About this item
A little plant science grows a long way Plant Science for Gardeners empowers growers to analyze common problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden for optimal plant health and productivity.Most gardeners learn by accumulating rules - water once a week, never dry out snowdrop bulbs, prune lilacs after flowering, plant garlic in October -- the list is endless.Rules take years to learn and yet leave you floundering when the unexpected strikes and plants look unhealthy, produce poorly, or die.There is a better way.By understanding the basic biology of how plants grow, you can become a thinking gardener with the confidence to problem solve for optimized plant health and productivity. Learn the science and ditch the rules! Coverage includes:The biology of roots, stems, leaves, and flowersUnderstanding how plants function as whole organismsThe role of nutrients and inputsVegetables, flowers, grasses, and trees and shrubsPropagation and geneticsSidebars that explode common gardening mythsTips for evaluating plant problems and finding solutions.
About the Author
Robert Pavlis is a well-known speaker, and educator with over 40 years of gardening experience. He is the author of two books, Building Natural Ponds, and Garden Myths and publishes the popular gardening blogs; GardenMyths.com and GardenFundamentals.com. As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden, he grows 3,000 varieties of plants.Who Am I? I live in Southern Ontario, Canada, which has a US zone 5 climate and have been gardening for more than 30 years - I stopped counting at 30! I am a Master Gardener and speak about gardening at many local gardening events and horticulture meetings. I contribute the 'Plant of the Month' articles for the Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society, write articles for some local newspapers and teach several courses including a 20 hr Gardening Fundamentals course at the local university and a garden design course through the city.I am a plantaholic!I have a background in chemistry and biochemistry which allows me to research topics and understand the underlying science behind things. Once I understand the topic it is then my task to present the information in an easy to understand style that is both informative and fun to read.My gardening philosophy:- Understand the 'why' in everything you do.- Look to nature for answers - mother nature already knows how to garden.- KISS in the garden; KISS = keep it simple stupid.- Bugs and diseases are part of life - learn to live with it.- Organic gardening works - too bad 'organic fanatics' mislead the public.- Have fun - or stop doing it.
