Perhaps I expect too much, but there are certain things I look for in gardening books. Overall I want sound, practical advice that I can apply in my own garden. But I also want to be inspired, to be stimulated to try new things, to be guided on what's possible and what's practical, to gain a greater understanding of why some things work and some don't and to enjoy browsing and reading the book as much my garden will benefit from the wisdom it contains.
Unfortunately, this book falls short of the mark on all counts. To start with, even opening the package when the book arrived was a disappointment. It's a flimsy volume, cheaply produced on thin paper. It will neither grace my bookshelves nor survive being used as a ready-to-hand reference in the garden. And while there are plenty of sketches throughout, the colour pictures are limited to two small sections. Another disappointment as the fine colour pictures so readily available in many gardening books, provide not only inspiration but also a clear idea of how the results of your efforts in the garden will turn out eventually.
There is a lot of sound advice on companion planting, but much of it is about achieving colour and texture effects. I was looking for something that focussed a little more on guidance on companion planting to increase fertility and reduce the need for chemical intervention to combat pests and diseases. The information on this aspect of companion planting is limited and often offered without any explanation of why particular planting combinations work which makes it very difficult to adapt ideas to work in particular environments and gardens.
The author is an American gardener, and no doubt an expert, but the use of American names for plants and references to plants not available in the UK, is irritating and adds to the impression that this is not the right book for the average UK gardener seeking sound and practical advice.
I was also disappointed that so much of the book concentrated on the very basics of gardening - how to water, how to care for one's tools, garden layout and bed-making etc. While the quality of the advice is no doubt sound, it is derivative : advice that is readily available in any basic book on gardening. Anyone wishing to develop companion planting is likely to have already a firm grip on these areas - and probably half a dozen other gardening books which say much the same thing.
The actual, useful information on companion gardening that is relevant to UK gardens, could probably have been published in a twenty-page leaflet.
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Spitzenrezensionen aus anderen Ländern
BookAddictUK
Useful but overall disappointing
Rezension aus dem Vereinigten Königreich vom 30. Mai 2005Verifizierter Kauf
R
Exactly what I was looking for
Rezension aus Kanada am 27. März 2020Verifizierter Kauf
christ
Great book for companion gardening beginner
Rezension aus Kanada am 10. April 2014Verifizierter Kauf
Suzanne
BUT ONCE SUMMER ARRIVED I DON'T THINK A DAY GOES BY WITHOUT MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF GOING TO REFER TO GREAT GARDEN CAMPANIONS BOOK
Rezension aus Kanada am 30. Juli 2016Verifizierter Kauf
Sandy Leduc
Awesome!!!!!
Rezension aus Kanada am 28. April 2020Verifizierter Kauf