The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals

by Barbara W. Ellis (Editor), Fern Marshall Bradley (Editor), Helen Atthowe (Editor)

End your worries about garden problems with safe, effective solutions from The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control !

* Easy-to-use problem-solving encyclopedia covers more than 200 vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, trees, and shrubs
* Complete directions on how, when, and where to use preventive methods, insect traps and barriers, biocontrols, homemade remedies, botanical insecticides, and more
* More than 350 color photos for quick identification of insect pests, beneficial insects, and plant diseases

Newly revised with the latest, safest organic controls.

A New York Times Best Gardening Book

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Reference, Horticulture, Plants

544 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Linda Larson]

This book sits in a prominent spot on my shelf. I refer to it when I am stumped...is that a bug eating my plant or a disease? I can turn to the plant in the book and find common problems. For example, under "Lettuce" I find that a powdery white coating could be powdery mildew. An organic solution follows the description. The section on insects show which insects are beneficial and which are nasty. This book is valuable for gardeners everywhere.

[Kristal]

I break this book out every time I have holes in my leaves. There is so much valuable information in this book that I think every gardener, especially novices like me, need to keep the book close at hand. WONDERFUL reference tool!!

[Krystal B.]

Wonderful! Very helpful information on identifying insects (beneficial & pests) and identifying issues with your plants. I use this book on a regular basis.

I would recommend buying this if you have a garden & want to learn more!

[Chris]

Yes, this is a good entry level guide to pest and discease ID and treatment. It sets a solid organic approach for home gardeners whose alternative is to go to a garden center and ask for advice, which invariably leads to inappropriate use of chemicals. In fact, the second half of the book is a good primer for IPM (Integrated Pest Management) as advocated by university extension services. But the first half of the book is an encyclopedia of plants with typical pest and disease info for each, and it's so slim a selection that I find it less than useful for anyone but a real beginner gardener. This is really two books: The encyclopedia should be more thorough and well illustrated, and the Primer should stand on its own as a good reference for how to diagnose and treat using the 4 IPM categories.

[Randy]

Let the bugs be! This is a very fine reference for any organic gardener but my world view on a bug's place in the garden has changed over the years to one of each of us must get our due in the natural world!

[Gwen]

Use as a refrence book. Best I've found so far.

[JJ]

Always reading this for reference material. This year I had an out break of red bugs which later I was delighted to find out were solider bugs (a beneficial garden insect) so cool!

[Bree Headlee]

Always have a book on the bookshelf on how to keep your garden flourishing naturally (5 or more in my case, now just need the garden to go with them)

[Cadillacrazy]

Lots of plant problems and diseases and organic solutions - A must have for any gardener.

[Terri Klemetson]

I love the mix of entomology & practical knowledge.

[Nancy]

loved it

[sistaotey]

Excellent resource. I skim through it making notes for my common pests. The photos of the plant issues and the pests & beneficials are a huge bonus! Goes with my year review pile!