Linda Chalker-Scott debunks many gardening practices that don’t work in “The Informed Gardener Blooms Again,” a sequel to her excellent “The Informed Gardener” from 2008. The format is very similar to the first book, built around a series of short chapters with Sherlock Holmesian titles (“The Myth of the Magic Bullet”, “The Myth of Nitrogen-nabbing Wood Chips”) that analyze horticultural fads and home remedies from an applied, scientific perspective. After a thorough discussion of the research, a helpful summary (“The Bottom Line”) follows, along with references to support her conclusions.
Chalker-Scott clearly has a passion for bringing science based, best practices to both home gardens and professional landscapes, as she has also edited and published “Sustainable Landscapes & Gardens: Good Science-Practical Application.” Divided into five, separately bound units–all housed in a three-ring binder–this work has contributors from major universities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The audience here could be either the home gardener or the professional who designs, installs, or maintains landscape plantings. The writing, while technical, is well-edited for readability for the non-academic reader and teaches not only better horticulture, but also about the research process that generates this advice. The format is designed for easily added updates and additions, so this is likely to be an important reference for our region for a long time.
Excerpted from the Fall 2010 Arboretum Bulletin.