Customer Reviews

Secrets to Great Soil (Gardening Skills Illustrated)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went to the library today to see if they had anything new. I've read about every book our small library has which pertains to gardening. Out of the corner of my eye I happened upon "Secrets to Great Soil." It looked interesting; I checked it out. I am now here at amazon.com to purchase this book. I've been organic gardening for 25 years and in all these many years have not found a book which thoroughly lists organic, inorganic, and synthetic fertilizers in a format which is easy to discern. It is easy to read for anyone, regardless the experience. Both novice and advanced gardeners will enjoy this journey of soil science along with the explanation. I am deeply moved by all the work which went into this highly recommended publication.

Simply a marvelous book that is so easy to use. Addresses many questions the gardener may ask about soil nutrition, structure, pH level and how to adjust them. I have been a gardener for thirty five years but questions about soil and what to do to make the best of a particular situation arise still. This book has become a wonderful resource for me. Chaptered and indexed for easy accessibility. Very thorough in its information for both organic and formulated solutions. Highly recommend.

I think this is a good book for beginning gardeners who are just starting to get a sense of what makes great soil. It covers the basics in a thorough, organized way. More experienced gardeners aren't going to find much new here, though having it all in one place is helpful. As the part-owner of a commercial organic farm, some information I was hoping for is just not here: how do you remedy soil structure problems on a large scale? How do you handle cover crops when a pitchfork isn't adequate? But for the backyard garden this book is perfectly adequate. Some standouts are the sections on managing soil diseases without chemicals and triple-bin composting. A good resource.

I bought several books on soil recently. This one is by far the best. Not only is there a wealth of information, it is arranged in an orderly way with illustrations, charts, and sidebars with hints for success. I especially appreciate the helpful charts. "Types of Mulches," for example, lists 35 different kinds, their appearance, insulation value, relative cost, thickness, weed control, water penetration, soil moisture retention, speed of composition and special comments about each one--all arranged in an easy to read and compare chart. Another nice chart is "Useful Conversions" at the end of the book that shows kilograms to pounds, cubic centimeters to cubic inches, hectares to acres, millimeters to feet, etc.

One thing that sometimes surprises me is how much space gardening books devote to making compost, and this one is no exception. Here's a tip for turning kitchen scraps into compost/mulch that's fast and easy. Take an old blender, or as I do, use an extra blender container for this: Roughly chop all vegetable & fruit peels and add them to the blender along with clean egg shells, coffee & tea grounds (no meat products or oils!) plus a dried hot chile or two to discourage pests and enough cold water to liquefy. Blend into a slurry. Dump the mixture around plants, shrubs and trees you wish to improve. Simple.

The previous reviewers are correct, this is a great book. Ever wonder why some plants grow and others won't even though the nurseries tell you that they will grow? This book will answer all those questions. This book goes thru a very methodical and thorough approach to educating one on how to build great soil and maintain it for any plant; from ornamental plants to vegetable gardens to fruit trees to lawns; from rebuilding a lawn to remediating a lawn. The tool chapter was a little redundant for me but this book is helpful to all; from the rookie gardener to the most experienced gardener. Most helpful to me were things like soil testing, top dressing solutions and organic composting. The format of the book is well done. Diagrams, text, master gardener tips, tables and illustrations. The greatest knowledge to me was that no matter what soil problem you have, the best solution is organic composting. Organically composted topsoil provides the greatest flexibility in terms of getting anything to not just grow but thrive!

This is a book I wish I'd read twenty years ago, a difficult wish since the book hadn't been written yet in 1990. After purchasing a tumbling composter, I read this book and two others so I'd have some idea of what I was doing. Stell's book is rich in information about what should go into the compost pile as well as detailed explanations of various compost methods amplified with all the benefits and negatives of each. As an added bonus is a fabulous chart of compost do's and don'ts, perfect for a sieve brained Potato Head like myself.

But this book is not just about composting; it's about soil evaluation, testing and diagnosing soil, and treating and amending it. Again all the chapters are accompanied by terrific charts and graphics for the individual amendments and diagnoses and the needs of specific flowers and vegetables. "Secrets to Great Soil" is such a fabulous book that after returning my borrowed copy to the library I plan on buying my own copy to make a permanent part of my gardening library. This book is that good. It's a fabulous garden of information for a gardening bumbler like myself as well as a handy reference book for gardeners of many skill levels.

Wealth of information about my favorite topic of late -- soil. For a beginner, it provided some much needed information on tools, composting and managing diseases and nutrients in the soil. The added bonus for me was information on crop rotation and managing a calendar.

This book is one of the most informative books anyone can buy if you are composting and vegetable gardening, the best of all the books I have ever read. This should be in every gardeners library.

Very informative book for the outdoor gardner that is interested in his soil. We have great soil for our garden, but with this book we can take it to the next level. We are not expert gardners and this book is written in laymans language, so for us it is great. I don't know if a seasoned professional would like the book, but for the backyard hobbiest, worth the cost.