What's your favorite gardening magazine?

19 years ago

I've been into gardening for quite a while, but have never ordered a magazine. When I watch gardening shows on TV, I'm sometimes disappointed that they all seem to be in California, so the plants they use don't really work in Michigan. I was wondering if there's a good magazine that is geared toward northern zones (I'm in Alpena, zone 4-5). I like good photography for inspiration, but I also like some substance in the accompanying article. I'm also interested in garden design as much as, if not more than individual plants. So does anyone know of a magazine that I might like?

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Comments (14)

grannymarsh
19 years ago
"Horticulture" They have a section towards the back that gives you the proper pronunciation for all plants discussed in that issue. Plus regional articles. I've been subscribing for 4 or 5 years.
cody_mi
19 years ago
horticulture
fine gardening
organic gardening
country gardens
garden design
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I like Mother Earth News. It isn't a garden magazine per say, but it does have nice articles about gardening, alternative energy, self sustaining stuff, and farm animals, health, organics, etc. I don't read that many magazines anymore because they articles are usually too short and undetailed and there are too many advertisements but the Mother Earth News has some unique and interesting ideas in it. I also like the Herb Companion Magazine because I grow a lot of herbs and stuff. Here is a link that might be useful: Mother Earth News
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I want to add my two cents worth about my disappointment with the way Org. Gardening has turned out. I have read it for decades and am now reluctantly giving up. Garden Design is useless. Love Fine Grardening - yeah, it's lots of pictures (I think the best photography of the lot), but really good articles and advice. I have volumes going back for years - that's the one I keep. And I share them a lot w. new gardeners and friends. It's easy to locate specific articles with useful info. Also like Horticulture a lot. And I have just become a "member" of New England Gardening Club - primarily for the magazine People, Plants and Places - which is really quite good, but also because with joining comes a discount card for many NE garden centers and nurseries. This advice is only useful for NE, obviously - but if you are in this region check it out at newenglandgardening.com. I also belong to the Americal Horticulural Society and their magazine is excellent - that's an expensive join, but I get free entrance to many botanical gardens and so it pays me to do this (besides which, it's a good org to support_) I know this is supposed to be about least favorite but, hey, it just leads one to think about what one DOES like. sorry if this is incorrect
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I don't necessarily have one simple favorite, but there are some I find more useful than others. My favorite regional magazine is Texas Gardener. Yes, I know we are in Oklahoma, but this is a superb magazine. I read it for many years before moving here and didn't stop reading it just because we moved here. It is published by the same parent company that published the best vegetable gardening book I've ever read...The Vegetable Book: The Texan's Guide to Gardening by Dr. Sam Cotner. I also read Neil Sperry's Gardens magazine when I lived in Texas but haven't kept up with it here....Texas Gardener is available in stores near me but I'd have to subscribe to Neil's and I just never 'get around to' doing that. I've read Oklahoma Gardening from the state-by-state gardening empire and it is OK, but I don't like it as much as I like Texas Gardener. Many years ago, I read all of them....Fine Gardening, Horticulture, the National Gardening Association's magazine (athough I can't remember the name of it now), Country Gardens, Kitchen Gardener or Kitchen Gardening (now defunct, it was published by the same folks who publish Fine Gardening), Organic Gardening (now a mere shadow of its once superb self, I'm sad to say) and Garden Gate as well as various other ones published seasonally by Better Homes and Gardens, like their annual Rose specialty mag or their annual Perennial one or whatever. That was long ago, and I don't read as many of those as I used to. Since moving to the country and getting more and more into growing crops as opposed to ornamentals, and having animals and many other country interests, my reading interests have changed. Now I am more likely to read Hobby Farm, Hobby Farm Home, Mother Earth News, Grit, Countryside and Urban Farm. Of all these, my favorite is Urban Farm, which is brand new. I enjoyed the premiere issue and an anxiously awaiting the second issue although I don't even know if they have a target date for the second issue. I think it is published by the same folks who brought us Hobby Farm and Hobby Farm Home, and they started out slow but gained readers quickly and began to appear more often....quarterly now I think. For sheer beauty and inspiration, I enjoy Birds and Blooms magazine which features not only birds and blooms, but lots of butterflies and moths as well. I think you have to find the magazine that best suits your interests. If you are more into ornamentals, you might like Fine Gardening the most of all. Or, if you're looking for practical ways to beautify your landscape, Garden Gate is top-notch. If you're into homesteading, it has to be Countryside and if you are into homesteading and ecology, it has to be Mother Earth News. Another fine publication that seldom gets mentioned in these discussions is Green Prints, which is a magazine of little stories and tales more like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. It is superb, but I don't recall that is has any hands-on stuff...more inspiration and heart-warming stuff. I used to buy it occasionally when I lived in Fort Worth, but haven't seen it on the newstands here. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Gardener
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goodhors
19 years ago
The magazines mentioned are all good. I also like Horticulture, who does geographic sections to cover the whole nation. They are real good, have given me many ideas, reasonable approaches to gardening. Garden Design is also very nice, many ideas, great designs in all areas, I just thought it was too expensive for my magazine budget. Same with Fine Gardening, great stuff, just an expensive magazine.
stinkypink
19 years ago
Oviously a magazine called "Chicagoland Gardening" will have some things you wouldn't care about, like local nursery listings, but since it mostly deals with zone 5ish Illinois gardening, it might be worth a look. I have no idea if it's cheaper than FG or not.
Bob_Zn5
19 years ago
The American Gardener is the house publication of the American Horticultural Society. It is free with membership. AHS's headquarters is in PA so they have a cool climate bias. I've found most of the articles applicable to my Zn 4/5 WI garden. It has replaced Horticulture as my favorite. I just got an offer for Garden Design at $11.95 for a year. I think I'll try that & drop Organic Gardening.
jugglerguy
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
mysteryrose
19 years ago
I enjoy People, Places, and Plants, which covers New England and New York. Most of the plants they write about will work in Michigan. That's where I learned about the Volcano series of phlox, a phlox paniculata that is truly mildew free.
tosa_rose
19 years ago
For general gardening, I absolutely love Fine Gardening, by far the best in gardening.

Since I am really, really into roses, and am a member of the American Rose Society, their publication, the American Rose, is a very nice monthly magazine that contains great pictures, ideas and cool ways to grow roses even better! They also have a special feature for gardening in specific zones which is nice for us in zone 5.

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: Milwaukee Rose Society
Aeolian_MI
19 years ago
I really like Gardener's World they always seem to showcase a lot of great ideas and plants. It is an import so the cost is a little high and advertisers don't mean much but especially in the winter when I am going through withdrawls it is worth it. I pick up at Border's Books.
I know your frustration with gardening shows I'm so sick of hearing "hardy to zone 7"
ahughes798
19 years ago
Garden Gate. No ads, great info. April
ninamarie
19 years ago
Canadian Gardening. Excellent magazine, recommended for northern areas. There is a web site.
jugglerguy
Original Author
19 years ago
Between this post and an older one I found, I decided on Fine Gardening and Garden Gate. I received my first two issues this week and they're exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Rob
garden_gazer
19 years ago
I just found a new magazine called Backyard Living. It is published by Reiman publications in Greendale WIb. The Magazine has real people with real yards...not big mansions. It has lots of different sections...a bit about birding, they have specialized plansts each month, backyard makeovers that are affordable and lots of pictures and no advertising. I really enjoy it.
diggerb2
19 years ago
everytime i think I've found a great magazine, after a few issues nothing seems to appeal to me anymore. I've finally decided to give up the magazine subscriptions and go to the public library to read the ones i want-- it has fine gardening, horticulture, organic gardening, garden gate, herb quarterly and one or two others-- so i'm lucky. Usually
i pick a rainy saturday or sunday and sit and read everything current.
I finally had to do the dame thjing with cooking magazines and no just get cook's illustrated, bon appetit, and food and wine.
about 2 years ago we decided to trim down subscriptions (we were at 65 total) have whittled the list to 40. and we oly are allowed to get 2 new subscriptions each year, if we want more we have to drop something off the list.
I know the mailman hates coming to us on the first of the month.
Anyway I was just suggesting a alternative to gatting a subscription.
digger b

What's your favorite gardening magazine?

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What's your favorite gardening magazine?

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