Item: The Informed Gardener
Rating: 4.50
Author: murderbydeath

by Linda Chalker-Scott

Winner of the Best Book Award in the 2009 Garden Writers Association Media Awards

Named an "Outstanding Title" in University Press Books for Public and Secondary School Libraries, 2009

In this introduction to sustainable landscaping practices, Linda Chalker-Scott addresses the most common myths and misconceptions that plague home gardeners and horticultural professionals. Chalker-Scott offers invaluable advice to gardeners gardeners who have wondered:

Are native plants the best choice for sustainable landscaping?

Should you avoid disturbing the root ball when planting?

Are organic products better or safer than synthetic ones?

What is the best way to control weeds-fabric or mulch?

Does giving vitamins to plants stimulate growth?

Are compost teas effective in controlling diseases?

When is the best time to water in hot weather?

If you pay more, do you get a higher-quality plant?

How can you differentiate good advice from bad advice?

The answers may surprise you. In her more than twenty years as a university researcher and educator in the field of plant physiology, Linda Chalker-Scott has discovered a number of so-called truths that originated in traditional agriculture and that have been applied to urban horticulture, in many cases damaging both plant and environmental health. The Informed Gardener is based on basic and applied research from university faculty and landscape professionals, originally published in peer-reviewed journals.

After reading this book, you will:

Understand your landscape or garden plants as components of a living system

Save time (by not overdoing soil preparation, weeding, pruning, staking, or replacing plants that have died before their time)

Save money (by avoiding worthless or harmful garden products, and producing healthier, longer-lived plants)

Reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides

Assess marketing claims objectively

This book will be of interest to landscape architects, nursery and landscape professionals, urban foresters, arborists, certified professional horticulturists, and home gardeners.

For more information go to: http://www.theinformedgardener.com

This book is a collection of columns that were originally written from 2000 for Washington State nursery and landscape professionals. It's aim to to bust the myths gardeners have been swearing by for decades using hard peer-reviewed science. It's a good, easy, quick read and it pretty much makes the average gardener writing this review shake her head over the sheer number of things I've beein doing wrong, thereby proving the miracle that is life. Because after reading this it is truly a wonder anything lives in my garden. Each column is immediately followed with citations; all of which are peer reviewed scientific resources. The columns are short and each has a "bottom line" summarising the take away points and a couple of times there are step by step instructions for certain tasks. The only reason I didn't got the full five stars is that I took exception to her attitude about what is commonly called organic gardening. Her facts are dead on - I don't question those - but in her effort to 'straighten out' those misconceptions about organic vs. synthetic, she completely fails to address other benefits of avoiding synthetic chemicals; benefits that also have an army of peer reviewed research behind them. She leaves the impression that anyone eschewing RoundUp and MiracleGro are ignorant and foolish. The information is solid, it's just the attitude I found distasteful. But everything else... well, I'll be changing most everything about how I transfer plants and care for them from now on.

The Informed Gardener

by Linda Chalker-Scott

Reviewed by MurderByDeath on Aug 24, 2017

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