Beginners gardening book recommendations please

[migola]

Can anyone recommend a book that is suitable for novice gardeners? We have a small garden which consists of some shrubs and flowers, and we are attempting to grow vegetables in pots. We want to put some lawn down, cut back/remove some plants, and need to know the basics in terms of pruning, lawns, planting etc.
thanks

How to garden by the RHS is a good place to atart.

The gourmet gardener by Bob Flowerdew is a beautiful book about fruit and veg growing, very inspirational. I also like pruning and training, also produced by the RHS.

When I started gardening we got a magazine subscription, I think it was garden answers, though there are lots of different ones. It was great for beginners but got a bit repetitive in the end. We're now members of the RHS and they produce a lovely magazine every month and have tons of info on their website which is really helpful.

Enjoy, it can get addictive!

There is a paperback series by Dr. D. G. Hessayon, on any topic that you are interested in. For example, "The Vegetable & Herb Expert"/ the Garden Expert/ Tree & Shrub Expert, Easy Care Garden Expert/The Garden DIY expert, (don't be put off by the term expert, it relates to the information. Each book is easy reference, plenty of pictures, step by step instructions, you get the idea. Well worth looking up on the web imo. I am a member of RHS but always refer to this series as I have always found it the most user friendly.

Another vote for Hessayon.

So sensible & practical - eg cut a hedge so it is slightly wider at the bottom than the top, so all of it catches the sunlight and it stays thisk all the way doen to the ground.

Gems in every book and you will keep referring to them whne you are old & grey & experienced.

My mum bought me How to be a Gardener when I first got my own garden and it covers the basics really well, I knew nothing when I started. If you find Alan Titchmarsh irritating though (and some people do), then this is not the book for you but I found it really useful and my garden looks lovely now.

thanks for all the suggestions, getting excited now