Gardening Magazines

A Spread of Gardening Magazines

There are many nice things about gardening magazines. They are rewards which can be saved for apres gardening, or for the first morning cup of tea. There's absolutely no waste - even the advertisements are interesting.

Gardening magazines can be re-read most successfully, even after two or three years. Just think how garden-brainy we'd be if we remembered all the good advice and information!

Here is a list of my favourite gardening magazines. I'm a hard judge, as I get really annoyed by the "glossies", whose photos lack reality and whose writing style assumes me desperately interested in commercial garden fashions.

But then I love the British magazines, particularly the beautiful atmospheric ones - probably more for romantic nostalgia than anything else. The Australian magazines always seem loud and colourful, representing their warm and vibrant country of origin. And I do subscribe to a well known New Zealand garden magazine, though I have some reservations.

My Favourite Gardening Magazine

My absolute favourite is an American magazine called Fine Gardening. I love all the articles, and many of the plants featured become favourites in my own garden. This is a publication I won't happily lend out - and my back issues are well organised into a folder.

Country Gardens...
Sun 23rd Nov 2008

Non-Gardening partner often brings me home gardening magazines and books from the big town library. I've been enjoying his latest choice - it's called Country Gardens, an American magazine full of cottage garden style.

Weekend Gardener...
Tue 26th Apr 2005

Weekend gardener, which styles itself 'New Zealand's do-it-yourself gardening magazine' has been out for a while now. The name has ironically put me off buying it - if it was called 'Daily Gardening' I'd have probably snapped up a subscription!

Gardening Which?...
Thu 10th Mar 2005

Gardening Which? (complete with designer question mark) is The Consumer Gardening Magazine for British gardeners. The Moosey London team were kind enough to send me some copies - I'm very impressed!

Organic NZ...
Tue 21st Sep 2004

Finally I have found a seriously organic New Zealand magazine. It's a very serious read - with much more than gardening on its agenda!

25 Beautiful Gardens...
Wed 4th Aug 2004

This is the perfect winter garden magazine - there are lots of beautiful spring English gardens to stare at and enjoy. The colours are heart-warming, and give me hope - perhaps spring isn't actually that far away!

The Garden...
Thu 17th Jun 2004

The Garden is the journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in Britain. Through it RHS members can find out what's on and which gardens are open to visit, as well as getting a great gardening read. It's an informative magazine with a delightful feeling for nature and the preservation of natural treasures

New Zealand Gardener...
Mon 23rd Feb 2004

This is the national magazine for general gardening in New Zealand. It has a variety of styles and attitudes, and sometimes seems confused - should it be a light read by the coffee table or an inspiring and informative experience?

ABC Australia Gardening...
Sat 1st Nov 2003

This Australian magazine is colourful and jam-packed with flowers and planting ideas. There are a lot of brightly colourful advertisements too.

The Organic Gardener...
Sat 1st Nov 2003

This is a wonderful magazine, quite serious in tone, and very informative. The benefits and profitability of organic farming are well discussed, as are the principles of being organic in a small personal garden.

English Country Living...
Thu 16th Mar 2000

I had to include this magazine, not because I regularly read it, but because the very first Mooseys Country Garden was featured in it - taking up a quarter of a page of English country living space.

Lifestyle Farmer...
Wed 15th Mar 2000

Lifestyle Farmer is a more specialised magazine for farms - though the emphasis is still on smaller holdings, and the diversity of crops and animals that might suit a more personal style of farm management.

Growing Today...
Mon 6th Mar 2000

Growing Today is a New Zealand magazine with good articles and advice for small block farmers, who are often called 'lifestylers'. It's thoughtful and practical, and has a good honest attitude to the cost of farm developments.

New Zealand Consumer Gardening...
Thu 2nd Mar 2000

I subscribed to this New Zealand gardening magazine until it ceased publication in late 2002. I really enjoyed its consumer test articles.

Fine Gardening...
Sun 27th Feb 2000

There is only one magazine which regularly inspires me enough, and I really recommend it. It's American, and sadly is only published every two months. I have no hesitation in saying Fine Gardening is my most favourite gardening magazine.