***Giveaway! Win a copy of Garden Rules by commenting below. *** Holly is the winner – congrats!
Jayme Jenkins and Billie Brownell dish the dirt to new gardeners in their book, Garden Rules
I remember being a new gardener and feeling like I’d stepped into a new world, complete with a whole new language as well as new ways of doing things. I had trouble remembering the difference between annuals and perennials, felt like a great big meanie ruffling up the roots of plants before transplanting, and had a vague idea that irises were supposed to be planted “high”, but wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like.
Billie and Jayme walk you through all the things that more established gardeners just seem to know, and have plenty of fun along the way.
Here are a few of their manifestos:
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Gallon of Roundup
No Glove, No Love: Practice Safe Gardening
And one of my favorites – Only Virgins Should be Sacrificed to Volcanoes, about the evils of mulch volcanoes. I have a neighbor I should print that page out for!
Jayme and Billie were kind enough to provide two excerpts, one written by each of them, so you can get a sense for their shared voice and see if the book’s right for you. Without further ado:
Deadheading Isn’t Just for Rock Concerts
“Long before the classic band the Grateful Dead developed a cult following, gardeners removed spent flowers, which is called “deadheading.” Cutting off shriveled flowers can help plants produce more new blossoms and extend their bloom time. This is because plants are always trying to complete their life cycle by going to seed. When dead flowers are removed, the plants refocus their energy on producing blooms, rather than producing seeds.
You will find that some dead flowers are easier to pinch off than others. Take the threadleaf coreopsis. I love this plant for its little daisylike blooms atop fine, threadlike foliage. However, it is a nightmare to pinch off every little flower as they shrivel up, one by one. For this type of plant, it is easier to wait until most of the flowers are spent, and then give the whole plant a nice haircut to about half its size.
In no time at all, threadleaf coreopsis produces more flowers. And it’s not the only plant that likes a haircut; dianthus is another example. Be creative in finding the best deadheading techniques for your plants, or ask your local nursery friend for help.” (Jayme Jenkins)
The Allergist’s Garden
“Until I moved to Nashville, I had no idea how miserable allergies can make you. But after living in “Allergy Central” I now dread spring, especially when juniper pollen is drifting about. And I’m not the only one; it’s estimated thirty-five million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies (not to mention asthma).
What I didn’t know until recently is that many landscape plants are male, because the seeds or fruit, aka “litter,” produced by the female plants are not desirable—sweetgum for example. But it’s the male plant that produces pollen. Because plant breeders have learned to propagate plants by cloning only male plants, virtually all of those sold are males.
What can you do to create an allergy-free garden? Well, you can plant more female plants, which will “trap” pollen (oh, those old stereotypes never go away), use gravel instead of mulch for paths, don’t let weeds go to seed, keep the lawn mowed (especially if it’s Bermuda), and plant shrubs and flowers that naturally produce less pollen (forsythia, hydrangea, tulip, and azalea, for example). Go online to check out plant options that are best for your area. And Live Free and Breathe Easy!” (Billie Brownell)
18 responses to “Book Excerpt: Garden Rules – The Snappy Synopsis for the Modern Gardener”
This book sounds like great fun to read. If I planted things that were easy to deadhead, or used methods that saved me time, I would have a better looking flower garden. I could learn a lot from this book.
I’m guilty of some of those BAD things. Sounds like a great read.
Sounds very entertaining….would love to read it
You never know, I may be able to have a garden when I move, so it would be a good idea to have a book I can go to for tips!!! thanks GEN.
Will have to check this out, since even though I’ve been gardening since I was a kid, I still learn something new every day.
i live at bass lake near yosemite, and although i have been an avid gardener for many years, i still have questions, and am glad to happen on to this iinfo. today – formerly from SOCAL, the growing is so different here – thanks
I would love to win a copy of this book. Have a new garden going in a month, and have no idea how to go about taking care of it. 🙂
Looks like a good book–can’t be too bad if they hate volcanic mulch.
I am a relatively new gardener that is always looking for new tricks. It looks like the book has some humor – this is always a welcome addition to the very academic garden reads out there. Thanks for letting me participate in your drawing.
I just discovered your site while googling up why landscape fabric is evil. I couldn’t agree more, but I recently vowed to myself to quit griping at my husband for every little thing so I’m trying to be civil about his putting landscape fabric on my vegetable garden. Do you think my slashing at the fabric with a utility knife sends him a message without my actually saying anything? I’ll continue to come back for your good sense and good humor. There are times when gardening in Oklahoma makes me want to weep, and not with happiness. Your site cheers me up.
P.S. That’s our business on the website. My husband uses all the old-fashioned ways when restoring buildings, but has to use every new thing, no matter how irritating, when it comes to gardening.
Awww, Linda, thank you so much for your kind words!!! Seriously, you’ve warmed my heart today.
You’re absolutely right that griping is not a good activity to engage in if you want a successful marriage! I think your subtle use of the utility knife sends just the right message – LOL – “if you put down any more of this stuff, YOU might be next!!!”.
Thanks for stopping by – oh, and the restoration work is gorgeous. A pleasure to see the photos.
one can never be too informed-there is always something new to learn…. please put my name in the hat!
I would love this great book! I have always gardened and can’t wait to get my yard blooming!! Great therapy!
Sounds like a great book!
I’ve worked in a garden center for years, but I’m still learning and would love to win this book! Most books are dry reading, but this one includes a punch of humor that would be great for me! Also, I’m looking to purchase my first home and would love to start planning a garden and feel like this book would be the perfect research!
I’m always open to a new book;-) Thanks!
I’m always willing to learn more about gardening and this book sounds like a hoot.
Read a few of those pithy rules and can’t resist. Count me in!