What Books Completely Changed the Way You Think About Gardening?

Last spring/summer, I gave gardening my first real shot, and it was the most success I’ve ever had growing anything. That said, I still feel like I have so much to learn.

I know the best way to improve is through hands-on experience, but I’d love to find a great book (or books!) to guide me along the way.

Are there any gardening, botany, or even broader nature/ecology books that completely changed the way you thought about gardening? Not looking for shortcuts—just something insightful and inspiring to keep me learning!

“If nothing is eating your garden, you’re not really gardening.”

I highly recommend Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy. It completely reshaped how I think about my yard—not just as a garden, but as part of the local ecosystem.

Also, check out Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t on YouTube. The guy is hilarious, super knowledgeable, and has a great way of making botany exciting.

@Bay
Thank you! :blush: Just grabbed Nature’s Best Hope on Libby—excited to dig in. And I love finding good YouTube channels for learning, so I’ll definitely check out Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t! Appreciate the recommendations. :smile:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

It helped me shift my mindset from seeing gardening as an act of ownership to one of relationship and reciprocity with nature.

Zion said:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

It helped me shift my mindset from seeing gardening as an act of ownership to one of relationship and reciprocity with nature.

Same! After reading it, I started seeing ‘weeds’ differently and stopped pulling goldenrod—turns out, goldenrod soldier beetles demolished my cucumber beetle problem. Nature really does know best!

Rudy said:
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr.

If you want to get serious about understanding trees and shrubs, this book is a goldmine. It’s like the encyclopedia of woody plants.

Found it on Archive.org for free—thank you! It looks super detailed, so I might use it as a reference instead of reading it straight through. Excited to learn more about the structural backbone of gardens. :grin:

Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels.

This book made me realize that happy plants start with healthy soil. If you take care of your soil, your plants will thrive with way less effort.

Valen said:
Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels.

This book made me realize that happy plants start with healthy soil. If you take care of your soil, your plants will thrive with way less effort.

This one keeps popping up! Just put myself on the waitlist at the library. Can’t wait to learn more about soil biology—seems like an absolute game-changer. :seedling:

Dane said:
Pat Welsh’s Southern California Gardening—this book basically put all my family’s generational gardening knowledge into words.

If you’re in SoCal, it’s a must-read.

That sounds really special! I’m in Southern Nevada, so I wonder if it would still be helpful? Either way, I’ll check it out. :blush:

@Spence
Love this advice—thank you! Watering is definitely something I struggled with last year. I’ll start watching No-Till Growers and Joe Gardener ASAP. And composting… here I come! :smile:

The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust.

If you’re into perennials, this book is amazing for understanding how to prune and care for them properly.

Jai said:
The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust.

If you’re into perennials, this book is amazing for understanding how to prune and care for them properly.

Just got it on my Kindle—thank you! Excited to learn more about keeping perennials happy. :cherry_blossom:

Ruth Stout’s No-Work Garden Book.

Her deep mulch method changed how I garden forever. Less weeding, less watering, and happier plants!

Hart said:
Ruth Stout’s No-Work Garden Book.

Her deep mulch method changed how I garden forever. Less weeding, less watering, and happier plants!

Found it on Kindle Unlimited—score! Can’t wait to learn more about this ‘no-work’ method. Sounds like a dream. :laughing:

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander.

Not exactly a gardening how-to, but a hilarious and relatable read about the joys (and struggles) of growing your own food.

Blaire said:
The $64 Tomato by William Alexander.

Not exactly a gardening how-to, but a hilarious and relatable read about the joys (and struggles) of growing your own food.

Haha, this sounds like a fun and refreshing read! Adding it to my list. :grin:

Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

Game changer for understanding space efficiency!

Rylan said:
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

Game changer for understanding space efficiency!

Just checked it out from my library—thank you! Excited to see if this method helps me maximize my small space. :smiley:

Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway.

If you’re interested in permaculture and working with nature instead of against it, this book is fantastic. It changed my entire approach to gardening.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

Not a gardening book per se, but it completely changed how I think about food and inspired me to grow more of my own.