1
of
1
Start with Soil
Simple steps for a thriving garden
Brief Description
Transform your garden from the ground up with this practical guide to soil. Any thriving garden starts with good soil: whether you're growing vibrant herbaceous borders or bountiful vegetable beds. And while gardeners all appreciate the soil beneath their feet, many are still perplexed by how it...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$3999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Start with Soil
$3999
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
The First Ever NZ Children's Book Week!
We are so excited to celebrate kids reading books with the first NZ Children's Book...
What Lizzy's Family Loved on a Long Weekend Away
We recently went on a family long weekend away to Ohakune, a new spot for...
Why We Still Love Pokémon
Pokémon has changed enormously since I was trading cards at school and playing it on...
Paw Patrol : The Dino Movie Toys Have Arrived!
The new Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie toys have arrived & are ready to ship!
New Releases to add to your TBR (11th August)
There's a new release for everyone this week - here's your TBR roundup! Lizzy shares...
See more
Transform your garden into a flourishing hub for wildlife with the practical tips and techniques in Start with Soil.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Transform your garden from the ground up with this practical guide to soil.
Any thriving garden starts with good soil: whether you're growing vibrant herbaceous borders or bountiful vegetable beds. And while gardeners all appreciate the soil beneath their feet, many are still perplexed by how it works.
In Start with Soil, award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant challenges you to take your soil seriously, reveals its hidden wonders, and gives you the tools to improve your soil health and harness its power.
The science of soil is explained without the jargon: learn how soil works and how climate change is impacting its health.Get to know your own soil with easy at-home testing, explanations about how soil changes throughout the year, and quick-guides to the types of growing mediums we use in gardening - from composts to house plants, hydroponics to sand gardens. Follow Juliet's advice for gardening for better soil, with tried-and-tested methods for making simple compost, feeding your soil, protecting your soil, and introductions to No Dig gardening, Hugelkultur and rain gardens.Understand how plants help the soil and choose the perfect plants for your soil type.
With step-by-step projects, plant profiles and trouble-shooting pages - by starting with soil you will not only be gardening in a way that is kind to the planet, but you will also be ensuring that your garden flourishes.Created in collaboration with the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and written by leading garden designer and soil expert, Juliet Sargeant, this is the must-have guide for a thriving garden.
Any thriving garden starts with good soil: whether you're growing vibrant herbaceous borders or bountiful vegetable beds. And while gardeners all appreciate the soil beneath their feet, many are still perplexed by how it works.
In Start with Soil, award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant challenges you to take your soil seriously, reveals its hidden wonders, and gives you the tools to improve your soil health and harness its power.
The science of soil is explained without the jargon: learn how soil works and how climate change is impacting its health.Get to know your own soil with easy at-home testing, explanations about how soil changes throughout the year, and quick-guides to the types of growing mediums we use in gardening - from composts to house plants, hydroponics to sand gardens. Follow Juliet's advice for gardening for better soil, with tried-and-tested methods for making simple compost, feeding your soil, protecting your soil, and introductions to No Dig gardening, Hugelkultur and rain gardens.Understand how plants help the soil and choose the perfect plants for your soil type.
With step-by-step projects, plant profiles and trouble-shooting pages - by starting with soil you will not only be gardening in a way that is kind to the planet, but you will also be ensuring that your garden flourishes.Created in collaboration with the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and written by leading garden designer and soil expert, Juliet Sargeant, this is the must-have guide for a thriving garden.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780711289390
Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 May 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Frances Lincoln
Illustration: 140 photographs and diagrams
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 160.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 750g
Pages: 160
About the Author
Juliet Sargeant is an award-winning garden designer and regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time. She teaches garden design and horticulture at her Sussex Garden School. Her New Blue Peter Garden: Discover Soil for 2022's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is now on permanent display at RHS Garden Bridgewater.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous centre for botanical and mycological knowledge. Over the past 250 years Kew has made innumerable contributions to increasing the understanding of plants and fungi with many benefits for humankind.
Also by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
View all-
Witch's Forest
There is more folklore, mythology and magic associated with our trees and forests than with any other living things. Known throughout the world as dark and wild places where witches make mischief and eerie creatures dwell, forests are also places of sanctuary for the ancient magic and the most enchanting species of trees. Witch's Forest is a beautifully illustrated, captivating...Hardback$5100Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Kew - Plant Words
What is a perennial plant? What grows in herbaceous borders? Why are fungi not plants? And what would you find growing in a Wardian case? Plant Words is an eclectic collection of 250 botanical terms curated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This treasury of horticultural terminology will introduce you to terraria, tulip mania and taxonomy, making you an expert...Hardback$4400Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants
The Gardener's Companion to Medicinal Plants is a beautifully illustrated, giftable gardening reference book that combines exquisite botanical illustrations with practical self-help projects. Every day sees a discovery in the press about the new uses of plants, and it is certain that many of our most important drugs are derived from plants. From willow (used to produce aspirin) to periwinkle...Hardback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Arboretum
This next instalment in the bestselling Welcome to the Museum collection in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, is about the incredible life of trees. Trees are some of nature's most majestic and beguiling life forms. Arboretum is a beautifully illustrated celebration of trees from around the world, and sheds light on the vital role they play in every...Hardback$5500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Arboretum Mini Gift
An elegant mini edition of Katie Scott and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew's beautiful Arboretum. This stylish mini edition of Arboretum is the perfect gift for nature-lovers or anyone who appreciates beautiful books. Wander the galleries—open 365 days a year—and discover a collection of curated exhibits on every page, accompanied by informative text. From majestic redwoods to ornamental cherry trees,...Hardback$2499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Kew - Rare Plants
"Some plants are inherently rare, while others become rare through our actions." Rare Plants explores what makes the world's most uncommon plants so exceptional, and by what means they have become so scarce. From highlands to jungles, many of our most extraordinary plants are vanishing at shocking rates, and this exquisitely illustrated book explores 40 of these mysterious species. Featuring...Hardback$5500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Arboretum Poster Book
These stunning posters from Katie Scott's bestselling Arboretum are perfect for pinning on your walls. This large-format poster book lets you decorate your walls with images from Katie Scott's bestselling Arboretum, created in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Featuring beautiful trees from around the world, including majestic redwoods and fragrant apple blossoms, this is a stunning collection of...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Fragrance
Flowers, fruits, herbs, resins, woods, spices. From bloom to bottle, the subtle art of perfume has always had its roots in the natural world. From sunny mandarin to sweet violet and from luscious fig to fresh thyme, the right combination of ingredients can transport you to a world of sensory associations that can evoke memories, pique curiosities and even alter...Hardback$5300Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
The Orchid
Queen of the night, Darwin's comet, lady's slipper, little dragon, black chimaera - the otherworldly names of orchid species are as beautiful as these sought-after flowers themselves.From flamboyant and colourful to strange and understated, and from alpine meadows to cloud forests, the orchid's variety and range is unparallelled - and has made it an object of obsession to plant collectors...Hardback$6200Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Fungarium
Illustrator Katie Scott returns to the Welcome to the Museum series with exquisite, detailed images of some of the most fascinating living organisms on this planet - fungi. From the fungi we see on supermarket shelves to fungi like penicillium that have shaped human history, this is the definitive introduction to what fungi are and just how vital they are...Hardback$4999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Fungarium Activity Book
Following the incredible Fungarium, best-selling illustrator Katie Scott returns with a deluxe companion activity book, created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Bursting with fascinating facts and puzzles about mushrooms, lichens, and spores, Fungarium Activity Book offers hours of entertainment to artists and nature lovers. Beautiful and inspiring, the 37 activities challenge the reader to discover something new...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Kew Gardener's Guide to Growing Alpines
In this handy alpine-growing guide, Kew Gardens' alpines expert shares tips and advice on how to grow and maintain these unique plants, including 12 practical projects to try at home. Alpines are often considered tricky to grow, but given their natural mountain homes, they are actually remarkably hardy. They're perfect for dry, free-draining soils and do well in containers, gravel...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from Home & Garden
View all-
The Edible Backyard
The Edible Backyard by Kath Irvine is an essential companion for anyone looking to transform their garden into a flourishing, organic paradise. This comprehensive guide takes you through every step needed to grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs in your own garden, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh produce all year round. Gardening expert Kath Irvine shares insights...Paperback$4000Elsewhere:$5000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Thousand Feasts
THE INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From award-winning writer Nigel Slater, comes a new and exquisitely written collection of notes, memoir, stories and small moments of joy. 'Nigel Slater’s prose is the rarest delicacy of all: exquisite yet effortless, filled with heart, tenderness, yearning and humour' ELIZABETH DAY For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Clean Magic
With Nancy Birtwhistle, it IS easy being green. From the Great British Bake Off winner and Sunday Times bestselling author, Clean Magic is a complete guide with practical and down-to-earth advice on how to integrate Nancy’s tried and tested household tips into your daily life.From sorting stubborn stains to Basic Magic, Pure Magic Gel and big, themed clean-ups, Nancy helps...Hardback$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Grow Your Groceries
Plant-growing ideas and tricks from a leading gardening TikToker. Hacks on how to grow plants from your supermarket shop. Have you ever wondered if you could grow plants from the food you buy? Could you do something with those leftover apple pips? What about growing your own kiwi plant? And what if you could make more plants from the herb...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Edible Weeds Handbook
Discover the rich world of New Zealand's wild edible plants with this comprehensive guide. In this comprehensive companion to the best-selling A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand, Andrew Crowe explores the rich culinary world of Aotearoa's non-native plants - the so-called 'weeds'. From miner's lettuce to watercress, taro to acorns, this go-to, illustrated handbook offers...Paperback$2899Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
How to Keep House While Drowning
A gentle guide to cleaning and organising when you're overwhelmed, from a licensed therapist and TikTok sensation PRE-ORDER KC'S NEXT BOOK—WHO DESERVES YOUR LOVE Simple tools to make home care easy when life is hard. When you are neurodivergent, have undiagnosed ADHD, or are struggling with your mental or physical health, keeping on top of the laundry pile and tackling...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Self-Sufficiency Garden
Year-round growing plan to yield six portions of veg per person per day plus batching and preserving recipes. Eat homegrown food all year round and save money on your weekly shop by following a simple plan for self-sufficiency. The Self-Sufficiency Garden by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper reveals the results of their two-year journey planning and trialling their own self-sufficiency...Hardback$3800Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Abundant Garden
The Abundant Garden by Niva and Yotam Kay is a treasure trove of knowledge for both seasoned and novice gardeners alike. Located on the stunning Coromandel Peninsula of Aotearoa New Zealand, the authors draw from their extensive experience at Pakaraka Permaculture to bring you a comprehensive guide on creating and maintaining a productive, regenerative vegetable garden. The book delves deep...Paperback$4299Elsewhere:$4999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Quiet Home
'House hushing' is a new interiors trend that's making (the right kind of) noise in these troubling times. Guardian A beautiful, authoritative guide to the concept of house hushing, The Quiet Home incorporates design principles and strategies for dialling down the visual noise in your home, and creating serene interiors that promote calm and wellbeing. It takes a pared-down, thoughtful...Hardback$5200Elsewhere:$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
My Hygge Home
The new beautiful book from the bestselling author of The Little Book of Hygge about how to use space, light and Danish design to transform your home Our homes should be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Somewhere to be ourselves, to unwind and create special memories. Inspired by Danish design and...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
How to Grow Food
How to grow crops in any space accompanied by recipes you can flex based on yield Gardener Huw Richards and chef Sam Cooper bridge the gap between the garden and kitchen, profiling the growing and cooking of 70 crops. In this super practical companion for all kitchen gardeners, each crop has no-nonsense growing information on spacing, sowing, and harvesting accompanied...Hardback$3799Elsewhere:$4800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
100 Best Native Plants for New Zealand Gardens (Revised Edition)
100 Best Native Plants for New Zealand Gardens (Revised Edition) by Fiona Eadie has solidified its place as an indispensable resource for gardeners, whether they are seasoned cultivators or enthusiastic novices. This extensively revised edition not only highlights 100 native species that thrive in New Zealand's diverse climates but also delves into detailed, inspirational, and practical advice to ensure success...Paperback$4000Elsewhere:$5000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
