Ortho's Home Gardener's Problem Solver [Paperback]

Ortho Books (Author), Michael McKinley (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0897214706 | ISBN-13: 978-0897214704 | Publication Date: March 1, 2001

An updated classic—how top pros troubleshoot garden problems.

Informative: how to identify gardening problems indoors and outdoors.

Comprehensive: problem-solving techniques for lawns, groundcovers, flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, vegetables, and fruits.

Authoritative: adapted from the professional edition of The Ortho Problem Solver.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For years, gardeners and nursery folks have turned to The Ortho Problem Solver for advice in diagnosing and combating plant ailments. Now a new smaller yet comprehensive version of that ponderous reference tool is available for the home gardener. This book, with its multiple detailed charts and illustrations, shows gardeners how to diagnose problems and cope with or eliminate them, then recommends what long-term changes gardeners can make in how they care for a particular plant to prevent a recurrence. Not surprisingly, among the most commonly recommended solutions are chemical ones, specifically the use of Ortho products, whereas organic and nontoxic treatment methods are conspicuously absent. This well-organized, clearly presented tome includes every conceivable problem affecting all types of indoor and outdoor specific to diverse geographic regions plants, with similar symptoms grouped together for ease of use. Of particular interest, enabling gardeners to plant wisely, are the various appendixes, including those that list which plants are most susceptible to specific diseases and which are most resistant to such problems. (Mar. 1) Forecast: Devoted gardeners who have relied on Ortho books in the past will find this new one extremely useful. Organic gardeners, however, will probably pass this one over, for it promotes only chemically based pest control.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ortho Books (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897214706
• ISBN-13: 978-0897214704
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are a gardener, or an insectophobiac, get this book!, April 16, 2001

By 

Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ortho's Home Gardener's Problem Solver (Paperback)

Ortho kills bugs, pests and diseases. This book is indispensable for any serious or semi-serious gardener. Where there is growth there will be "anti-growth" force. The wilted vine, the brown grass, yellow spots on leaves, discolored needles, clusters of pink soft-bodied insects and, yes, garden fans, gray grubs with brown heads are all part of the "anti-growth" force.

This problem solving book has excellent color photos illustrating every problem you could possibly encounter. The layout below the photo is simple, yet very effective: Problem, Analysis, Solution. No book in my gardening library is used more.

"The Ortho Home Gardener's Problem Solver" even has a section for household pests (sorry, no section for your neighbor's barking dog). If it has a downside, it is that it is published by a chemical company which means that there are NO organic solutions. By-in-large Ortho's motto is "if it is alive, we can kill it chemically." This is the definitive reference tool for the home gardener. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For every gardener's bookshelf, May 23, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ortho's Home Gardener's Problem Solver (Paperback)

Anyone who is serious about gardening needs this book. The four page section on "How a Plant Works" is crammed with valuable information that will help almost anyone become a better gardener. The book starts by helping the reader identify symptoms that will help you reach a diagnosis of the problem. Color coded pages lead you to the chapter you'll need - Lawns, Trees etc, then you'll find a photo illustrating the problem, a map to assure that it does indeed occur in your area, an analysis of the issue and suggestions for solutions or at least for ameliorating the problem.

There is a vast amount of information in this book, well, organized and very readable. You can flip through quickly and easily to find the garden problem that's bothering you, and its solution. The research is thorough, and the consultants list is first class. There are a generous appendices that guide the reader to plants that are disease resistant and away from plants that are susceptible to specific problems.

This is a valuable book that should be on every gardener's bookshelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Gardener Hotline Resource Library Selection, June 5, 2010

By 

V. Walton "loves to cook" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ortho's Home Gardener's Problem Solver (Paperback)

Our local Master Gardeners operate a call-in Hotline to help local gardeners who experience problems. We have been building a resource library to go with the university published fact sheets. This book by Ortho was on the list of books that would be helpful.

Having owned a copy of this book that I had given to a son several years ago I ordered two books of this title, one for the Hotline and one for the other son. It is a keeper.