How to Be a Gardener: Secrets of Success (Book Two) [Hardcover]

How to Be a Gardener: Book Two is the follow-up to the phenomenally successful How to Be a Gardener: Book One by Alan Titchmarsh, aka TV's Mr Gardening. Titchmarsh's title suggests what many will agree with, namely that gardening is more a state of being than an activity, something to which more or less every waking hour and thought must be dedicated. (The less ambitious Delia Smith, it might be noted, did not call her trilogy How to Be a Cook). Nonetheless, like the first volume, this is resolutely, and rightly, aimed at the virtual beginner--perhaps the ideal reader is the owner of a garden whose sole effort to date has been to look guiltily out of the window from time to time and swear to get round to doing something about it.

This volume, subtitled Secrets of Success, adds to the basic techniques of the first in the practical context of making and maintaining gardens. They aren't secrets, of course--or they won't be once this book starts selling--but the wisdom and knowledge of an experienced gardener and teacher. A quick whisk (three pages) through garden history since the Middle Ages and we're off into an introductory consideration of garden types and how to make the best of what nature and the previous owner have bequeathed. Structure and style established, the remainder of the book the practice. The rather mysteriously titled Vertical Gardening turns out to be about fences, hedges, pergolas--anything that goes up rather than along. Patios, beds and borders, water features, vegetables and wildlife and covered (i.e., greenhouse and conservatory) gardens are each explored in depth, giving all the information the nervous gardener will need to bring it all together. This book privileges good advice and endless reassurance over high concepts. There really is no excuse now not to get on with it. --Robin Davidson

Back with his second series, the blue-eyed much-loved garden presenter Alan Titchmarsh teaches the nations gardeners how to design their garden. Whereas Book 1 taught them the basic botany and how to do the practical bits, this one explores how to transform a boring back garden into a place of paradise. Easily written in his inimitable chatty style, he shares top design tips in an easy-to-understand way for all to comprehend. Lavishly illustrated with pictures to make the mind drool, all styles of garden are represented from rustic to formal, contemporary to old-fashioned cottage garden. And all aspects of gardening are covered too: water gardening, vegetable growing, patio planting and how to encourage wildlife into your garden even if you do live in the middle of a city. As Book 1, this will become a gardener's essential reading, lending itself to both the novice and the more experienced in search of inspiration. - Lucy Watson

How to be a Gardener Book Two available in long last in paperback is the hugely successful follow up to the fastest-selling gardening title of all time.

Having set out the basic principles of gardening in Book One, this second volume takes an in depth look at all areas of designing and planting your garden.

Alan's love of gardening and years of experience really come to the fore as he demonstrates how to create a garden to be proud of. Covering both design and plants, the chapters include boundaries and climbers, patios and containers, borders and perennials and water and wildlife gardens.

Released to coincide with How to be a Gardener Revisited, a reversioned series of HTBAG 1 & 2 featuring new footage with Alan Titchmarsh in January 2005.

With its perfect balance of practical advice and inspirational ideas, How to be a Gardener Book Two gets to the very heart of gardening and, together with How to be a Gardener Book One, provides a complete reference manual for any garden owner.