The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening
$26.60
Even great gardeners like Monty Don are always learning and always experimenting.
This extensively revised new edition of his Complete Gardener, first published in 2003, brings you right up-to-date on how Monty gardens today – and his recommendations for you.
The most comprehensive, practical, and highly illustrated book Monty has ever written, it covers what he believes are the most important aspects of gardening. Organic techniques have always been at the core of his practice, but this new edition picks up on another key principle: the need to provide habitats in your garden for local wildlife.
Over half of the photographs in this new edition will be new, taken over a year in his Long Meadow garden, and he is going through the text with a fine-tooth comb to ensure everything he says reflects his latest approach.
13 reviews for The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening
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$26.60


David B –
J’aime regarder les vidéos de Monty Don sur youtube, in english of course. Dans ce livre, je retrouve les conseils avisés de ce jardinier hors pair, dans son style si élégant!
Ian Vansittart –
Arrived quickly. The book is well laid out and all aspects that it covers are explained in detail. The explanations are easy to understand and digest
Cliente de Amazon –
I like Don Monty but his book is all over and it’s not very useful for the average beginner or city gardener. There is a lot of content on Monty’s thoughts and that’s just a waste of page because it’s a thick book.
Alyssa –
I love Gardener’s World and Monty Don. This book is a wealth of info. The only downside is I would have preferred the pages, especially with photos to be of higher quality/some gloss. The pages feel no different than regular printer paper which can easily pick up dirt and stains…but it’s a fair considering it’s a more affordable price
lynguy1 –
The Complete Gardener by Monty Don is the one of the most comprehensive gardening books that I have ever read. The introduction includes information on the evolution of the garden as well as on wildlife and weather. It then tackles structure including such items as design planning, water features and paths. A section on gardening basics will be extremely useful to novice gardeners and great refresher for more experienced gardeners.
After these chapters, the author concentrates on the gardens he’s developed at Longmeadow in Herefordshire, England near Leominster. The chapters give a history of how each garden has evolved over the years as well as the types of plants in them. Next up are chapters on the various types of plants with specific varieties used at Longmeadow. This is followed by chapters on growing vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
While the soil, weather, and temperatures are very different where I live, there is still a lot of information that is applicable. While items such as when to sow certain seeds or plant something needs to be adjusted for my climate, the task itself is the same. Monty also shares insights into life and how gardening is a positive influence on him.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and educational read. I will be using this as a reference book regularly. I’m looking forward to reading more of his books on gardens and gardening.
Rita W. –
I got this guarding book for my daughter who is a beginner gardener and she and her husband struggled a bit with their garden the last couple of years. This beautifully presented hardback garden book covers all types of areas of gardening, whether it be the small garden or large garden, vegetables, or flowers, troubleshooting, and creative ideas. It’s the type of book you’ll keep for your lifetime because gardening basics never grow old or change drastically. The information is detailed, and the photos are exceptional. It was a very good price and my daughter loved it!
Nbr74802 –
I sit in the land of the US of A,
Miles from Longmeadow’s gardens today.
Monty’s a genius, that much is clear,
Writing with grace for all far and near.
If you dream of a garden, with blooms shining bright,
I’d recommend reading his book every night.
Monty’s joy of gardening soaks through the page,
His wisdom enduring, like blooms through each age.
Stand fast, dear reader, if thorns crowd the mind,
The garden, the sun, will help you unwind.
And those who seek only great prose, not the earth,
Divorced from the garden’s green, its rebirth—
Good news I share with you today:
Monty’s writing is spotless, come what may.
Jorcin –
I am a big fan of the show Gardener’s World. When I saw the presenter had a book I wanted to get it. I am glad I did because that book is a wonderful source of information. It has a lot of garden tips and a lot of pictures.
Great garden book!
dharmabhumm –
Fell in love with Monty Don from his TV shows. Binged watched everything I could find, and found myself taking notes! So of course I was delighted that he had a book. I like the format for the chapters. I can find topics easily. Living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, it is similar in climate to England, so the advice translates well. Beautiful hardback and photos makes a good coffee table book too.
Karen Thomas –
I’ve recently discovered Monty Don on a few streaming platforms after searching for ‘British Gardening”. I live in the USA but currently in a climate that fosters an English cottage garden. I come from a family of gardeners but I’ve found a wealth of information in this book that supplements the gaps in knowledge I’ve gained over the years. The bonus is that his writing is clear, with a subtle tone of humor that makes the book inspiring and easy to read. I usually use gardening books for reference only, normally reading only the sections pertaining to my topic of the day. I read this book start to finish, and I’m sure I’ll be referring to it as long as I am able to garden.
Bron Fergusson –
Beautifully presented and full of generous help.
AnT –
This is a very informative and beautiful book. It was so much bigger than I expected which made it such a great value for the price. If you are an avid gardener or just starting out this is the book for you.
wild –
Excellent book, provides a wealth of knowledge in an organized but non-boring manner. The writing is akin to prose. Beautiful and numerous pictures. I even appreciate that the paper isn’t glossy! Priced really well too.