The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals (Paperback)

by Barbara W. Ellis (Editor), Fern Marshall Bradley (Editor) "Controlling pests and diseases organically means much more than simply changing the types of sprays and dust you use..." (more)
Key Phrases: adult description, damage description, leaf symptoms, Life Cycle, Plants Affected, North America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
An excellent handbook with entries for common fruits, flowering plants, vegetables, and trees. Each listing has information on disease and pest problems and tips on how to solve them without chemicals. Especially useful sections feature photos of garden insects and diseases. (LJ 6/1/92)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This book is our most helpful resource on pest control. It's the first book we turn to for solutions."--Terry Gips, President, International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

"Every year, we review hundreds of books on how to manage soils and pests organically and how to reduce the use of toxic materials. We're excited at the quality and completeness of The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control and recommend it to our clients."--Bill Wolf, President, Necessary Trading Company, New Castle, Virginia

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Product Details Paperback: 544 pages Publisher: Rodale Books; Revised edition (May 15, 1996) Language: English ISBN-10: 0875967531 ISBN-13: 978-0875967530 Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #6 in  Books > Home & Garden > Sustainable Living #6 in  Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Organic #9 in  Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Techniques

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Controlling pests and diseases organically means much more than simply changing the types of sprays and dust you use. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
adult description, damage description, leaf symptoms, buds distorted, foliage webbed, planting tolerant cultivars, shoots blackened, cocoonlike bags, place cutworm collars, plant resistant cultivars, applying chitin, more pruning information, plant defoliated, applying parasitic nematodes, powdery white coating, spray infected plants, spray superior oil, white fluffy coating, destroy infected plants, brown sunken spots, fruit moth larvae, further symptom development, powdery white patches, spray plants with insecticidal soap, apply parasitic nematodes

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Life Cycle, Plants Affected, North America, Problems Leaves, Type of Problem, Protection Offered, United States, Commercial Products, Beneficial Effect, Stopping Animal Pests, Fruit Problems Fruit, San Jose, Culture Plant, Problems Plant, Insect Impostors, Root Problems Roots, Queen Anne, Mississippi River, Cooperative Extension, West Coast, Whole Plant Symptoms, The Other Ingredients, Problems Flowers, Coordinated Control, Larva Description

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 28 books:

• Organic Gardening by Geoff Hamilton in Front Matter, and Back Matter
• Diseases of Trees and Shrubs, Second Edition (Comstock Book) by Wayne Sinclair in Back Matter
• Tree Pruning: A Worldwide Photo Guide by Alex L. Shigo in Back Matter
• Organic Gardening by Richard Bird in Back Matter
• The Ortho Problem Solver, Sixth Edition by Michael D. Smith in Back Matter

See all 28 books this book cites

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants by Barbara Ellis

Discusses:

• sawdustlike material
• severely infected plants
• apply parasitic nematodes

Dead Daisies Make Me Crazy by Loren Nancarrow

Discusses:

• spray infected plants
• destroy infected plants
• severely infected plants

Great Garden Fix-Its by Christine Bucks

Discusses:

• spray superior oil
• destroy infected plants
• apply parasitic nematodes

Insect, Disease & Weed I.D. Guide by Jill Jesiolowski Cebenko

Discusses:

• plant resistant cultivars
• brown sunken spots
• powdery white patches

Organic Pest & Disease Control by Barbara Ellis

Discusses:

• applying parasitic nematodes
• spray superior oil
• sawdustlike material

Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants by Barbara Ellis Discusses: sawdustlike material severely infected plants apply parasitic nematodes Dead Daisies Make Me Crazy by Loren Nancarrow Discusses: spray infected plants destroy infected plants severely infected plants Great Garden Fix-Its by Christine Bucks Discusses: spray superior oil destroy infected plants apply parasitic nematodes Insect, Disease & Weed I.D. Guide by Jill Jesiolowski Cebenko Discusses: plant resistant cultivars brown sunken spots powdery white patches Loading...

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Customer Reviews

39 Reviews 5 star:  (31) 4 star:  (6) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (39 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 207 of 209 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Get Rid of Diseases and Insects Safely, October 12, 2000 By  Rebecca Green (My Deer Garden, Pomona NY) - See all my reviews Bravo! Finally a book that not only tells gardeners how to avoid getting diseases and undesirable insects in their gardens, but how to get rid of them safely. Many books addressing insect and disease control problems would have you believing gardening is chemical warfare! Following their advice, I acquired an arsenal of chemicals in my garage that would kill virtually any creepy crawly thing that dared slither into my garden. What these books failed to tell me is the more you use these chemicals the more you need to use them. In a sense, your garden becomes addicted to them, as they kill all or most of the natural organisms in the environment that help your plants combat natural occurring bacteria, viruses and insects. Eventually your plants' only defense to such pathogens is your habitual spraying.As The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control explains, if left to its' own devices, nature will frequently correct the imbalances that caused the disease or insect problem long before any serious damage is done. This book clearly explains how plants naturally defend themselves against pathogens and how we can help them without harming the environment. It's no-nonsense, common sense approach to gardening makes you wonder what the human race was thinking of when we created all those dangerous chemicals.Every gardener wants his or her garden to be perfect. However, sometimes we get carried away, forgetting that earthly gardens are not sanitized portraits of heaven. This book brings us back to reality and reminds us to enjoy nature, not fight it. This is definitely one of the best gardening books I have read in a long time! 56 of 56 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Good listing of what goes wrong and what to do, June 16, 2006 By  Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)       I love the listing of each plant species in this book, and the lavish pictures of pests and diseases. You can take this out to the peach tree or the magnolia and figure out what is wrong. We use an organic lawn service and I do organic gardening (what of it I do, not much...no time) but it's essential to us not only as "green" folks but because I am chemically sensitive. I just can't have sprays or chemicals around me. I think this book is also wonderful because these chemicals are not to be lightly handled, and if you are pressed for time, it's better not to be careless with harmful pesticides and herbicides and just go for the more gentle organic way. While learning how to control pests the organic way takes a lot of time (because you learn to plant and cultivate in such a way as to mitigate them and find an equilibrium with your local environment) this is a wonderful reference book and better than most others I've read. Highly recommended. 75 of 77 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference., July 9, 2001 By  Artemis Gems "ChainWeavers.com" (CT) - See all my reviews This is a overall a great book. One of the easiest to use I have found. The only thing which bothers me (and it is a minor detail) is that for each plant on which aphids are a pest, the book merely says "aphids" (green, black, white, red). There are many types of aphids, and it would be nice to know if I am looking for black, green, red, etc on a particular plant. Also for some species more aggressive management is needed than for others, but this book makes no distinction. However, if you are considering this book, don't let that very minor detail stop you. This is definitely one that should be on every gardner's shelf! It is a wonderful reference.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Handbook of natural insect & disease control A very informative book, has lots of info & good suggestions. Easy to understand, covers so many bugs. Great index to find what you need. Published 1 day ago by Deena De Keyrel 3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful I really wanted more natural recipes for pesticides. This has lots of info that I do not care about... Published 11 days ago by Rollinred 5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book Goes into a little bit of detail on almost endless plants. Not great for in-depth info on any specific plant that we've personally planted, but a great handbook for getting just... Read more Published 13 days ago by Lori J. Bayne 5.0 out of 5 stars very helpful for a novice gardener my brother in law and i decided to do a garden this year for our family. i'm not sure who is the less knowledgable on this subject he or I. Read more Published 1 month ago by William S. Hall 5.0 out of 5 stars get it, use it, keep it handy I'm a commercial organic grower. This has become one of my most valued references. Thank you Rodale. Published 4 months ago by Leonard J. Pollara 5.0 out of 5 stars good nic this book arrived in perfect condition and very quickly - more quickly than it was advised when I ordered it! Published 6 months ago by S. La Lancette 5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable resource! I bought this book about a year ago. I'm new to gardening and organic methods really appeal to me. This book has been referenced countless times this year for diagnosing... Read more Published 7 months ago by Nat 5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the Best As a farm advisor with an extensive agricultural library, I find this book tops most of the text books I have. Read more Published 7 months ago by Steve Sutter 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference for Bugs As a Master Gardener, I get a lot of questions about insects and plant diseases in the home/backyard setting. Read more Published 10 months ago by Red Clogs Gardening 3.0 out of 5 stars Complex The book was very good from a technical standpoint but more than I wanted or needed. I was looking more for the home remedies to my garden problems. Read more Published 11 months ago by R. Zippay Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; Revised edition (May 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875967531
• ISBN-13: 978-0875967530
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,462 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Home & Garden > Sustainable Living
  #6 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Organic
  #9 in	Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Techniques

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

207 of 209 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Rid of Diseases and Insects Safely, October 12, 2000

By	Rebecca Green (My Deer Garden, Pomona NY) - See all my reviews

Bravo! Finally a book that not only tells gardeners how to avoid getting diseases and undesirable insects in their gardens, but how to get rid of them safely.

Many books addressing insect and disease control problems would have you believing gardening is chemical warfare! Following their advice, I acquired an arsenal of chemicals in my garage that would kill virtually any creepy crawly thing that dared slither into my garden.

What these books failed to tell me is the more you use these chemicals the more you need to use them. In a sense, your garden becomes addicted to them, as they kill all or most of the natural organisms in the environment that help your plants combat natural occurring bacteria, viruses and insects. Eventually your plants' only defense to such pathogens is your habitual spraying.As The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control explains, if left to its' own devices, nature will frequently correct the imbalances that caused the disease or insect problem long before any serious damage is done. This book clearly explains how plants naturally defend themselves against pathogens and how we can help them without harming the environment. It's no-nonsense, common sense approach to gardening makes you wonder what the human race was thinking of when we created all those dangerous chemicals.Every gardener wants his or her garden to be perfect. However, sometimes we get carried away, forgetting that earthly gardens are not sanitized portraits of heaven. This book brings us back to reality and reminds us to enjoy nature, not fight it.

This is definitely one of the best gardening books I have read in a long time!

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good listing of what goes wrong and what to do, June 16, 2006

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

I love the listing of each plant species in this book, and the lavish pictures of pests and diseases. You can take this out to the peach tree or the magnolia and figure out what is wrong.

We use an organic lawn service and I do organic gardening (what of it I do, not much...no time) but it's essential to us not only as "green" folks but because I am chemically sensitive. I just can't have sprays or chemicals around me. I think this book is also wonderful because these chemicals are not to be lightly handled, and if you are pressed for time, it's better not to be careless with harmful pesticides and herbicides and just go for the more gentle organic way.

While learning how to control pests the organic way takes a lot of time (because you learn to plant and cultivate in such a way as to mitigate them and find an equilibrium with your local environment) this is a wonderful reference book and better than most others I've read.

Highly recommended.

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference., July 9, 2001

By	Artemis Gems "ChainWeavers.com" (CT) - See all my reviews

This is a overall a great book. One of the easiest to use I have found. The only thing which bothers me (and it is a minor detail) is that for each plant on which aphids are a pest, the book merely says "aphids" (green, black, white, red). There are many types of aphids, and it would be nice to know if I am looking for black, green, red, etc on a particular plant. Also for some species more aggressive management is needed than for others, but this book makes no distinction.

However, if you are considering this book, don't let that very minor detail stop you. This is definitely one that should be on every gardner's shelf! It is a wonderful reference.