What are the top Beginner books for Gardening..with all the Basics?

I would like to know a few of the best beginner gardening books available(new ones too), that completely help the new %26amp; first-time gardener. From starting a garden, to knowing exactly how much topsoil and other fertilizer bags, peat moss - whatever, is needed. I have a design, it's an 8' x 8' circle, and I would love to know how deep is a basic general amount to add the soil, %26amp; how much. Also, what I need to buy in bags to get my soil all prepared. Can someone please help me in this area? I want to go as organic as possible for the first year - I realize in future years I will learn more and have more of a compost pile, but basically a small basic garden.



Thanks so much in advance - Starr

angelique_mystic@yahoo.com (if you care to email me with your help %26amp; advice too!)

What are the top Beginner books for Gardening..with all the Basics?
Depending on where you live, one of the best all around books on gardening is the Sunset Western Garden Book. It's kind of an encyclopedia of every house and garden plant you can grow in the western United States. It also includes lots of specific information about how to prepare gardens, identify and erradicate pests, specific plant requirements (soil type, water, fertilizer, pruning, etc.).



Even though it's specific to the western US, it would be applicable to a lot of other parts of the country, since the western US has such a wide variety of climates.
Reply:Hello angelique, The best all time beginner garden book is: "Garden Primer" by Barbara Damrosch! I call it "my garden bible"... You look up the plant you are interested in and all the info. you need is right there for the plant, it is sooooooo easy to read and understand. Good Luck gardening! AmberPat
Reply:I don't think you need a "basic beginner" book as much as you need a book about growing plants in your particular region/climate.



Gardening in Maine is totally different than gardening in California. You need to know what plants grow well with your temp, soil, etc.



FYI, I don't really use fertilizer and topsoil at all in my garden. Just dug/tilled an area of the yard, laid down a bunch of organic compost, planted plants that work well with the amount of light/shade and water/drought for that section of the yard, then laid down some mulch. That's how I pretty much got started.
Reply:Here's one for organic gardening.



http://organicgardening-marie.blogspot.c...