Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: newstart on March 30, 2009, 07:35:17 PM

Title: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: newstart on March 30, 2009, 07:35:17 PM

Hi, I wanted to buy a rock garden plant propagation book and was wondering if some one can help?

It would need to list individual plants alphabetically and talk about how to propagate and grow them on into pots. Ideally if there were such a book, I would be prepared to pay more, and have the cultivation requirements for planting too. I would not want to compromise on the detail of propagation techniques for a book which talked more about cultivation. May be a book called something like the 'Alpine bible' or 'Rock garden bible' would be the sort of thing I am after. The book would need to be for a temperate climate or ideally a UK climate as I live in England. 

Many Thanks ALL!

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: Susan Band on March 30, 2009, 07:58:24 PM

There is an old book which is quite a good starting point, but experimentation also is great.
It is called 'The Propagation of Alpines' published in 1950's by L D Hills .It goes through a lot of plants by name and shows you the basics of the different techniques. I don't know if you will be able to find on Amazon/ eBay or not.
Maybe someone else has a suggestion for a more recent title.
Susan

PS it was published before plastic was available so you will have to adapt the ideas for what is available now.
Also worthwhile watching your local group talks in the winter as most groups do some sort of propergation type talk.

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: Giles on March 30, 2009, 08:07:37 PM

I was advised that this book was the best too.
There is a better selection of books (and often cheaper too) at http://www.abebooks.com/
The Hills book is a decent sized book
There is also a small booklet 'Propagation of Alpines' by J.K.Hulme - but Hills is better.

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: David Shaw on March 30, 2009, 09:03:39 PM

I do not know of any book currently in circulation that deals with propogation of alpines in the way that you request, pity. The Lawrence Hills book is  probaly still the best. Try web searches and second hand book shops.

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: Maggi Young on March 30, 2009, 09:33:33 PM

The AGS still have John Good's title: A Handbook of Rock Gardening ....
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/sales/books/sale/Handbook+of+Rock+Gardening/14/

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: annew on March 30, 2009, 09:51:59 PM

I like 'The propagation of alpine plants and dwarf bulbs' by Brian Halliwell, published in 1992. It is available from Amazon and Abe.

Title: Re: What are the best Rock garden plant propagation books??
Post by: Maggi Young on March 30, 2009, 10:36:37 PM

Yes, that's a good one I had forgotten, Anne.