The Informed Gardener Linda Chalker-Scott.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chalker-Scott, Linda (Linda K.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Landscape gardening.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (238 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Seattle : University of Washington Press, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Winner of the Best Book Award in the 2009 Garden Writers Association Media AwardsNamed an "Outstanding Title" in University Press Books for Public and Secondary School Libraries, 2009In this introduction to sustainable landscaping practices, Linda Chalker-Scott addresses the most common myths and misconceptions that plague home gardeners and horticultural professionals. Chalker-Scott offers invaluable advice to gardeners gardeners who have wondered:Are native plants the best choice for sustainable landscaping?Should you avoid disturbing the root ball when planting?Are organic products better or safer than synthetic ones?What is the best way to control weeds-fabric or mulch?Does giving vitamins to plants stimulate growth?Are compost teas effective in controlling diseases?When is the best time to water in hot weather?If you pay more, do you get a higher-quality plant?How can you differentiate good advice from bad advice?The answers may surprise you. In her more than twenty years as a university researcher and educator in the field of plant physiology, Linda Chalker-Scott has discovered a number of so-called truths that originated in traditional agriculture and that have been applied to urban horticulture, in many cases damaging both plant and environmental health. The Informed Gardener is based on basic and applied research from university faculty and landscape professionals, originally published in peer-reviewed journals.After reading this book, you will:Understand your landscape or garden plants as components of a living systemSave time (by not overdoing soil preparation, weeding, pruning, staking, or replacing plants that have died before their time)Save money (by avoiding worthless or harmful garden products, and producing healthier, longer-lived plants)Reduce use of fertilizers and pesticidesAssess marketing claims objectivelyThis book will be of interest to landscape architects, nursery and landscape professionals, urban foresters, arborists, certified professional horticulturists, and home gardeners.For more information go to: http://www.theinformedgardener.com

Contents:

Cover; Contents; Preface; CRITICAL THINKING; The Myth of Absolute Science; The Myth of Indisputable Information; The Myth of Organic Superiority, Part 1; The Myth of Organic Superiority, Part 2; UNDERSTANDING HOW PLANTS WORK; The Myth of Fragile Roots; PRUNING FLAWED WOODY ROOTS BEFORE TRANSPLANING; The Myth of Mighty Roots; The Myth of Top-pruning Transplanted Material; The Myth of Tree Topping; HOW BIG IS BIG?; The Myth of Hot-weather Watering; HOW/WHAT/WHEN/WHERE TO PLANT; The Myth of Instant Landscaping; The Myth of Native Plant Superiority; GOING NATIVE? OR NOT?

The Myth of Well-behaved OrnamentalsThe Myth of Plant Quality; CHOOSING THE BEST PLANTS AT THE NURSERY; The Myth of Drainage Material in Containers; The Myth of Collapsing Root Balls; The Myth of Tree Staking; SOIL ADDITIVES; The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 1; The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 2; The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 3; The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer, Part 1; The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer, Part 2; The Myth of Beneficial Bonemeal; The Myth of Polyacrylamide Hydrogels; The Myth of Polyacrylamide Hydrogels Revisited; The Myth of Wandering Weedkiller; MULCHES

The Myth of Landscape FabricUSING ARBORIST WOOD CHIPS FOR WEED CONTROL; The Myth of Clean Compost; HOW DOES MULCHING REDUCE PESTICIDE AND FERTILIZER USE?; The Myth of Paper-based Sheet Mulch; The Myth of Pretty Mulch; CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL LANDSCAPE MULCH; MIRACLES IN A BAG/BOTTLE/BOX; The Myth of Compost Tea; The Myth of Compost Tea Revisited; The Myth of Mineral Magic; The Myth of Vitamin Shots; The Myth of Vitamin Stimulants; The Myth of Wound Dressings; ESSENTIAL GARDEN TOOLS AND PRODUCTS; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780295800325

0295800321

OCLC:

1273307088