Chalker-Scott Linda. The Science of Gardening (Course Guidebook)

The Teaching Company, 2018. — 239 p.When scientists examine home gardens and landscapes, one fact stands out: The leading cause of landscape failure is not disease and it’s not pests—it’s our own gardening practices. The Science of Gardening will help you create a beautiful and sustainable home garden guided by the newest information from applied plant physiology, biology, soils science, climatology, hydrology, chemistry, and ecology. From choosing and purchasing your trees and shrubs, to giving them the best start in your garden, to healthy maintenance and pest control, award-winning horticulturist Linda Chalker-Scott of Washington State University shows why science-based decisions are always best for your home garden, and also the most ecologically sound for the greater environment. Professor Chalker-Scott describes today’s gardening world as a “Wild West” of products and practices that exist in an almost regulation-free environment. Consequently, we need to look for supporting scientific evidence before making decisions with far-ranging effects. As you learn more about science-based gardening, you’ll understand the need to bust some long-term gardening myths. Although many of us have believed these myths and based our purchases and gardening practices on this advice, we’ve also become frustrated and disillusioned as we’ve watched much of the beautiful landscape we dreamed of, and paid for, wither away. But not any longer. The Science of Gardening shows you how to make the best possible decisions on plant selection, planting, and maintenance. From now on, you won’t need a green thumb to get your garden to grow; you’ll have science on your side!Garden Science: Weeding Out the Myths
Site Analysis: Choosing the Right Spot
Soil Analysis: What Makes Soil Great?
Living Soils: Bacteria and Fungi
Plant Selection: Natives versus Non-Natives
Plant Selection: Function and Form
Plant Selection: Finding Quality Specimens
Soil Preparation and Protection
The Truth about Mulch
Planting for Survival
Aftercare for New Plants
Plant Nutrition: Evidence-Based Fertilizing
The Art and Science of Pruning
Creating Safe Food Gardens
Water-Wise Landscaping
Diagnosing Diseases and Disasters
Gardening CSI: Case Studies
Integrated Pest Management
Understanding Pesticides
What to Do about Weeds
What to Do about Insects
What to Do about Herbivores
Tackling Garden Myths and Misinformation
Applied Garden Science: Success Stories