The Complete Supergardener

We start with a photograph of Alan Titchmarsh ("The Nation's Favourite Gardener"), hoe in hand, straddling his plot of earth like a colossus. Here he is again, loitering in a yew bower, toying with his secateurs. The introduction kicks off with one of Oscar Wilde's surprisingly many witticisms about spades. The New Super Gardener is not backward about coming forward. Rightly so, as it turns out. Titchmarsh is as skilled and enthusiastic a communicator as he is a gardener and plants man: The New Super Gardener constitutes a foundation course in traditional, plant-centred gardening. No architectural fantasies here, no drifts of crushed glass, no bagels, just good solid information about how to get the best out of your garden.

Planning and preparation are of the essence in gardening, and it is here that Alan Titchmarsh begins, with a handful of simple rules of thumb that will ensure a pleasing and permanent structure. The real strength of the book, though, lies in its copious lists of plants by type, with invaluable notes on planting, propagation, preferred aspect and soil types. Trees and shrubs; border and bedding plants; bulbs; water and rock gardens; patio planting; fruit and vegetables; all the way to greenhouses and house plants--they're all here, with recommendations of the best varieties. The New Super Gardener was first published in 1983 and has been updated repeatedly since to take account of new plants and changes in taste, proving its worth and popularity over the years. A reliable and invaluable companion for any domestic gardener. --Robin Davidson

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The Complete Supergardner - RECOMMENDED - Rated
This is the best guide i've used so far in twenty five years of being a "beginner" in the gardening world.

I would recommend it to anyone starting out or those with a little more experience who want to take the next steps to becoming a "complete gardner".

The section on propagation was most helpful and is keeping my propagator and myself enormously busy.

Thank you Alan - *****

suprisingly good - Rated
I'm not the biggest fan of Alan Titchmarsh on television so when I got this from my mum as a house/garden warming present I wasn't overly impressed. But I have to say -ignoring the scary photo of Alan on the cover- it really is an excellent and comprehensive guide to gardening. Surprisingly thorough too - as someone new to gardening most of the answers to my many questions were found quite easily. A few months on I'm the proud owner of a vegetable patch, thriving climbers, a rather dodgy looking lawn but I have to eat my words and admit that Alan's done a good job. I don't think anyone looking for a general, comprehensive, straightforward guide to gardening will be disappointed. They may even end up like me and Alan..Super Gardeners!