Planning for Spring: Yard and Garden Books for Adults

Get ready for spring with these practical and inspiring reads to improve your outdoor spaces. These librarian-recommended reads offer step-by-step help to grow a healthy and beautiful space outdoors.

Updated March 5, 2026
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100 plants to feed the monarch : create a healthy habitat to sustain North America's most beloved butterfly : the Xerces Society
Lee-Mader, Eric
Paper Book
The plight of the monarch butterfly has captured public attention and sparked widespread interest in helping to save their dwindling populations. In this in-depth portrait of the monarch butterfly--covering its life cycle, its remarkable relationship with milkweed, its extraordinary migration, and...
Encyclopedia of landscape design : planning, building, and planting your perfect outdoor space
Young, Chris
Paper Book
Transform your outdoor garden into a picturesque Garden of Eden with this comprehensive garden design encyclopedia! The garden you've always wished for is achievable with this practical gardening bible for all your horticultural needs. Whether you are new to gardening or a...
Garden allies : the insects, birds, & other animals that keep your garden beautiful and thriving
Lavoipierre, Frédérique
Paper Book
"Explains how your garden can be a thriving, balanced community that gives more to your landscape than it takes." --Douglas W. Tallamy, author of The Nature of Oaks and Nature's Best Hope The birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects...
Japanese style companion planting : organic gardening techniques for optimal growth and flavor
Kijima, Toshio
Paper Book
Japanese Style Companion Planting brings the techniques of a master farmer in Japan to home gardeners all over the world, with over 175 easy-to-follow color illustrations and detailed texts. Japanese gardeners typically work with small plots and are experts at making the...
Nature and the mind : the science of how nature improves cognitive, physical, and social well-being
Berman, Marc G.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed founder of environmental neuroscience, Dr. Marc Berman, comes a groundbreaking guide that reveals how interacting with nature can be the secret to improved mental and physical health. Dr. Marc Berman, the pioneering creator of the field of environmental...
Rewilding the urban soul : searching for the wild in the city
Dunn, Claire
Paper Book
Once upon a time, a burnt-out Claire Dunn spent a year living off the grid in a wilderness survival program. Yet love and the possibilities of human connection drew her back to the city, where she soon found herself as overscheduled, addicted to her phone, and lost in IKEA as the rest of us. Given...
The compost coach : make compost, build soil and grow a regenerative garden - wherever you live!
Flood, Kate
Paper Book
Spin food waste and household carbon into garden gold, learn about how and why soil matters, and make climate activism an everyday mission, with compost coach Kate Flood.
The ultimate wildlife habitat garden : attract and support birds, bees, and butterflies
Tornio, Stacy
Paper Book
"The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden helps you become more intentional about attracting birds, bees, and more to the garden...you can build a beautiful garden for all seasons while simultaneously striving to support wildlife."―Horticulture ...
The well gardened mind : rediscovering nature in the modern world
Stuart-Smith, Sue
Paper Book
'The wisest book I've read for many years ... Much more than a gardening book, much more than a guide to mental health ... Hugely recommended' Stephen Fry THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A Times and Sunday Times Best Book of 2020 How can gardening relieve stress...
The lifelong gardener : garden with ease & joy at any age
Gattone, Toni
Paper Book
"The secret to making the most of later life is to keep doing what you love. With practical advice and gentle inspiration, Gattone shows us how gardening can work for people of any age." --Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slowness You can keep gardening...
The complete book of ground covers : 4000 plants that reduce maintenance, control erosion, and beautify the landscape
Lewis, Gary (Gardener)
Paper Book
Winner of a Golden Laurel at the 2023 GardenComm Media Awards "A magnum opus of ground covers that deserves a place in every gardener's library." --Tony Avent, founder and owner Plant Delights Nursery Ground covers are widely...
Trees : essential know-how and expert advice for gardening success
Allaway, Zia
Paper Book
Discover the secret to successfully growing trees in your garden. Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Trees contains everything you need to bring stunning seasonal interest, structural elegance, and biodiversity to your garden. Learn how to plant and care for your trees...

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