Manchester City Library

The weather has finally warmed up here in New Hampshire, flowers are emerging, and people have been heading out into their gardens. I moved into a new home in the fall, and have been enjoying discovering all the things growing and blooming in our yard. Whether you are new to gardening and looking for help starting your own garden, or are an experienced gardener searching for new ideas or help troubleshooting a new gardening challenge, the Manchester City Library has a variety of gardening books to help you out. Listed below are just a few of the many print resources available in the library:

• Want to learn how to create a thriving vegetable garden? Check out The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables.
• For information on regenerative gardening, or how gardening can help you live in a more ecologically responsible way, try Grow Now: How We Can Save our Health, Communities, and Planet – One Garden at a Time.
• If you love gardens but have limited space, take a look at The Less Is More Garden: Big Ideas for Designing Your Small Yard.
• Have you struggled with growing flowers in a shady yard? You may find this book helpful: Glorious Shade: Dazzling Plants, Design Ideas, and Proven Techniques for Your Shady Garden.

While the library has a large collection of gardening books covering a range of topics, you may also want to explore some of the many free websites that offer information and assistance with all types of gardening. I have pulled together a list of some useful online resources, though there certainly are plenty more sites out there for you to discover.

• University of New Hampshire Extension: Yarn and Garden provides research-based information to residents on topics including gardening, landscaping, pests, soil, and more.
• Soak Up the Rain New Hampshire is a program managed by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to engage home and small business owners to help protect and restore clean water. The site provides fact sheets and information on creating a rain garden and setting up a rain barrel.
• Gardening Channel provides a wealth of advice and tips on how to garden, including a variety of articles on a wide range of gardening topics. This site also offers a detailed guide to garden vegetables and nutrition articles.
• The Spruce offers gardening help on topics ranging from general gardening tasks to advice for experienced gardeners. Includes an A-Z guide of more than 1000 garden and household plants.

Do you have a trusted book, website, or magazine that you tend to turn to for help in the garden? If you are a new or an experienced gardener, we would love to hear your favorite source for gardening information. The next time you are at the main branch visit the gardening display in the rotunda to browse selected gardening resources. As always, if you have a specific question or need a book on a particular topic, please ask a librarian and we will be happy to assist you.