The Colorado Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in the Centennial State
Product Description
Detailed, easy-to-understand information about the ins and outs of gardening in Colorado, from a Colorado master gardener, with advice from state gardening writers, horticulturists, and other local experts.
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The Colorado Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in the Centennial State
Bought the book hoping for plant lists and thinking I’d learn something new – maybe even some arcane scientific information about decomposed granite soils. There are some plants recommended – but the author mostly refers the reader to information sources that I have already found and generally consider useless. An avid hobby gardner for almost 25 years who worked briefly in landscaping in the northeast – this book had no new information for me.
Great Advice for new and novice gardeners. Good overview of things one should be aware of and should think about – Anywhere. Yes, the Front Range’s derth of fertile soil, highly variable weather and lack of precipitation makes it the most challening place I’ve ever gardened. Still, experienced gardners, especially vegetable gardeners, will likely already know all the ‘tips’ given and just need to apply them (ie: they will immediately recognize that this soil will need lots of amendment and will already know what a microclimate is).
It does provide some links to ‘local’ information sites, but most net surfers will already have found them. More, I find Cornell’s gardening and Cooperative Extension webpages more informative and useful, even for Colorado, than Colorado State University’s.
As a gardner focused on plants that have at least three desirable attributes (ie: will grow here, is attractive *and* is edible, fragrant, medicial, attracts wildlife/beneficial insects …) the frequently recommeded PlantSelect is particularly disappointing to me. Said to be a cooperative effort between CSU and “local” nurseries (probably best classified as “large commercial” nurseries), PlantSelect (and CSU’s cooperative pages) seemed to only recommend what the big growers are selling to/through the local nurseries – which I have found is rarely anything I’m interested in spending money and time on.
If your interest and experience in gardening has taken you beyond considering Lowe’s and such a good source for plant material to composting and working with natives, heirlooms and permaculture concepts – save your money for even more compost, mulch and/or some heavy row covers.
Rating: 3 / 5