Decoding Gardening Advice: The Science Behind the 100 Most Common Recommendations
Anyone who has been in the home-gardening game for any length of time has probably encountered much dubious advice passed on by neighbors, self-styled experts, and even Internet posters. In this concise, well-written guide to separating the scientifically valid tips from the invalid, seasoned horticultural specialists Gillman and Maynard cover a great range of gardening topics, from soil chemistry to watering to lawn care. Each chapter is divided into three sections reviewing “good advice,” “advice that’s debatable,” and “advice that’s just wrong.” Some examples of good advice include applying pesticides in the morning and keeping shrubs together. The more surprising debatable advice includes cautions about using pricey grow lights for seeding and planting vegetables in rows. In the “just wrong” column, the authors debunk such ideas as the need for gravel in container bottoms for drainage and the necessity of plentiful lawn watering during a hot summer. A well-researched, indispensable resource that belongs on every gardening shelf. --Carl Hays