Best Shade Gardening Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Apr 24, 2023

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Shade gardening can be a challenge for many gardeners, but with the right resources, it can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Shade Gardening Books offer a wealth of information and inspiration for those looking to create beautiful and thriving shade gardens. These books cover everything from choosing the right plants for shade to designing and maintaining a shaded garden space. They provide practical advice on soil preparation, watering, and fertilization, as well as tips for dealing with common shade garden pests and diseases. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Shade Gardening Books are a valuable resource for anyone looking to create a beautiful and successful shade garden.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms at Home Cover #TOP 1
Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms at Home
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms Cover #TOP 2
Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Making the Most of Shade Cover #TOP 3
Making the Most of Shade
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Shade Gardening Books

#TOP 1

Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms at Home

York, Michael
OSDTKRU
Feb 1, 2023
Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms at Home Cover
Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms at Home, Indoors and Outdoors. | + BONUS: 10 Beginner-Friendly Low Investment DIY Projects

Mushroom Cultivation for Beginners is a comprehensive guide that teaches readers how to grow gourmet and medicinal mushrooms indoors and outdoors. The book covers everything from selecting the right substrate to harvesting and storing your mushroom crop. It also includes information on low investment DIY projects. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, making it a great resource for beginners. Overall, this book is an excellent choice for anyone interested in growing their own mushrooms and wants to do so with confidence.

Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms

Bray, Richard
Mar 2, 2019
Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms Cover
Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms

The book "Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms" is a comprehensive guide for mushroom enthusiasts who want to cultivate mushrooms at home. With over 20,000 varieties of mushrooms known in the world, finding a wide variety of mushrooms in the supermarket can be a challenge. This book provides a detailed overview of how to start your mushroom adventure, including choosing a suitable growing method and identifying potential problems. It also covers 12 different growing methods for indoor and outdoor cultivation. This book is an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn how to cultivate mushrooms and enjoy the pleasure of homegrown fungi.

#TOP 3

Making the Most of Shade

Hodgson, Larry
Rodale Books
Apr 16, 2005
Making the Most of Shade Cover
Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens up the Shadows

Making the Most of Shade by Larry Hodgson is a comprehensive guide to creating a lush and lovely garden filled with shade-loving plants. Hodgson covers the basics of shade gardening, including planning, planting, and problem-solving, and provides an encyclopedia of nearly 300 perennials, annuals, bulbs, ferns, ornamental grasses, and climbing plants that will thrive without direct sunlight. Expert designs for five different kinds of shaded gardens are also included. This book is a must-have for novice and seasoned gardeners alike, and a treasure trove of information for those looking to create a soothing sanctuary in the shade.

The Magical World of Moss Gardening

Martin, Annie
Timber Press
Aug 26, 2015
The Magical World of Moss Gardening Cover
The Magical World of Moss Gardening

The Magical World of Moss Gardening by Annie Martin is an informative guide to growing moss in stunning, eco-friendly spaces. Martin, a bryophyte expert, covers everything from designing and planting a moss garden to providing an inspiring tour of the most magical public and private moss gardens throughout the country. The book includes beautiful illustrations and photographs that help readers understand the tactile and visual delights of moss, as well as its environmental benefits. Overall, this book is a comprehensive, inspirational, and fascinating guide for anyone interested in growing moss and broadening their range of plants.

The Practical Permaculture Project: Connect to Nature and Discover the Best Organic Soil and Water Management Techniques to Design and Build your ... McKay's Easy and Effective Gardening Series)

McKay, Sophie
Mar 29, 2022
The Practical Permaculture Project: Connect to Nature and Discover the Best Organic Soil and Water Management Techniques to Design and Build your ... McKay's Easy and Effective Gardening Series) Cover
The Practical Permaculture Project: Connect to Nature and Discover the Best Organic Soil and Water Management Techniques to Design and Build your ... McKay's Easy and Effective Gardening Series)

The Practical Permaculture Project is a comprehensive guide that offers practical techniques to design and build a sustainable garden. The book emphasizes the importance of having a plan in place before starting a permaculture garden and covers essential topics like garden design, water management, soil improvement, and composting. The author also explores the benefits of permaculture, such as self-sufficiency, health, and vitality. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in creating a beautiful oasis in their backyard while helping to restore our planet.

The Comprehensive Herbal Handbook : The Homesteader's Easy-To-Follow Guide to Grow and Harvest Medicinal Herbs and Craft Natural Remedies

Rempel, Jenni
Nov 30, 2022
The Comprehensive Herbal Handbook : The Homesteader's Easy-To-Follow Guide to Grow and Harvest Medicinal Herbs and Craft Natural Remedies Cover
The Comprehensive Herbal Handbook (2 Books in 1): The Homesteader's Easy-To-Follow Guide to Grow and Harvest Medicinal Herbs and Craft Natural Remedies (The Homesteader Herbs Series)

The Comprehensive Herbal Handbook (2 Books in 1) is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to learn to grow herbs and use natural remedies. The book is perfect for beginners who have no experience in gardening or cooking with herbs. It contains easy-to-follow steps for planting, growing, and cultivating each herb, and provides 26 tried and tested recipes for multiple herbs and spices. The book also includes 2 full-color downloads of every herb to keep as a quick reference guide. In conclusion, this book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to become confident, cost-effective, and knowledgeable about natural remedies.

Creating your Permaculture Heaven: Design and Principles

Needham, Nydia
Dec 11, 2021
Creating your Permaculture Heaven: Design and Principles Cover
Creating your Permaculture Heaven: Design and Principles for Creating Your Own Backyard Food Forest

Creating your Permaculture Heaven is a book that teaches you how to use natural systems and processes to create a sustainable and efficient garden. The book highlights the importance of permaculture in helping to save the planet and reduce your carbon footprint. Whether you have a small apartment or a large piece of land, the principles of permaculture can help you get the most out of your garden. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to live a sustainable life and do their part in helping the environment.

#TOP 8

Microgreens: The Insiders Secrets To Growing Gourmet Greens & Building A Wildly Successful Microgreen Business

Woods, Clive
Greens, Donny
KLG Publishing
Mar 21, 2020
Microgreens: The Insiders Secrets To Growing Gourmet Greens & Building A Wildly Successful Microgreen Business Cover
Microgreens: The Insiders Secrets To Growing Gourmet Greens & Building A Wildly Successful Microgreen Business (Smarter Home Gardening)

Microgreens: The Insiders Secrets To Growing Gourmet Greens & Building A Wildly Successful Microgreen Business by Klg Publishing is an essential guide for anyone interested in growing microgreens. The book is packed with tips and tricks from the world's best microgreen growers, including advice on equipment, germination, and harvesting conditions. In addition, the book offers business start-up advice and top tips from Donny Greens, the founder of an $8,000 per month microgreen business in New York. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to grow microgreens for their health benefits or as a business venture.

#TOP 9

The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis

Druse, Ken
Stewart, Tabori & Chang
Apr 14, 2015
The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis Cover
The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change

The New Shade Garden by Ken Druse is a comprehensive guide for creating a shade garden that emphasizes the adjustments necessary for our changing climate. Druse provides advice on a wide variety of common problems facing today's gardeners and offers horticultural facts and useful plant recommendations. The author argues that shade gardens will be the most comfortable, satisfying, and sustainable option for the future. Druse's words, offered in the tone of a neighbor happy to advise, make this book worth more than mere coffee-table topping. This wide-ranging encyclopedic manual is perfect for new and seasoned gardeners alike and is sure to become a resource you will refer to again and again.

Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide

Ballato, Lorraine
B&B Publications
Nov 29, 2017
Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide Cover
Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide

Success with Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide is a comprehensive book that provides all the necessary information to grow healthy and beautiful hydrangeas. With over 150 photos and illustrations, the book covers everything from propagation to pests and diseases, making it an ideal guide for both novice and experienced gardeners. The author, Lorraine Ballato, is a well-known garden writer and speaker, and her expertise on hydrangeas shines through in this book. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to grow this popular shrub in their garden.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do you arrange plants in a shaded garden?

Use Plants with Different Textures Make a bold, dramatic statement in your shade garden, even without flowers, by combining plants with different foliage textures and colors. An easy way to create texture combinations is by pairing leaves with opposite characteristics.

2. Which plant grows best in shade?

We recommend 20 of the best plants for shade, below.. Stinking iris, Iris foetidissima.Wood spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae.Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis.Winter aconites, Eranthis hyemalis.Bellflower, Campanula.Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea.Granny's bonnet, Aquilegia.Bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis.

Editor's Notes

During our shade gardening book research, we found 826 shade gardening book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 7,121 customer reviews through our big data system to write the shade gardening books list. We found that most customers choose shade gardening books with an average price of $18.54.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.