Linda Chalker-Scott

This book is a collection of columns that were originally written from 2000 for Washington State nursery and landscape professionals. It's aim to to bust the myths gardeners have been swearing by for decades using hard peer-reviewed science.

It's a good, easy, quick read and it pretty much makes the average gardener writing this review shake her head over the sheer number of things I've beein doing wrong, thereby proving the miracle that is life. Because after reading this it is truly a wonder anything lives in my garden.

Each column is immediately followed with citations; all of which are peer reviewed scientific resources. The columns are short and each has a "bottom line" summarising the take away points and a couple of times there are step by step instructions for certain tasks.

The only reason I didn't got the full five stars is that I took exception to her attitude about what is commonly called organic gardening. Her facts are dead on - I don't question those - but in her effort to 'straighten out' those misconceptions about organic vs. synthetic, she completely fails to address other benefits of avoiding synthetic chemicals; benefits that also have an army of peer reviewed research behind them. She leaves the impression that anyone eschewing RoundUp and MiracleGro are ignorant and foolish. The information is solid, it's just the attitude I found distasteful.

But everything else... well, I'll be changing most everything about how I transfer plants and care for them from now on.… (plus d'informations)

This is the second compilation of columns from the author's blog The Informed Gardener. Her purpose behind both the blog and these books is to bust popular and often ingrained myths about gardening with hard, peer-reviewed science.

i found the first book a little bit off-putting, if only because she busted more than a couple of myths I was suckered into. It's depressing to think you're a rational, objective, sceptical soul only to find out you're just as susceptible to marketing hype as the next gardener. Still, I came away from it determined to get my soil tested, convince MT to go back to wood chip mulch, and lay off the manure.

This time around she covered stuff I hadn't fallen for so of course it's a better book! ::grin:: But in all honestly, I thought this one was a better book because it wasn't all about tearing down the myths; occasionally the chapters covered practices that had merit, or potential, but not necessarily in all situations. This book felt more balanced.

The author does a great job keeping the writing accessible while sticking strictly to the hard science, and every chapter has its own citations/sources. This is an excellent resource for anyone remotely serious about gardening.… (plus d'informations)