Arming yourself with good rose gardening books [http://www.rosegardenadvice.com/rose-gardening-books] is a sure way to keep updated on everything related to roses. There are several e-books and online resources but nothing can beat curling up with a book you can touch and hold in your hands. To find good books on rose gardening, you need to look for favorable reader reviews and read the summary page without fail. The summary will tell you if the book covers all what you are looking for. Here are some must-have books for every rose gardener.
Roses (Gardening & Landscaping) by Sunset Books is a comprehensive reference book for both beginners and experienced rose growers. It covers all aspects of planting and placement, common diseases, and pruning techniques. It has beautiful illustrations of every rose mentioned in the book with a list of region-specific roses. It is a very handy guide to take on your rose shopping. It contains charts that simplify the process of searching for different colors, fragrance, sun needs, flowering frequency, etc. It is written in an easy to read style. The book gives several ideas for new gardens with up to date reviews and stunning pictures.
All About Roses by Rex Wolfe, James K. McNair, Ortho Books is a very interesting book that begins with the history of roses supported by pictures. It goes on to guide you on how to select the right plant, how to water, prune, and fertilize, and tips on pest and disease management and control. It gives easy explanations of symptoms and lists appropriate solutions. It ends with a chapter on potpourri and a chapter containing an encyclopedia of roses. This book is endorsed by the American Rose Society.
The Graham Stuart Thomas Rose Book by Graham Stuart Thomas gives fascinating and thorough descriptions on many types of roses paying special attention to historical roses. It acts as an excellent reference book for gardeners who are interested in learning about the history of old garden roses like Portlands, Gallicas, and Albas, and how to grow them. What makes this book attractive is the author's way of conveying his own personal opinion and the hundreds of photos and watercolor paintings of whole rose plants that give you a clear idea of what they will look like once they mature. The book also gives references to other resources. A satisfied reader calls the book "soul-satisfying". The downside is that the book does not have information on miniatures, hybrid teas, or floribundas, or on climate adaptability.
The Complete Book of Roses by Gerd Krussmann acts as an exceptional resource book on many aspects of roses. It contains history and origin of roses along with botanical information. It also has a very useful list of recommended roses. It was published back in 1981 but is still very popular amongst rose gardeners all over the world.