David Hessayon: Renowned Gardening Author Passes Away

“In Who’s Who, I don’t cite gardening as my hobby. It isn’t. It’s my profession.” This candid remark comes from the world’s foremost gardening author, David Hessayon, whose sales exceeded 50 million copies across his self-created “Expert” series of practical gardening guides, leading some to label him the most successful non-fiction author ever.

Hessayon was known for his reluctance to make public appearances or take part in interviews. He expressed a complex relationship with gardening, stating, “I know too much for it to be therapeutic. Problems are always looming.” Initially, he found the expansive garden attached to his Regency home in Halstead, Essex, daunting, which included a sprawling one-acre vegetable plot acquired in 1995 with his wife, Joan.

His vast readership was familiar with him solely as “Dr. DG Hessayon,” a title displayed prominently on his book covers, where he was viewed as a trusted gardening authority. Nicknamed “the Doc” by his publishers and colleagues, but known as “Dave” among friends, Hessayon launched his first book, Be Your Own Gardening Expert, in 1959 with a significant run of 100,000 copies.

At that time, he was the technical director of Pan Britannica (PBI), known for products like BabyBio “plant food.” The book was partly created as a marketing tool for PBI and also a personal reference for Hessayon, a self-taught gardener who had grown his knowledge “from scratch, without assistance and lacking modern tools.”

The book featured a pioneering design melding hand-drawn illustrations with concise instructions, priced at 1s 6d, and became a remarkable success, staying in print for over 50 years and being translated into 17 languages. This effective approach led to the creation of the Expert series, which ultimately included 25 main titles, addressing a wide variety of gardening topics from flowers and herbs to pests and diseases, often meant to endure wear and tear from real gardeners. “I envision them getting dog-eared in the hands of diligent workers,” he remarked.

His books were described as the “mongrels of horticulture,” contrasting sharply with polished coffee-table books, yet they provided essential information for both novice and seasoned gardeners alike.

Hessayon had a unique take on grammar and utilized his distinct style—favoring dashes and split infinitives while avoiding semi-colons. His research was thorough; for his 2008 book on orchids, he tested various cultivation methods to present readers with the most effective practices. Gardening writer Stephen Anderton noted, “Chasing the latest trend overlooks that all essential information is right there in the Expert series.”

Some of his advice pushed boundaries, including practical tips often overlooked by other authors, like not wearing a tie while barbecuing or the simplest way to enjoy vegetables being to eat them raw. Additionally, he addressed the importance of safely lifting heavy garden items, acknowledging the frequency of accidents in gardening.

Hessayon dismissed rigid concepts of floral design, suggesting that gardening should not be an art form but a craft, noting the inconsistency of so-called purists, saying, “It’s astonishing how they fuss over color combinations yet accept nature’s randomness.”

The appeal of the Expert series was also in its nostalgic and straightforward aesthetic, reminiscent of 1950s children’s literature. This unpretentious design, combined with availability in garden centers and hardware stores, attracted many who normally wouldn’t buy books, leading to widespread ownership in British households.

Enjoying his status as an outlier in the publishing world, Hessayon managed remarkable sales without relying on television appearances, preferring to remain largely anonymous at events like the Chelsea Flower Show. Never one for book signings or public readings, he relished the absence of fame’s pressures, although audiences could engage him in detailed conversations about horticulture.

In the 2000s, he explored contemporary topics, introducing an “Expert” series around recipes for fruits and vegetables and promoting wildlife-friendly gardening. After being recognized as the best-selling author of the 1990s by Guinness World Records, he remarked in 2013, “I feel for new authors; the market for how-to books has shrunk significantly as readers now prefer visually-driven content.”

Born in Manchester in 1928 to Armenian-Cypriot immigrant parents, Hessayon faced significant life challenges, including the death of his mother when he was just four. He fondly recalled tending to a small garden plot with his father, which laid the groundwork for his lifelong passion for gardening.

His academic journey began with a botany scholarship to Leeds University, where he later met Joan on a trip to Paris. Their relationship flourished into marriage in 1951, though Hessayon humorously described Joan’s methods of managing his more energetic moods.

After teaching soil science in Africa, he returned to Manchester to earn a PhD in soil ecology in 1954, where he unearthed his desire to become an author. His path merged with Pan Britannica in 1955, where his dual roles in technical writing and marketing flourished.

Despite initial hesitance from his employers, he produced the first Expert book and committed to repaying publication costs if it did not succeed. This initiative led to a long-lasting partnership, and he subsequently received multiple accolades including the RHS Veitch Memorial Medal, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Books Awards, and an OBE in 2007. He is survived by his daughters, Jacqueline and Angelina.

With few interests outside of his work and family, Hessayon enjoyed delving into history and favored uplifting films. He viewed his readers’ needs as paramount, stating, “My opinions are irrelevant; the focus should be on straightforward guidance.”

David Hessayon OBE, celebrated author and gardening expert, was born on February 13, 1928, and passed away on January 16, 2025, at 96.