book review-new rhs titles

The Royal Horticultural Society has a number of new titles on release, including two new titles in the RHS Simple Steps series and a new Garden Design Workbook and Album.

Whether you have moved into a new house and want to create a garden or simply improve an existing one, the new ‘RHS Garden Design Workbook & Album’ is sure to prove useful. This well-planned workbook enables you to use its structured record pages to guide you through the different stages of gardening from inspiration to planning for plants.

Tabbed dividers organise your ideas with useful pockets included for storing bits and pieces. There is graph paper for sketching out designs and the large format ensures plenty of space for keeping photographs and other records.

Author Robin Williams is an eminent garden designer and co-founder of the College of Garden Design. He has designed well over 1,000 private gardens and Gold Medal winning gardens for Chelsea. He lectures on garden design as well as contributing to numerous magazines and books.

The ‘RHS Garden Design Workbook & Album’ will make a very handsome present for a gardening friend but it will also make a really useful present to yourself! Published March, by Frances Lincoln Ltd., and on sale at £19.99.

Two new books in the RHS Simple Steps series are now available. ‘Shrubs and Small Trees’ by Simon Akeroyd, offers simple advice on choosing planting and pruning shrubs and trees. The step-by-step guides show you exactly what to do with expert tips and techniques to help guarantee success. There are plenty of excellent colour plates in an easy to follow format.

‘Easy-care Garden’ by Jenny Hendy, offers simple advice on easier gardening, choosing the right plants and creating a low-maintenance design. As the author points out, outdoor spaces that require little maintenance can be as stylish and beautiful as those that need constant attention. As with all the Simple Steps books, there are plenty of illustrations and step-by-steps guides.

Both ‘Easy-care Garden’ and ‘Shrubs and Small Trees’ are published by Dorling Kindersley and are priced at £6.99. Both these books are excellent value for money.