Customer Reviews

The Informed Gardener

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A fascinating, brave book at variance with the received wisdom of my sixty years of gardening. I'm trying her methods this year. If what she writes is accurate, it explains many of my failures and relieves me of a great deal of work.

A compilation of articles, it lacks an easy to use how-to format. For example I'd like a presentation along the lines of standard gardening books. For planting out I want a clear, easy to use, set of diagrams and instructions incorporating her research. As it is, the index is not always useful, and I have to search the text for guidance leaving me the option of making my own outline from her book.

Gardening can be something that's very therapeutic for some, but also can produce useful plants and herbs for its gardener. "The Informed Gardener" is a comprehensive and complete guide for gardeners about the odds and ends of gardening, the myths and misconceptions, while touching on the ideas of native plants in sustainable landscaping, fabric vs. mulch in weed control, and how to differentiate good gardening advice from bad gardening advice. Seeking to debunk other falsehoods that may ultimately damage gardens and the soil their planted in, "The Informed Gardener" is a through, well-written guide and is highly recommended to any gardening enthusiast.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

One of the problems that scholars/researchers face is that they work long and hard for material that doesn't always translate into a book of substance. Chalker-Scott's examination of common gardening myths is quite helpful, but she doesn't really have a lot to say. [Most of the verbage is support for her basic concepts.] But what she does say can be important. So, even though it's really a small book with only a few true new ideas/methods, those are quite worthwhile.

sigh. Sorry I couldn't say all that a bit more clearly. I'm glad that I bought the book; it did change some of my gardening practices, but all the information could have been condensed into a few pages.

Chalker-Scott does a great job de-mythifying gardening. I can save a lot of money by ignoring soil additives and other chemicals that garden shops want to sell. I enjoyed her sequel book as well.

This book is full of information developed through research and not just old wise tales. I learned that I have done a few things that hurt rather than help my garden to grow. This book is well worth the cost and time to read. Good Day and happy gardening.

This practical professor of gardening truth, has clearly brought the truth to bear on our widely excepted and repeated falsities of horticulture. Al

This book will definitely help you to avoid common, and often life threatening gardening errors.