Enjoy Exploring a Bumper Crop of Gardening Resources

April is National Gardening Month making this the perfect time to explore gardening resources at the Library. Whether you have a large vegetable garden, small containers of flowers, or you’re growing plants to attract wildlife, we can help. We even have books about gardening with your little ones.

books about gardening

Book cover for The Begetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook

The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver by Susan Mulvihill

The veggie-growing expert of YouTube’s Susan’s in the Garden provides all-natural solutions for common vegetable garden ailments, such as plant diseases, viruses, disorders, stressors, and even animal pests, to help both beginner and expert gardeners alike keep their plants healthy and productive.

Available as a:

The Container Victory Garden by Maggie Stuckey

Even if all you have is a postage stamp’s worth of space on a balcony, patio, or front stoop, The Container Victory Garden equips you to dig into the joys of container gardening, right where you are. In her trademark warm and informative style, bestselling author and expert gardener Maggie Stuckey shares everything you need to know to succeed with container gardening: planning, gearing up, planting, nurturing, and harvesting.

Available as a:

Book cover for The Midwest Gardener's Handbook

Midwest Gardener’s Handbook by Melinda Myers

Profiles of more than 250 plants proven to thrive in the Midwest’s climate, including shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, fruits, herbs, vines, and more, help you select the best plants to create a beautiful landscape or a high-yielding edible garden.

Month-by-month care and cultivation guides are offered for each plant group, guiding your journey—even if you’re a first-time Midwestern gardener.

Available as a:

Book cover for Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners

Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners by Tammy Wylie

Worried about space? Interested in bigger and better yields? Raised-Bed Gardening for Beginners shows you all the amazing advantages of raised-bed gardens, and how easy creating them can be. A complete primer for fresh and experienced planters alike, this book contains everything you need to know to start a happy and healthy raised-bed garden. Learn to build your bed, select the right plants, and so much more. Simple guides will have even the greenest gardeners serving up freshly picked vegetables in no time.

Available as a:

Ohio: Getting Started Growing Guide by Denny McKeown

Knowing what plants to select for your garden can be an intimidating prospect. Dive into the dirt with this Ohio regional gardening guide with local expert Denny McKeown.

Available as a:

Book cover for 100 Plants to Feed the Birds

100 Plants to Feed the Birds by Laura Erickson

In-depth profiles offer planting and care guidance for 100 native plant species that provide food and shelter for birds throughout the year, from winter all the way through breeding and migrating periods. Readers will learn about plants they can add to their gardens and cultivate, such as early-season pussy willow and late-season asters, as well as wild plants to refrain from weeding out, like jewelweed and goldenrod.

Others, including 29 tree species, may already be present in the landscape and readers will learn how these plants support the birds who feed and nest in them.

Available as a:

Videos about gardening

Ron finley, an activist and gardener

MasterClass series on gardening with Ron Finley

Community activist and self-taught gardener Ron Finley shows you how to garden in any space, nurture your plants, and grow your own food. Ten episodes covering topics such as composting, creating planters, and growing your own food.

Available to download or stream with hoopla Digital.

Video cover for Grow, Cook, Eat

Grow, Cook, Eat

Grow Cook Eat is a new series about how you can grow your own food: you can grow vegetables and fruit in a very small garden, or even in containers on an apartment balcony, you don’t need half an acre or a poly tunnel to do it. Each episode focuses on a particular vegetable and takes us through the entire process, from sowing the seed, to harvesting and to cooking. This is a practical series, aimed at people with little or no knowledge, but who like the idea of being able to grow at least something themselves.

Available to download or stream with hoopla Digital.

Perfect Compost with Peter Proctor

Compost is the fundamental element in all gardening & farming. This master class takes you through the compost making process from gathering and assembling your materials to creating the perfect compost heap.

Available to download or stream with hoopla Digital.

Magazines about gardening

Cover of Horticulture magazine
Cover of Amateur Gardening magazine

With the Overdrive website or the Libby app, you have access to popular gardening magazines such as Horticulture, Gardens Illustrated, and Amateur Gardening. You can read the current issue or catch up on back issues. You can even receive a notification when a new issue is available.

Explore the collection.

Gardening books for children

Book cover for No-Dig Children's Gardening Book

No-Dig Children’s Gardening Book by Charles Dowding

No matter where you garden, it’s easier without digging or weeding! Learn about helpful creatures, soil health, compost and plants that are good for wildlife.

Available as a:

Book cover for Let's Get Gardening

Let’s Get Gardening

Learn to grow your own vegetables and herbs, attract awesome wildlife such as butterflies and bees, and be a green gardener with lots of recycling tips. Whether you’ve got a big vegetable patch or just a windowsill, you can grow all sorts of plants.

With step-by-step activities, this book helps children learn about conservation, recycling and sustainability in simple, practical, and hands-on ways. They will build a mini nature reserve, turn old rain boots into plant pots, grow fruit and vegetables that they can really eat, plant a bee-friendly space, create a ladybug sanctuary, and much more.

Available as a:

Book cover for The Children's Garden

The Children’s Garden by Matthew Appleby

A garden can be a place for discovery, creativity and fun, and a space that encourages children to enjoy and engage with the natural world. Through 52 exciting family projects, one for every week of the year, this book inspires parents and their children ages 5+ to play and learn in the garden, with activities including nature trails, cooking, crafting and growing plants and vegetables.

Available as a:

Two hands cupping a plant seedling in some dirt

plant exchanges

Several of our branches are offering plant exchanges during library hours in May. You can leave plants from your garden and take what others are sharing from their gardens. It’s a great, free way to add variety to your garden.

Check our event calendar to see which branches are hosting exchanges.

In closing

The Library offers a variety of resources to help you make the most of your gardening plans.

If you’re looking for other book suggestions, explore our online resource, NoveList Plus. Or sign up for Recommends, our personalized reading suggestions via email service. Or ask Library staff for suggestions during your next visit.