First-time Gardener

by Kim Wilde

Every budding gardener can make a successful start with the practical advice and step-by-step instructions of this illustrated guide. Beginning with a look at the basic elements—soil, climate, aspect, and light—it then goes on to show novice gardeners how to plan a garden and select a style that's right for them. The next step is "hardscaping": essentials like boundaries, paths, patios, and seating. Then comes the fun the plants! Aspiring green thumbs will learn the secrets of good planting and get advice on how to combine plants according to shape, color, and texture, and how to create container displays for year-round color. Packed with color photos, this guide is complete with an extensive section on gardening techniques that takes readers step-by-step through planting, sowing, seeding, and pruning.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's impossible not to like Kim Wilde. Whether as an 80s pop icon, her second career as a landscape gardener, her third career as a radio DJ, and circling back around to constantly-touring musician, she's always been accessible, and easy to relate to.

Her first book is no different. It is exactly what it says - a beginners guide for someone who's thumbs are less than green. The ideas, particularly seating, patios, and pots, are unique, and she really has an eye for placement and color. I was going for different styles of gardens all around my property (I used another book to design and English country garden at the back of the house), and chose to use this one around a patio and swimming pool. Her writing style goes down easy, is clear, concise, and never wordy or pretentious. It's somewhat conversational.

It made me wish she had written some more advanced books on the subject, but this is till a great pick if you are new to this.

[Ally Atherton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great when you manage to find exactly what you are looking for..


I am a complete beginner to gardening and I was looking for something that would teach me the basics and this book managed to do that as well as wetting my appetite to take my interest to the next level. I am no spring chicken and my front garden is tiny and all I have at the back of my rented house is a small yard, but I am managing to tinker around a little with the little that I have.


It's encouraging too to think that Kim Wilde was once a complete novice too and has managed incredibly to forge a second career for herself. There is hope for us all. My interest in all things horticultural is new and fun and who knows where it can take me in the future.


This is written in an easy reading style, it is helpful, encouraging and there are a few chuckles along the way. It has certainly encouraged me to plod on regardless of whether I will one day manage to get myself a garden bigger than a postage stamp!



If you are interested in gardening, this is just the thing to help you along the way.