STEFAN Buczacki is one of Britain’s most popular, highly respected gardening experts and in The Commonsense Gardener he distils his years of experience as a gardener, lecturer and broadcaster.

He sets out a blueprint for down-to-earth gardening - an approach that is based on an understanding of the environment and also relates to gardeners and their lifestyles: what gardeners need and want from their gardens and how they can set about getting it.

Supported by practical examples and colour photographs, Stefan Buczacki first looks at the basics of gardening, examining such topics as soil, fertilizers, pesticides and pruning, revealing his formidable knowledge derived from years of practical gardening experience.

He then proceeds to a detailed discussion of the commonsense approach to all areas of the garden including choosing trees and shrubs; kitchen gardening, gardening with ornamentals, water gardening and wildlife gardening, ending with a chapter on garden design.

Find out why your alpines are struggling, how to choose which vegetables to grow, how to install a natural looking stream, the merits of bog gardening, the limitations of decking and instant gardening, and more in this no nonsense guide.

The Commonsense Gardener by Stefan Buczacki, Frances Lincoln, £19.99, April 22