Great Garden Formulas : The Ultimate Book of Mix-It-Yourself Concoctions for Gardeners (Hardcover)

~ Joan Benjamin (Author) "Recycling your food and "wastes" by making compost for your garden is the single most important thing you can do to grow bountiful yields of..." (more)
Key Phrases: oak leaf tea, fertilizer fix, yellow daisylike blooms, Pest Control Formulas, Compost Formulas, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gardening books don't come more hands-on than this thorough guide for organic gardeners, which offers practical information provided by real gardeners from all over the country. For every gardening situation, there is a natural solution. An easy Swiss chard cocktail will add zest to plants, while rhubarb spray will put a rout to fungal diseases, aphids and June bugs. Included also are innovative death traps for slugs (burlap laid on the beds or upside-down clay-pot traps lining a raised bed) for gardeners tired of the beer-in-the-saucer treatment, as well as deer deterrents (e.g., a fish emulsion and soap spray) and squirrel solutions (cayenne pepper spray). Slightly more complex are instructions for making herbal remedies and homespun crafts. It's all rounded out nicely with planting guides for various garden designs, sources for materials and information, zone maps, a metric conversion table and an intriguing reading list.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Most gardeners know that compost is good for their soil and have heard, at least vaguely, that a mixture containing baking soda is good for roses. But who knew that you could make fertilizer from soaking weeds in water? The editors have collected ideas from organic gardeners all over the country that will help even experienced gardeners improve their soil, fertilize their plants, reduce weeds and pests, and even concoct a soothing hand cream to use when the work is done. Grouped thematically by chapter, these formulas employ either natural ingredients or simple chemicals such as Epsom salts, and most are easy to make and use. The word formula is used in its broadest sense, as there are suggestions for attracting butterflies and for making a wildflower meadow as well as creating fertilizer from Swiss chard or herbal candles. A source list for products and services ends the book. This will be a great source for crafters as well as for creative garden experimenters.AMolly Newling, Piscataway P.L., NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; illustrated edition edition (July 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875967981
• ISBN-13: 978-0875967981
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #833,162 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative. Has alot of solutions for plants., October 18, 1999

By A Customer

The book has formulas that help plants. Such as, pest control and natural fertalizers. It also give you recipes for herbal shampoos and condtiononers. Great Book. :)

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for amateurs of gardening!, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This is a great book, from cover to cover. It is full of handy hints. I am a first time gardener and this book helped me a great deal throughout the gardening season. There's also a great section on herbs!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book!, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

This wonderful book is full of easy and useful ideas. It is pleasant to read, nicely illustrated, and oh so practical. I am buying a second copy to share!