The Truth About Garden Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why

by Jeff Gillman

Can beer make plants grow? How about buttermilk? Or music―classical or rock? Are you sure about planting trees in deep holes? And how about chasing insects with hot sauce and stopping slugs with eggshells?

Whether in ancient books, on television, or in gardening publications, remedies for all your garden woes are here for the the challenge is to know what will work and what won't.

Fearlessly conducting original experiments and harvesting wisdom from the scientific literature, horticulturalist Jeff Gillman assesses new and historic advice and reveals the how and why‚ and sometimes the why not‚ for more than 100 common and uncommon gardening practices. The results will surprise even experienced gardeners.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Science

212 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Dr. Jeffrey Gillman is a horticulturalist. He is an assistant professor in the department of Horticultural
Science at the University of Minnesota, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in nursery management and conducts research and gives talks the use and abuse of pesticides.

Gillman attended Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, and received his masters degree in entomology and his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Georgia.

Gillman has published papers and articles on subjects that range from how plant hairs affect mites and using soluble silicone to combat plant diseases; to using lime in containers and how to control deer.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for those who want some more science-based evidence that all those folk garden remedies and the ones circulating on the Internet really work. It gave me some new ideas and let me cross some others off the list.

[Pat Mckay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this ebook thinking it was about garden remedies for human health, but it's actually about the home-brewed concoctions people put on their gardens. Useful analysis of what works & what doesn't.

[Lana. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The slug and beer on the cover caught my attention. My neighbour bought me a beer to deal with my slug problem last year (for traps not for drinking), but I'd been too skeptical to try it out.

In this book, Jeff Gillman takes on this garden remedy (an many others) for a scientific showdown: Experiments including a number of subjects and a control group, or some good theorising based on other scientific studies.

It seems Gillman had a lot of fun between and scouring for strange and usual remedies and then trying them out. His humour sneaks up on you, while hammering his main point: Challenge yourself to think critically about what you're adding / doing to your plants. Also, for those remedies out there he didn't try - consider doing an experiment.

Definitely an interesting read for the gardener with science-nerd tendencies. The charts including the percentages of N,P,K in organic materials (along with their availibilty and acidity, Figure 3, page 55), pesticide active ingredients and their properties (Figure 10, page 173) and many more make it a reasonable reference for those who might not want to go the experimental route.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last I found a book that looks at home gardening remedies from a scientific point of view. All those concoctions and practices you see on the internet (Epsom salts, anyone?) are here. Gillman (an entomologist turned horticulturist) explains how each remedy originated, whether there is any science behind the practice, and how useful it can actually be to gardeners. He also compares the effectiveness with other alternatives, both home-made and commercial.

As a Master Gardener, I think every MG should refer to this book when providing advice to the public. One especially nice feature: It's available from Amazon as an e-book for about $10. That makes it as portable as it is valuable. You can't go wrong with this one!

[beentsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book. I loved the science behind the urban garden legends from your Great Aunt Fanny, some for and some against those legends. It was great to get an insight into what could/will work and what is absolutely not going to work and is just a bad idea in general. To that end, compost, (aged at least 6 months), is our friend. So is mulch.

Makes me believe that next year is whole 'nother ballgame with growing my own vegetables.

[Elizabeth Licata · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a wonderful chatty, down-to-earth manner, Jeff Gillman provides the hard science about how and why certain gardening methods and products work—or don't work

Highly recommended! Write more, Jeff!

[Elaine Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science! A much-needed dose of practicality and scientific method in gardening advice. May read again just before aphid season to double-check things to try. Actually, I should probably just buy myself a copy.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably worth the price of the book because it saves you from buying a lot of things at the garden center. No new and extraordinary tips, but debunks a lot of old-wives tales and will save you time and money.

[Whalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick reading for any gardener. Loved the scientific research and explanations combined with the author's personal experience and research. Includes both "natural" or organic and commercial remedies. Use with your own experience and common sense.

[Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very accessible book for all gardeners. Debunks common gardening myths. I was surprised at some of the stuff people spray on their gardens. Ammonia? Really?

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with his other book, this is very easy to read, very informative, very honest, a great reference to have on hand and to take to the garden store when weighing your options.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was expecting this book to be about remedies from the garden, but it's actually a study about various forms of pesticide.

[Kayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this so I can confidently stop trying to treat garden diseases and pests with dish soap, beer, and rubbing alcohol.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes bibliography and index.

[Burgoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think of this as mythbusters for common garden tips. Gillman investigates common (and some crazy old obscure) recommendations and applies some science fu to them. Fun and informative!