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This list of horticulture and gardening books includes notable gardening books and journals, which can to aid in research and for residential gardeners in planning, planting, harvesting, and maintaining gardens. Gardening books encompass a variety of subjects from garden design, vegetable gardens, perennial gardens, to shade gardens. Every plant genus or category of plants may also be covered including roses, clematis, bulbs, hellebores, and hydrangeas. The Internet has expanded and enhanced the availability of gardening resources. Online plant databases, photographic collections, as well as detailed articles and blogs greatly add to the range and depth of home gardening information.
Dirr, M.A. (1998). Manual of woody landscape plants: their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses. Champaign, IL: Stipes. (ISBN0-87563-800-7)
Dirr, M.A. (2002). Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (ISBN088192525X)
Pears, P. (2002). Rodale's illustrated encyclopedia of organic gardening. New York: DK Pub. (ISBN0-7894-8908-2)
Smith, Jim. The Wise Old Gnome Speaks: How to Really, Really, Really Care About Your Garden
Reference books
Hortus Third
American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants Michael Dirr
Shrubs and trees
Bean, W.J, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs
Textbooks
Epstein, E. and Bloom, A.J. (2005). Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives. (2nd ed). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates. (ISBN978-0878931729)
Gold Medal Plant Award Program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society this program recognizes "trees, shrubs, and woody vines of outstanding merit" and are recommended for USDA Zones 5-7 and is a good place to look when considering adding shrubs and trees to the home garden.