Synopses & Reviews
Why didn't the hydrangea that thrived last year bloom this year? Why won't slugs eat weeds instead of wiping out the vegetable garden? Plant physiology, the study of how living things function, can solve these and most of the problems gardeners regularly have. In How Plants Work horticulture expert and professor Linda Chalker-Scott uncovers the mysteries of how and why plants do the things they do. This accessibly-written guide covers the science behind plants from the ground up, with information on cells, roots, nutrition, light, and reproduction. A basic understanding of plant physiology can help gardeners tremendously: knowing how mulch works can lead to a reduction in weeds; learning when and where to prune will reduce the need to prune in the future. It can also save time and money; an understanding of the science of plants can help gardeners know what garden products are worth a try and which are best left on the shelf.
Review
"If you've ever wondered, "Why did my plant do that?," look no further. Linda Chalker-Scott lays out the science behind garden plants in a buoyant, readable guide that you'll be turning to for years to come." Billy Goodnick, landscape architect, author, educator
Review
"Linda removes much of the mystery from gardening, replaces it with reliable knowledge, and does it all while retaining the wonder that makes this activity so inspiring." Steve Aitken, editor, Fine Gardening
Review
"From water and fertilizer to light and soil, this is the most accessible (and accurate) guide to the inner workings of a plant available today." Jeff Gillman, author of The Truth About Organic Gardening and The Truth About Garden Remedies
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“Loads of tips on planting, watering, fertilizers, weeds, what causes plant problems and much more. Yes, it will help you change the way you garden.” GardenDesignOnline.com
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“In her engaging, myth-busting book, Chalker-Scott opens up the wonders and curiosities of plant physiology. She not only makes us care about cell membranes, mitochondria and root stress, but leaves us eager to learn more.” Pacific Northwest Magazine
Review
“How Plants Work by Linda Chalker-Scott should ease our minds and lighten our workloads. She does a terrific job with the science of cell structure and explains why sunflowers turn to the sun, why tulips close up at night and loads of other fascinating tidbits.” The New York Times Book Review
Review
“How well do we really know the plants in our gardens? This book lifts the lid on how and why plants behave as they do, and once we understand that, our plots will flourish. lt's jam-packed with science, but it's explained in an entertaining way that holds your interest."
The English Garden
Synopsis
The more you know, the better you grow
Plants are capable of interesting and unexpected things. Why do container plants wilt when they ve been regularly watered? Whydid the hydrangea that thrived last year never bloom this year? Why do slugs wipe out the vegetable garden instead of eating theweeds? Plant physiology the study of how living things function can solve these and most other problems gardeners regularly encounter.
In How Plants Work, horticulture expert and contributor to the popular blog The Garden Professors, Linda Chalker-Scott brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life. She uncovers the mysteries of how and why plants do the things they do, and arms the home gardener with fascinating knowledge that will change the way they garden.
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Synopsis
"Makes the science of plant processes accessible to home gardeners." --The American Gardener
Why do container plants wilt even when they've been regularly watered? Why did the hydrangea that thrived last year never bloom this year? Plant physiology--the study of how living things function--can solve these and most other problems gardeners regularly encounter. In How Plants Work, horticulture expert Linda Chalker-Scott brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life. She uncovers the mysteries of how and why plants do the things they do, and arms you with fascinating knowledge that will change the way you garden.
Synopsis
How Plants Work brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life! It explains how plants tell time, how they move to follow the sun and capture food, and why they change color. Linda Chalker-Scott, of the popular blog The Garden Professors, uncovers these and other fascinating mysteries in this engaging and accessible introduction to plant physiology. By revealing the science behind what plants do every day, this book arms you with information that will change the way you garden. You’ll learn how to fertilize and prune more effectively, how to weed less than you ever have, and how to determine which garden products are worth your time and money.
About the Author
Linda Chalker-Scott has a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Oregon State University and is an ISA certified arborist. She is Washington State University’s Extension urban horticulturist and an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and maintains affiliate associate professor status at University of Washington. She develops educational materials for home gardeners, certified arborists, restoration ecologists, pesticide applicators, and the nursery and landscape industry. At WSU, she is co-chair of the Garden Team, an interdisciplinary group that produces science-based Extension publications for home gardeners. She is the author of three other books: the award-winning, horticultural myth-busting The Informed Gardener and The Informed Gardener Blooms Again, and Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens: Good Science, Practical Application. She has published extensively in the scientific literature as well as in popular magazines such as American Nurseryman, Organic Gardening, and Fine Gardening. She and three other academic colleagues host The Garden Professors blog, through which they educate and entertain an international audience.