Rodale's Garden Insect, Disease, and Weed Identification Guide

by Miranda Smith

Identifies the characteristics and means of control for insects and weeds

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Miranda Smith teaches organic and sustainable methods of growing herbs, vegetables, and fruits at the New England Small Farm Institute. She lives in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book a few years back, maybe around 2016. I'm really disappointed in the Rodale's books lately. They have such a good reputation for their organic ways of gardening, but this book, although printed on recycled paper, which is good, is so subpar as far as being able to identify anything really. To be used as a "Identification Guide" for insects, disease and weeds, we need photos man! Good quality photos!

This book only contains a few drawings and a few pages of colored photos towards the back of the book on just a few different diseases of some plants. Most of the information throughout are just written descriptions. What the heck! I really hate to give this guide such a low rating, but I had to. There are way better books out there full of colorful photos so we know for sure what we are dealing with. It's just a matter of finding the right ones. This book went into the Goodwill bag!

[Katarina Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I have yet to use this guide in the identification of a plant I don't know I have no doubt it's going to be an essential resource. The sketches and colour images will make clarifying the subtle differences between plants, diseases and insects straight-forward. The descriptions are also clear and detailed enough to distinguish entries apart, something which is particularly critical when dealing with plant diseases.

On the whole, I am happy to add this book to my gardening collection!

[Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rocks. During the season i find myself flipping though it at least once a week. There are a lot of poor I.D. guides out there this is the only one i've found to be the thorough and well organized.
Warning: the virus section always bums me out, it has photographs of really sad things happening to food.

[Gary Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful book.