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Growing Family

UK home and garden blog sharing ideas, inspiration and tips for busy family life, written by Catherine Hughes

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Review & Giveaway: Down to Earth by Monty Don

October 23, 2017 by Catherine 57 Comments

Monty Don is a real gardening inspiration for me.  I’ve watched him present Gardeners’ World for many years now, and seeing him at work in his amazing garden never fails to give me new ideas and enthusiasm for our own plot.  I love the way his passion for gardening is so obvious, and his knack for sharing his extensive knowledge and experience in a way that always feels accessible, even to the most amateur gardener.

So, as you can imagine, I was absolutely thrilled to be offered his new book, Down to Earth, to review and give away.  I’ve got three copies up for grabs; it really is a brilliant book for anyone interested in gardening, read on to find out how to be in with the chance of winning one!

Down to Earth by Monty Don

In Down to Earth, Monty Don shares the wealth of gardening knowledge he has built up over the years.  The book is broken up into chapters that deal with things like design, colour, seasons, weeds, pests and growing your own.  Each of these chapters is written very much in the style that Monty uses when he presents; when you read them, it feels like you’re sitting there having a chat with him.  Underpinning all of the knowledge and advice is Monty’s belief that gardening promotes mental and spiritual wellbeing; there are regular references to these less tangible benefits, as well as plenty of anecdotes from his own personal experience of the transformative powers of gardening.

There’s also a whole section of the book dedicated to the gardening year, with jobs to do each month.  If you watch Gardeners’ World, it’s a bit like the Jobs for the weekend feature, and as such it’s a really useful reference to help shape your gardening to do list.

To give you a taster of the book, here’s what Monty has to say on the topic of garden design.

excerpt from Down to Earth by Monty Donexcerpt from Down to Earth by Monty Don

See what I mean about the conversational style?  It really is a lovely book to read; it’s packed with practical advice, but not at all hard-going.  The practically organised sections allow you to dip in and out if necessary, and no matter what size your garden, there’s plenty of relevant information and advice.  There is also a wealth of lovely photographs from Monty’s garden at Longmeadow to enjoy (the image below is from the book), many of which reveal the garden in a way that you don’t really see on TV.

Monty Don's garden from his book Down to Earth

Credit: Monty Don

Down to Earth is certainly a gardening book that I’ll come back to again and again, I also think it would make a great gift for anyone interested in improving their gardening knowledge.  What aspect of gardening would you be looking for Monty’s advice on first?

Win a copy of Down to Earth by Monty Don

I’m giving away three copies of Down to Earth by Monty Don, each with an RRP of £17.99.  To enter, just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway
GIVEAWAY CLOSES: 12th NOVEMBER 2017 11:59PM

UK ENTRIES ONLY

FULL T&C’s IN THE RAFFLECOPTER ABOVE

Dorling Kindersley provided the books for review and prize purposes.  All opinions and comments are honest and genuine.

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Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Books, Garden, gardening, Gifts, giveaway, Monty Don, Plants, review, Top Tips

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Comments

  1. Tracy Nixon says

    October 23, 2017 at 8:21 am

    What plants are best for patio pots and how to care or them during the colder months.

    Reply
  2. Tracey Peach says

    October 23, 2017 at 9:29 am

    When to plant really I love lots of plants but don’t know when it’s best to plant them out

    Reply
  3. Frances H says

    October 23, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Simple pest control. From slugs and snails, to pesky pigeons.

    Reply
  4. Ms Suan Watts says

    October 23, 2017 at 11:30 am

    How to take cuttings

    Reply
  5. iain maciver says

    October 23, 2017 at 11:54 am

    pest control

    Reply
  6. gaynor spanswick says

    October 23, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    I’m pretty new to gardening and not sure what flowers are best put together and the same with veg .

    Reply
  7. Brad Start says

    October 23, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    What plants go better in different areas of the garden

    Reply
  8. jo liddement says

    October 23, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    I would love to find out what vegetables i can grow throughout the winter on our allotment and as we grow our food organically, how to prevent the slugs from eating them.

    Reply
  9. Jo Hutchinson says

    October 23, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    The best plants to plant for privacy in the garden

    Reply
  10. Christine Dodd says

    October 23, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    I’m moving house so any advice on getting started with a veg patch would be great

    Reply
  11. laura stewart says

    October 23, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    How to take cuttings

    Reply
  12. Hayley Atkins says

    October 23, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    How to get interest and structure in the garden all year round,not just in the summer months!

    Reply
  13. fiona waterworth says

    October 23, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    vegetable diseases

    Reply
  14. Andrea Fletcher says

    October 23, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    How to keep colour in my garden through Winter.

    Reply
  15. Solange says

    October 23, 2017 at 10:10 pm

    I need a recommendation for a small, upright-ish growing ornamental tree for our front garden. Not too wide a canopy – don’t want one that casts too much shade. It will be in a south facing garden. Reason – I have to replace a winter flowering cherry that has died of old age and need a similar open branched, delicate looking tree – but not a cherry again.

    Reply
  16. Jo Glasspool says

    October 23, 2017 at 10:11 pm

    On growing plants in pots.

    Reply
  17. Margaret Gallagher says

    October 24, 2017 at 10:07 am

    Growing fruit especially strawberries blackberries and blueberries
    The latter two have been really poor this year

    Reply
  18. ali.b. says

    October 24, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    Even though I had a rubbish year with my veg plot this year – I’ve put my name down for an allotment – so all growing advice would be greatly appreciated and maybe I can see where I’ve gone wrong 🙂

    Reply
  19. Katrina Harrison says

    October 24, 2017 at 10:19 pm

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Monty Don’s new book! I’m particularly looking out for his advice of flowers and bulbs. I’ve had my allotment for a few years now and have always concentrated on fruit, veg and structures but I’ve begun to realise just how much pleasure I get from flowers too! I love the way he uses colour palettes, texture and shape! Hopefully I’ve have a couple more flower beds on my plot next year 🙂

    Reply
  20. Sheena Batey says

    October 25, 2017 at 11:06 am

    Pruning at this time of year so I don’t kill anything whilst trying to tame it.

    Reply
  21. Dawn Wilkinson says

    October 25, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    I love white flowers and his white garden is so pretty and romantic, I would love to achieve this in my garden

    Reply
  22. stuart hargreaves says

    October 27, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    taking cuttings and keeping them alive

    Reply
  23. Pauline Hill says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    when what and where to put plant s

    Reply
  24. Pauline Hill says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    when what and where to put plants

    Reply
  25. janine atkin says

    October 28, 2017 at 9:19 am

    best time to plant flowers?

    Reply
  26. Claire glace says

    October 28, 2017 at 9:58 am

    I would be looking for containers advice and pests and how to manage….

    Reply
  27. Ruth Harwood says

    October 28, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    making sure cuttings are valid x

    Reply
  28. Andrea Upton says

    October 29, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Growing more vegetables in a small space

    Reply
  29. Liz S says

    October 30, 2017 at 7:14 pm

    What annuals to grow to cut for an event in June. Love him on Gardener’s World.

    Reply
  30. Lynn Neal says

    November 1, 2017 at 10:51 am

    What to plant for winter colour as my garden can start to be a little lacking in colour during the colder months!

    Reply
  31. Carole Nott says

    November 2, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    would love to learn how to correctly prune shrubs and at what time of the year

    Reply
  32. Kerry Taylor says

    November 3, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    Advice I need is how to get anything done whilst also fielding a toddler with a love of water and sticks…

    Reply
  33. Samantha Troman-Mason says

    November 6, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    Making the most of a paved space

    Reply
  34. Frances Sunshine Hopkins says

    November 7, 2017 at 4:53 pm

    How to cut back things properly

    Reply
  35. Lynda Graham says

    November 7, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    How to grow from seed and maintain.
    Same with cuttings .

    Reply
  36. Alison Johnson says

    November 7, 2017 at 11:30 pm

    Protecting my vegetables fom bugs & caterpillars

    Reply
  37. Rich Tyler says

    November 9, 2017 at 12:02 am

    Veggie plot advice

    Reply
  38. Kev Cannon says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:22 pm

    We always sit down as a family to watch Monty in Gardener’s World and are particulalry interested in his tips for growing fruit and veg as we have an allotment. My wife has even named our cat Monty as a tribute to the Don of the garden

    Reply
  39. JULIE WARD says

    November 10, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    None, this would be for a friend who grows fruit, veg and flowers in her garden

    Reply
  40. DENISE WILDEN says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    How and when to cut plants back

    Reply
  41. paula cheadle says

    November 11, 2017 at 11:28 am

    how to stop cats digging up my plants

    Reply
  42. ADEINNE TONNER says

    November 11, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    For me it would have to be how to stop the plants from overgrowing

    Reply
  43. Victoria Prince says

    November 11, 2017 at 7:06 pm

    I’d be looking for advice on how to keep on top of the brambles that just seem to keep coming back!

    Reply
  44. sheri Darby says

    November 11, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    What plants are likely to grow in our shady garden

    Reply
  45. Hayley F says

    November 11, 2017 at 7:50 pm

    I would like some advice on seeds. Where to grow them and how x

    Reply
  46. Ruth Wollerton says

    November 11, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    I would love some advice on how to create a vegetable garden and to sustain it throughout the seasons. Thanks for the chance xxx

    Reply
  47. Karen hutchinson says

    November 11, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    Caring for my lawn

    Reply
  48. Adrian Bold says

    November 11, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    I would like some advise on pest control.

    Reply
  49. Colin Gault says

    November 11, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    Getting rid of moss from my lawn.

    Reply
  50. carol boffey says

    November 12, 2017 at 9:20 am

    taking cuttings and keeping them alive

    Reply
  51. Meryl Thomas says

    November 12, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    I would be looking for advise on garden design

    Reply
  52. Chris Fletcher says

    November 12, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    We have such a small courtyard space I would love some advice on maximising its visual appeal all year long. We currently have a bit of a summer burst then its really sad for the rest of the year!

    Reply
  53. Fiona jk42 says

    November 12, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    We moved last year to an old house with a very overgrown garden that had been used as a dumping ground for junk. This past year I have spent clearing the brambles and nettles, digging up the worst of the perennial weeds and removing all kinds of debris ranging from rotten old carpet to old metal pipes and other rubbish that probably accumulated over a couple of decades.
    Come next Spring, I want to start putting in place a suitable garden design, but I don’t really have much idea how to start. I hope to get some inspiration and advice from Monty Don’s book.

    Reply
  54. Jenny Rogers says

    November 12, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    I need advice on how to get the most out of my clay soil, for both flowers and vegetables.

    Reply
  55. Emma says

    November 12, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    How to encourage my jasmine bush to flower more

    Reply
  56. CAROL PATRICK says

    November 12, 2017 at 10:13 pm

    The best plants for growing in clay soil, also advice on fruit & vegetable growing, and advice on lawn maintenance

    Reply
  57. Su Brett says

    November 12, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    The best plants to use in a boggy garden

    Reply

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Welcome!

I’m Catherine, mum, wife, writer and fan of wellies. We love exploring, creating and growing things and my blog shares ideas, inspiration and tips for making the most of busy family life, indoors and out.
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