"Gillman teaches gardeners to think about what they do, know why they're doing it, and observe the results, trusting their knowledge and experience over claims made by companies, 'experts' or garden folklorists."
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Publishers Weekly (
Publishers Weekly )
"The results are fascinating and occasionally disappointing. . . .
The Truth About Garden Remedies is a book many of us will want to consult frequently."
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The American Gardener (
American Gardener )
"Whenever I hear someone offer a solution to a garden problem, I immediately check [
The Truth About Garden Remedies] to see if it will work."
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Horticulture (
Horticulture )
"While entertainingly relating his experiments and his research, Gillman also packs in a wealth of useful information."
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The Chicago Tribune (
Chicago Tribune )
Although Gillman writes that gardening gurus are necessary to dole out knowledge of plants and the traditions that surround growing them, he also winces at all the superstition and half-truths flying around, hence, this terrific book. Biology Digest 20060501
With graduate degrees in entomology and horticulture, Gillman brings scientific rigor to the topic of commercial, homemade and 'traditional' garden remedies. ... Never didactic or preachy, Gillman takes pleasure in testing techniques for treating plants and urges readers to 'divide off a section of plants in your garden just for experimenting and have fun with them.' Gillman teaches gardeners to think about what they do, know why they're doing it, and observe the results, trusting their knowledge and experience over claims made by companies, 'experts' or garden folklorists. Publishers Weekly 20060301 We found it highly entertaining to browse through the book, enjoying Dr. Gillman's frequently humorous presentations of both common and strange ideas. -- Greg and Pat Williams HortIdeas 20060301
Smoothly written in Jeff's folksy, conversational style, this is a terrific book for beginning and advanced gardeners alike. Not only will you learn which homemade and commercial products work and which don't, you'll gain a solid layman's understanding of the science and chemistry behind plant growth and plant protection. RenegadeGardener.com 20060222
The book offers something for everyone, no matter what your experience might be. -- Randy Miranda Minneapolis Star Tribune 20060516
Some of these may come as a shock or upset your favorite long-held ideas, but the book is worth it and is a fun read. It gives you lots to talk about with your gardening friends. -- John Van de Water Newark Star-Ledger 20060606
A good read full of unusual information, making it an ideal present for a keen gardener. -- Angela Youngman Monsters and Critics 20061022
Jeff Gillman has the answers. He's tested bunches of the theories, and the results are published in this fun and informative new read. -- Danny C. Flanders Atlanta Journal-Constitution 20070322
From Dr. Jeff Gillman, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, comes another must-have book for your garden reference bookshelf. ... This is the perfect companion to [The Truth about Organic Gardening]. -- Carol Bishop Miller Gerry's Jungle 20080311
[A] fine resource, full of solid scientific information in a highly readable presentation. Gillman's research can help you to save time, money, effort and the environment. -- Tom Karwin Monterey County Herald 20080211
Gillman goes out of his way to approach each topic without bias, but with an attempt to evaluate critically how a particular remedy actually performs in a garden situation. -- Dan Gill New Orleans Times-Picayune 20080329
A fascinating read. All organic products are not necessarily safe, and this book informs you of the benefits and drawbacks of each of them. Gillman tests and evaluates more than 100. -- Robert Haehle South Florida Sun-Sentinel 20080301
Brings scientific rigor to the topic of commercial, homemade, and 'traditional' garden remedies. [Gillman's] conclusions may surprise even experienced gardeners, as his objectivity inevitably debunks some untenable ideas and separates fact from fiction. Michigan Gardener 20080701
Jeff's humor and his own hilarious experiments held me captive all the way until the end. -- Debra Teachout-Teashon Rainy Side Gardeners 20060504
[Gillman] maintains a good balance between science and fun and has produced a book that is highly informative and entertaining at the same time. -- Ethel Fried Manchester (CT) Journal Inquirer 20060729
While entertainingly relating his experiments and his research, Gillman also packs in a wealth of useful information. -- Beth Botts Chicago Tribune 20060604
[Gillman's] efforts have given us a book that's filled with a great deal of relevant information. It's also well-organized, written with flair, and darn interesting. -- Sarah Robertson Albany Democrat-Herald 20060521
This book is the result of years of research into what really does and does not encourage plants to grow faster and what works to protect them from diseases and pests. Gillman is also very clear on what concoctions should be avoided. -- Valerie Easton Seattle Times 20060118
The book is organized in a no-nonsense and user-friendly manner, setting out the theory and practice of each claim as well as the bottom line for the gardener. The results are fascinating. -- Linda McIntyre American Gardener 20060901
This is a book that many of us will want to consult frequently. -- Linda McIntyre American Gardener 20060901
This thoroughly delightful book will make you a less gullible and hence better gardener. -- Luurt Nieuwenhuis American Rhododendron Society Journal 20060501
Worth its weight in gold as it clears up the mysteries behind all sorts of folklore remedies touted by gardeners for eons. -- Jody Headlee Oakland Press 20060507
It's kind of like Consumer Reports visits Jerry Baker and the neighborhood garden guru. -- George Weigel Harrisburg Patriot-News 20060608
Gillman meets his goal of helping gardeners get a better understanding of the science behind the practices and does so in an entertaining and engaging style. His analysis is always helpful and sometimes even surprising. Recommended for all gardening collections. -- Daniel Starr Library Journal 20060101
Looks at more than 100 home remedies and garden practices, reviews any past scientific research about them, and in some cases sets up experiments to determine if they work and how best to use them. ... [An] eye-opening new book. -- Charlie Nardozzi National Gardening Association Regional Reports 20060202
The Truth about Garden Remedies is a book that is sorely needed in the gardening world. ... The discussions are thoughtful and researched or tested by easily repeatable experiments. -- Luurt Nieuwenhuis American Rhododendron Society Journal 20060201
In The Truth About Garden Remedies, things like putting a cup of beer out to trap slugs and snails and playing music to get your houseplant to grow are put under the microscope and analyzed by a professor from the University of Minnesota. Those gardeners who like to pick things apart with science will love this book. GardeningGiftGuide.com 20060216
Gillman writes with a light touch, offering a horticultural version of David Letterman's 'Will it float?' In one hilarious scene, he's in the kitchen arranging slugs and crushed egg shells on a paper plate while his wife, Suzanne, bakes lime pies. In others, he's fertilizing tomato seeds with buttermilk or sprinkling orange peels on ant mounds. -- Marge Hols St. Paul Pioneer Press 20060304
Does music make plants grow more luxuriantly? Should you plant trees deeply so roots won't dry out? Do coffee grounds change soil pH? ... Be prepared to have some of your long-cherished gardening notions debunked. But you'll also learn how to spend your gardening time and money. -- Valerie Easton Seattle Times 20060118
You'll enjoy the wry humor and outside-the-box thinking of Jeff Gillman. He presents material in an easy-to-follow order. -- Sandra J. Sandefur Perennial Notes 20061201
Jeff Gillman provides a rating scale for remedies of one to five flowerheads, with five being the best. Using his own scale, I'd give this book five flowerheads. It does what it proposes to do and does it well. -- Greg Asbagh Let's Talk Plants 20060601
A great resource in a world where everyone is an expert and has a product to sell. Gillman, a professor at the University of Minnesota, has done extensive testing and research on gardening products and practices. -- Jack Kerrigan Cleveland Plain Dealer 20061228
"[A] book that shoots down many fabled solutions that are really a waste of time."
(
Garden Compass )
“Both these books [The Truth About Organic Gardening and The Truth About Garden Remedies] are refreshing, lucid and enlightening. Their spare style, with no illustrations, and concentration on facts rather than ‘inspiration’ even gives them an old-fashioned charm.”
(
BBC Gardens Illustrated )
“Wondering how best to keep your garden healthy? Let Jeff Gillman … do the research, so you don’t waste time and money trying to add nutrients to the soil, keeping slugs and deer away, or protecting your roses from powdery mildew and black spot.”
(
Tri-City Herald )
"Gillman's goal is to get gardeners to think—to make sure there is a reason behind everything they do for their plants."
(
Redding Record Searchlight )
