the books I have purchased and/ or read regarding the subject. It packs the most information into the smallest footprint (meaning I carry it with me regularly) and gives a broad and sound overview of all things rose related including: types of roses, the general habits and qualities of each (good and bad), selecting, planting, maintenance, feeding, spraying, and other care among them. It's a great general reference and I recommend it to many of my clients that inquire and express an interest in learning about roses. For those interested in expanding their knowledge further in this area there are a number of references cited and available for further exploration.

As to it being British based I didn't find this at all to be an issue; use common sense to make adjustments for the difference between climes. In fact Britain is in the same USDA zones as most of the Western US, zones 8 & 9, which is whereI am based.

I can't say the specific rose listings were in themselves terribly helpful since selection and availability will vary from locale to locale and year to year, but the pictures are always nice to look at just the same. (It's more helpful for my business to learn what's available through existing channels and find which of these best fits the criteria desired; most good growers/ sellers will include sound performers in the core areas.)

Happy Gardening!