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. ( )

One of the problems that scholars/researchers face is that they work long and hard for material that doesn't always translate into a book of substance. Chalker-Scott's examination of common gardening myths is quite helpful, but she doesn't really have a lot to say. [Most of the verbage is support for her basic concepts.] But what she does say can be important. So, even though it's really a small book with only a few true new ideas/methods, those are quite worthwhile.

sigh. Sorry I couldn't say all that a bit more clearly. I'm glad that I bought the book; it did change some of my gardening practices, but all the information could have been condensed into a few pages. ( )

Chalker-Scott makes it very clear that all content in this book is available for free on her web site, and she published the book only as a convenience for those who wanted to read her previous articles in book form. Frankly, I’m glad she did. I probably would never have found this wealth of information otherwise.

Read the full review. ( )