In review: The RHS Garden Almanac 2025

As we head towards the end of the year, thoughts turn to the months ahead and the achievements the new year may bring. In making plans for outside, this handy book, published by the Royal Horticultural Society, is full of practical advice, helping us get the most from the garden throughout 2025.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has been at the forefront of all things green since its inception in 1804, and, for expert gardening knowledge it is the ‘go-to’ organisation. As a seasonal guide, its Garden Almanac is an essential reference tool for any gardener. Covering each month, experts from the RHS, including Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturalist, provide tailored information on what needs to be done in the garden, accompanied by photographs and ‘plants of the month’.

Sun rise and setting times are listed, alongside average rainfall totals, helping you plan your garden’s irrigation needs and monitor light levels that may affect plant growth. The time that the moon rises and sets is also included, since moonlight can influence the movement of wildlife, including some herbivorous insects that feed more heavily during lighter nights. Extra inclusions such as national key events, projects to enhance the garden and support wildlife, pruning masterclasses, and recipes for fermenting your own produce, inspire and educate. With a clear, accessible tone the book is wonderfully encouraging and easy to use for the novice gardener, whilst providing enough depth to interest the more seasoned gardener.

Even if you aren’t particularly green-fingered, the book still holds appeal, as it is not just about plants and growing, but about listening to the seasonal rhythms and embracing a connection to the natural world. This is supported by its wildlife focus, which provides a fascinating insight into garden visitors on a month-by-month basis. Did you know that Blue tits usually only raise one brood a year, ladybirds ward off predators by squirting a nasty yellow liquid called ‘reflex blood’, and that newts eat caterpillars and slugs in the autumn, when they move from water to land?

Throughout the guide, images from renowned painter-printmaker Angie Lewin illustrate the chapters, adding a sense of vibrancy and energy. This is also replicated in the coloured pages, with each month having its own colour coding. Biographies of horticultural heroes are also featured, illuminating gardening pioneers such as Piet Oudolf, Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland, William Robinson and Beth Chatto. Taking inspiration from their achievements may encourage you to plan inspirational trips to visit some of the five RHS gardens, open all year round, so addresses and information are provided at the rear of the guide.

The Garden Almanac 2025 provides a wealth of knowledge designed to guide you through the seasons, as if you have your own Monty Don at your shoulder, so that as the year calmly unfolds, gardening and being outside is simply a joy, not a chore.