Growing Trees from Seed: A Practical Guide to Growing Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs [Hardcover]

Henry Kock (Author), Paul Aird (Author), John Ambrose (Author), Gerald Waldron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2008

Native trees grow much faster than non-native trees. But even experienced horticulturists can be mystified about how nature sows and germinates seeds especially acorns and walnuts.

Thanks to this book, any gardener can now grow trees from seeds within as little as ten years. The secrets are to know what seeds to collect and how to prepare and plant them. From their extensive knowledge, the authors guide the reader in identifying native trees, vines and shrubs and describe howto propagate them.

Growing Trees from Seed covers the ecology, abundance, fruit characteristics and edibility of the more than 200 species discussed in this book. There is expert guidance on when to gather fruits, how to extract seeds from the fruit, and when and how to treat and germinate the seed, plus information on transplanting and expected growth rate. Alerts throughout the book identify closely related non-native species now common to various regions.

Many illustrations and descriptions help the reader with plant identification. A seed-treatment guide provides a handy reference.

Among the trees, vines and shrubs covered are:

• Alders
• Beeches
• Berries
• Birches
• Cedars
• Cherries
• Chestnuts
• Clematis
• Dogwoods
• Elms
• Firs and pines
• Hickories
• Junipers
• Laurels
• Maples
• Oaks
• Plums
• Poplars
• Spruces
• Walnuts
• Willows.

There is no better guidebook on how to grow native trees from seed.

(20081031)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this comprehensive coffee-table–sized guide, Kock, a Canadian horticulturist who died in 2005, not only shows how to find and propagate native woody plants but also helps readers understand plants as members of communities of plants and animals rather than as isolated specimens. He tells how to differentiate native plants from invasive exotics and how to collect, clean, germinate and plant seeds and set up a nursery, along with intriguing suggestions (keep a toad in a cold frame to eat slugs) and surprising facts (earthworms are not native to the glaciated areas of North America, and contrary to popular gardening belief, they do a huge amount of damage by dragging undecomposed organic material into the soil, where it does not belong). The book's focus is woody plants of the Great Lakes bioregion, but Koch assures that the techniques will apply to other regions and species as well. With beautifully detailed line drawings and color photographs, the book provides both inspiration and knowledge to think like a seed... listen to the seed's story as written by the land and water where the seed was formed, and the wind, water, and animals that distribute it. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Of all the books on trees, [this is one] of my favorites. (Connie Krochmal BellaOnline 20081011)

I get a lot of gardening books at work, but very few of them get to come home with me. (Luke Miller Better Homes and Gardens 20080925)

Not merely a how-to reference...it gives the reader a context, philosophy, and background that I have not often seen elsewhere (Guy Sternberg, founder, Starhill Forest Aboretum, Petersburg IL, author and photographer of Native Trees for North American Landscapes and Landscaping with Native Trees The American Gardener, American Horticultural Soci 20081009)

[Kock] and his co-authors cover the ecology, abundance, fruit characteristics and edibility of more than 200 trees, vines and shrubs. (Ken Smith The London Free Press 20081014)

To avoid ... foolish mistakes,[this] book might be your best companion. (Kathy Renwald The Hamilton Spectator 200809)

Starting a tree from a seed is....a way to vegetate your landscape cheaply while fighting global warming and perserving biodiversity. (Adrian Higgins San Francisco Examiner 20081009)

The secrets of trees are secrets no longer... Kock helps us understand the how and why of it all. (Alan Pickersgill Tribune (Guelph ON); The View FroM Here at www.ala 20081011)

It contains all you need to know about collecting, storing, germinating and nurturing the seeds of our very future. (Marjorie Harris Gardening Life 200811)

A guiding hand and inspiration. (The Washington Post 20081118)

[Kock] and his co-authors cover the ecology, abundance, fruit characteristics and edibility of more than 200 trees, vines, and shrubs. (Ken Smith The London Free Press 20081101)

Inspiring to gardeners, educators, and conservationists alike, this book...provides a hands-on approach to growing plants from seed successfully. (National Garden Clubs, Inc. 20081128)

Informative ... An invaluable resource. (Judy Love, diggin'it blog Christian Science Monitor 200901)

A rich and detailed resource... Recommended for all public and academic libraries with horticultural collections. (Lisa A. Ennis, University of Alabama at Birmingham Library Library Journal 200904)

This authoritative book could not have come at a more opportune time. (Donald McClure The County Weekly News (Picton ON) 20090601)

Kock demystifies the whole process, through all the stages.... Forests will grow thanks to the lessons he's shared. (Lorraine Johnson Newsletter of the North American Native Plant Soci 20081011)

This book is worth its weight in gold. (Stephen Westcott-Gratton Canadian Gardener 200809)

Gardeners [seeking] help with the challenges of growing trees and shrubs from seed will be very pleased with this book. (G. D. Dreyer, Connecticut College Choice 20081130)

[Kock] and his co-authors cover the ecology, abundance, fruit characteristics and edibility of more than 200 trees, vines and shrubs. (Ken Smith The London Free Press 200812)

This 240-page hardcover book outlines the practical steps to growing trees from seed while providing the reader with interesting information. (New Brunswick's Private Forestry Resource Centre, 20081128)

Henry Kock's Growing Trees from Seed is a beautiful volume and decidedly useful as a growing guide. (Jodi DeLong The Chronicle Herald 200902)

Growing Trees from Seed is a wonderful resource. (N. Glenn Perrett Lake Wah-Wash-Kesh Conservation Association 20081213)

If there is a Garden Book of the Year, it's Growing Trees from Seed by Henry Kock. (Marjorie Harris National Post 20080828)

Growing trees from seeds can be included in the grand scheme of your horticultural endeavors. (Virginia Master Gardener Association 2009)

This volume has the look of a glossy tome destined for the coffee table. (Jon Fear Waterloo Regional Record 20080804)

Respected environmentalist Henry Kock has left behind in his death a bible for are tree and shrub growers. (Thana Dharmarajah The Guelph Mercury )

There is no better guidance on how to grow native trees from seed. (I Can Garden.com )

With beautifully detailed drawings and color photographs, the book provides both inspiration and knowledge. (Publishers Weekly )

Kock's passion was propagating and saving native woody plants. The late horticulturalist's knowledge lives on in Growing Trees from Seed. (Chicago Times )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (August 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554073634
• ISBN-13: 978-1554073634
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book, July 20, 2011

By 

Billy Bob "Life Is Good" (Upper Peninsula) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Growing Trees from Seed: A Practical Guide to Growing Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs (Hardcover)

This is a sweet book. First off, I should say that the author died before the book was 100 percent completed. His partner and several friends stepped in to finish the work. These acts of kindness are reflected in the book. It's plain and simple: sweet, informative, and definitely worth owning this book.

Someone said this book is kind of regional, kind of written for the Great Lakes area. That someone must use "kind of" and "absolutely, 100 percent" interchangeably. This book is 100 percent written for the Great Lakes region, and while others outside the region will find it partially helpful, those in the Great Lakes area will find it extremely helpful. The book is written in a folksy/yet informational way--it does not use a lot of researcher-ese.

The author(s) was obviously very passionate about the subject. I'm new to growing seedling trees from seeds. This book is a exactly what I was looking for. Yes, it could be better. More color photos of seeds and cones. Other than that I'm glad I bought it. If you're new to wanting to gather and plant seeds of trees native to the Great Lakes, this is an excellent book.

One other thing: Kock's partner pauses whether she and the co-writers should have completed the book despite the then-dying authors wishes that it not be done ("too many cooks spoil the broth"). The partner made absolutely the right decision in ignoring Kock's wishes and finishing the book. When a piece of artwork is undertaken, the dying author does NOT get to take it to the grave and deprive the rest of humanity the benefit of what humanity has created. Mr. Kock did NOT undertake his book research in a vacuum--he was the beneficiary of humanity's resources. And thus should give back what he borrowed--without question. At the time, however, Mr. Kock was dying and can be forgiven his decision. All of us, however, continue to benefit from the work of humanity through Mr. Kock.

This book is probably not a big seller, but it should be in this age of climate warming. Instead of hiking in the woods and taking back only memories, people should hike, pick up seeds, and get them to grow into trees. It would connect people to the land. And let me tell you, growing oak trees from acorns is an exciting venture, much better the surfing the Internet endlessly.

Mr. Kock, Ms. Hansen, and co-authors: WELL DONE. Great book. Everyone (at least who loves the Great Lakes region) should read this book and plant some tree seeds. For the sake of Gaia and humanity.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars " Native " plants, March 6, 2010

By 

G. Buckley (Wherever I am....) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Growing Trees from Seed: A Practical Guide to Growing Native Trees, Vines and Shrubs (Hardcover)

Great book for Native North American tree's. A little one sided in the view point no non-native Tree's should be grown. Very good information. More than half the book is a tree by tree of how to collect and grow each type of tree and their problems (Latin name first....he is a teacher)