Decoding Gardening Advice: The Science Behind the 100 Most Common Recommendations

by Jeff Gillman, Meleah Maynard

Covering more than 100 universal gardening "dos and don'ts,"  Decoding Gardening Advice  is the first book to provide gardeners with the real answers. Jeff Gillman, the bestselling author of  The Truth About Garden Remedies , and Meleah Maynard back up every good recommendation with sound horticultural and botanical science.  Decoding Gardening Advice  is the first and only hard-hitting, evidence-based book that every gardener needs for definitive advice on everything from bulbs, annuals, and perennials to edibles, trees, and soil care.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, How To

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 13, 2011

About the author

Dr. Jeffrey Gillman is a horticulturalist. He is an assistant professor in the department of Horticultural
Science at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in nursery management and conducts research and gives talks the use and abuse of pesticides.

Gillman attended Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, and received his masters degree in entomology and his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Georgia.

Gillman has published papers and articles on subjects that range from how plant hairs affect mites and using soluble silicone to combat plant diseases; to using lime in containers and how to control deer.

Reviews

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book. It's based on science, not rumors, superstitions, or crazy people's theories, which, honestly, a lot of "gardening advice" is. They cite sources in this book! Real scientific ones! The information is organized into useful sections: soil, water, pests, mulch, annuals, perennials and bulbs, trees and shrubs, vegetables and fruit, and lawn care. These sections accurately reflect the kind of questions people wonder about. The 'advice' ranges from old gardeners' tales to some hippie woo magick stuff. Even I was pleased to learn that gardening by the phases of the moon, while not "good advice" is at least "debatable," not "wrong."

The very curious bookworm gardener will have plenty of questions beyond the scope of this book, but it's a perfectly adequate resource for someone heading into, oh, like their second year of gardening; someone with real experience and curiosity but who feels like they're starting to get bogged down by all the conflicting, well-meaning, adamant 'advice' out there.

With that said, I would like to apologize to anyone I ever told to add sand to their clay soil because, according to this book, I helped you turn your soil into concrete. My deepest apologies, friend.


(if you like this book, or think you might like this book, you should probably also check out Linda Scott Chalker's body of work. Her website:
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20... her blog: https://sharepoint.cahnrs.wsu.edu/blo... )

[Beth Goodnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic advice. Scientific… nice. But I'd like to have seen it be more focused on sustainable solutions. Seemed to be too much advice to use synthetic fertilizer and pesticide… though they did mention that there is no substitute for good soil and hand weeding. :-)

[Holly Klump · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Informative, interesting and unbiased. Clearly they are fans of sustainable gardening, as the basis of their advice is soil health. Those reviewers who said the authors are anti-organic or pro chemical clearly did not read the whole book.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the format of this book as well as the basic knowledge it gives. Each chapter is devoted to a different topic and is separated into Good Advice, Advice That's Debatable and Advice That's Just Plain Wrong. The author, a professor, has personally tested all of these in order to find out whether the gardening advice really works or not.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a lot of notes while reading this book because it was SO helpful to me! Perfect for newbie gardeners.

[Jenika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward, practical, cites actual research but retains a conversational style. Lots more info than I could possibly remember but I feel like if I encounter some of the advice in future I'll at least know to say "hang on...I read something about that."

The static structure of each section (the advice, what happens, a better way, the real dirt) made some sections a bit needlessly repetitive - not all ideas required that much info.

Overall I thought it was balanced and realistic while appealing to research. Worth picking up and at least reading parts relevant to you.

[Sushie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any hobby with a history as old as humanity, there's a lot of conflicting advice about gardening. It was really overwhelming as a beginner especially when my grandmas don't agree on what I ought to do! Decoding Gardening Advice has helped me develop a scientifically-grounded critical lens for future reading and research.

[Lily C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book, that on the whole, I thought the advice good and agreed with most of. There was nothing in it that was, I thought, was new to me. Being from the US the author did recommend the use of chemicals we don't access to in Ontario. I would have preferred strictly organic solutions which are healthier for the plant too.

[M Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science-backed explanations behind things like why you shouldn’t use pot shards in the bottom of containers and why you should water trees at the canopy line rather than the trunk. Topics are well organized into sections like “soil,” “water,” and “fruits and vegetables.”

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book. It was a library book so I took notes to make myself a cliff notes version to keep.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done.

[Andy Gooding-Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a case of “you don’t know what you don’t know.” I had not previously gotten most of this advice, but now I’m prepared.

[Eleanor Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively useful book with a moderate amount of scientific explanation. Wouldn't read again or add to my permanent collection (borrowed from library).

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decoding Gardening Advice: The Science Behind the 100 Most Common Recommendations by Jeff Gillman and Meleah Maynard (Timber Press 2012) (635) is a scientific examination of the customs, practices, and recommendations which home gardeners encounter from all sides. After the authors reviewed the claims, the "old saws" were sorted into piles of "good advice", "debatable advice", and "wrong advice". This was an interesting though not an earthshaking read. My rating: 5/10, finished 4/16/12.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great book to have on my bookshelf at home. The authors provide sound advice that gives direction. Who knew you are not supposed to beat a tree to get it to flower? Who knows anyone who does this? I have always put gravel at the bottom of containers to improve drainage and used outdated pesticides. Both are just wrong. You can use urine as a fertilizer, but that advice is debatable and the reason why is in this book. If you create a garden environment favorable to earthworms, then you are following good advice.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with this book's approach is that not everyone has the same criteria for "good advice." For instance, I'll take the less effective methods if I can keep organic or have only a minor problem. He is not a believer in the first-do-now-harm school of gardening. He prefers the sedge hammer and guaranteed results. The book is interesting, but I certainly wouldn't spend money to buy it.

[Teresa Ma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was interested in the topic of this book - but it didn't wow me. If you have never gardened before this could potentially be helpful. Being written by one horticulture professor and one master gardener, it has its limitations. If you are an avid gardener or a active master gardener, then this book is not for you.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and a nice layout. The authors respond to 100 of the most common bits of gardening advice. They dispute a few myths and dish out some good advice in a clear, concise, and at times humorous style.

[Bold Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

... Topics each given a chapter in this book are: soil, water, pest et al. control, mulch, flowers, trees, vegetables and lawns. This is an easy read for the hobbyist gardener.

Read the entire review here: http://boldbookworm.com/ga071312.html

~ BB

http://boldbookworm.com

[Bossy Acres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our friend, CSA member, and area Master Gardener co-authored this informative resource - especially great for anyone who's ever wondered about the do's and don'ts and the reasons behind various gardening advice. Entertaining and to the point!

-Reviewed by Bossy K

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and creative approach to debunking myths and suggesting what works best in gardening. Love that a professor of Horticultural Science and a master gardener wrote this together. Highly recommended.

[Ronando: I Stand With Palestinians · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started a year long study on gardening with the hopes of creating the perfect vegetable garden and ultimate lush, green lawn. I just got this book today and it's fantastic. Right off the bat it starts off with the importance of having good soil. A great beginners book.

[Blackbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept. Easy to read format. Very smart gardening info. Funny, a little snarky.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice layout of the topics and supporting information. Very interesting with some good points to consider for next year.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread Feb 2013

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a slightly anti-organics theme running through the book that puts me off and maybe that's why I'm not as into this book as I thought I would be.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a quick read. A few of the things practices given thumbs down are actually things I do so I am rethinking why I do, what I do. Thought provoking.

[Trivia Eggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, informative, and cleverly written. It's an especially great read on a snow day.