Do you subscribe to any gardening magazines?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Selleri, Jun 26, 2022.

  1. Selleri

    Selleri Koala

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    Which ones do you like and what's worth money?

    I occasionally treat myself to a cheapy one (Amateur gardening or Gardening News) with my Tesco grocery order just because it's nice to read a physical magazine. And getting the free seeds allows me to pretend I got a wise bargain :biggrin:

    A weekly subscription could be nice but I'm so stingy that can't consider the really good ones. My charity shop occasionally has a stack of old issues and that's good enough for me. (Minus the free seeds obviously).

    Recommendations, prices and offer tips would be nice, thanks!
     
  2. Nikolaos

    Nikolaos Total Gardener

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    Only one I've ever subscribed to is Gardeners' World a few years ago. It's great, don't get me wrong, but poor value for the money for me considering how focussed I am on pollinator-friendly gardening nowadays. I learn much more here on GC than I ever have from mags if we're talking general horticultural knowledge! If I'm really interested in a particular type/style of gardening I just buy a book, which enables me explore the subject much deeper. :)

    Yeah, the free seeds can really make the purchase of one of those cheaper mags worth it sometimes! :blue thumb:

    Nick
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I only get The Garden sent every month as part of the RHS membership. I don't find it too interesting, usually by the time I get round to reading it the section about what to do that month is half a year out of date. It has turned into a marketing magazine with glossy articles about rich people employing celebrity gardeners to design their plot, money no object.

      Sorry not much help from me.
       
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      • john558

        john558 Total Gardener

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        I'm too tight, plus I don't read much.
         
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        • Upsydaisy

          Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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          I have a subscription to Garden News and I borrow the latest Gardner's World and Amateur Gardening as e-magazines via my County Library. Any articles I find of interest in those two I screenshot. :):dbgrtmb:
           
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          • Jocko

            Jocko Guided by my better half.

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            I gave my wife a gift of RHS membership last year but she finds the magazine boring so I have cancelled the renewal.
            I get Gardeners World and Gardens Illustrated as part of my Kindle subscription but I have never bothered with them.
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              RHS Wisley garden is nearby and we often go so the subscription is worth it for us, yes the magazine is boring.

              That's a good idea @Upsydaisy I'll check to see if Surrey libraries do the same.
               
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              • noisette47

                noisette47 Total Gardener

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                Used to get the RHS mag as well as 'The Plantsman', but the RHS decided not to send the mags abroad, so that was that! Gardeners World et al.....just pages and pages of advertising for stuff that Companies won't send over here anyway.
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  I've never subscribed to a magazine and stopped buying them, probably twenty years ago. I found they tend to repeat the same things year after year and got bored with all the pictures they're filled with.
                   
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                  • Perki

                    Perki Total Gardener

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                    I have a RHS member subscription one of the reasons I got it were for the magazines, think I still haven't read the April or March edition yet one come through the door last week I haven't even opened the envelope yet . So I personally wouldn't recommend the magazine, I'll probably cancel my membership as well think a renew is £70 which is to much for me .

                    Had GW sub years back but seems more targeting for new or amateur gardeners so wasn't much interest but for one or 2 pages , the amount of adverts really grinded on me as well .

                    Garden illustrated I found interesting at time for more info on plants and design but can get a bit boring , quite a lot of effusive on properties worth millions with unattainable gardens / designs unless you won the lottery. To many on gardens from California which has a totally different climate to out own . But in all I found interesting but also full of adverts . The website is quite good for a browse especially on the plant section .

                    Garden amateur I didn't like at all I'll say no more . Garden News worth buying if you want the seeds .
                     
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                    • Upsydaisy

                      Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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                      Have to agree really @Sheal, I don't mind subscribing to one and I use some and share some of the free seeds.
                      That's why I find the e- magazines at the library so useful, no charge and you don't have a huge pile gathering dust either.;)

                      I read a lot of e- mags now.:dbgrtmb:
                       
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                      • Upsydaisy

                        Upsydaisy Total Gardener

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                        Get out your Library card @Perki !!

                        I can get without charge and often even before they're out in the shops.

                        Gardeners World
                        Modern Garden
                        The English Garden
                        Small Space Garden
                        Garden Illustrated
                        Amateur Garden
                        + a few others that I don't bother with.

                        With some Libraries you get to keep them, I did with mine but now they get automatically returned after a month in your account. You can however get back dated mags out..so if you don't finish ,just get them out again
                         
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