Wow! eBook
Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health
Author(s): Robert Pavlis (Author)
- Publisher: New Society Publishers
- Publication Date: April 7, 2020
- Edition: Illustrated
- Language: English
- Print length: 224 pages
- ISBN-10: 0865719306
- ISBN-13: 9780865719309
Book Description
Weak plants, poor yields, and conflicting soil advice? The solution starts underground.
Healthy gardens are built on living, balanced soil. Soil Science for Gardeners explains how soil truly functions so you can grow stronger plants, improve yields, and reduce costly guesswork.
When you understand soil biology, chemistry, and structure, you stop chasing quick fixes and start building long-term fertility.
What You'll Gain
- How to interpret soil tests and confidently adjust nutrients
- How microbes and fungi improve plant resilience and nutrient uptake
- How to use organic matter to enhance drainage and soil structure
- How to correct common soil imbalances without over-fertilizing
- How to build a long-term soil improvement plan that actually works
Rather than repeating popular myths, this guide draws directly from soil science to give you practical, evidence-based clarity.
Practical Soil Improvement
You'll learn how to:
- Improve clay or sandy soils using targeted strategies
- Strengthen root development through balanced soil ecosystems
- Support beneficial microorganisms naturally
- Increase nutrient efficiency while reducing waste
- Create stable, regenerative soil systems
If you've ever wondered why some gardens thrive effortlessly while others struggle despite effort, this book will change how you see your soil.
Who This Book is For
Gardeners ready to move beyond trial and error Organic and regenerative growers Market gardeners improving long-term fertility Readers who value science-backed guidance Anyone seeking healthier plants through healthier soil
Build living soil. Grow stronger plants. Garden with confidence grounded in science.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Robert Pavlis once again proves science is wonderful! Soil Science for Gardeners explains why things work in your garden! Equally important, Pavlis uses science to destroy so many gardening myths. This is a book for all gardeners, especially the curious ones."
― Jeff Lowenfels, author, DIY Autoflowering Cannabis and the Teaming With Trilogy
"Robert Pavlis speaks the language of plants. More to the point, while he understands the science of healthy plant life he knows that none of this knowledge is very useful to the average gardener (nor of much interest) until it is distilled into language that we understand. Voila! Soil Science for Gardeners. This book will help readers understand the language of horticulture as it relates to soil. And good soil health is the foundation of every great garden and every successful garden experience. You will become a more confident gardener and your enjoyment of the gardening experience will be that much deeper. I will place my copy of this book within easy reach for future reference. Its pages will become well-worn from use long before it becomes compost. And in my books, composting a good book after it has served its purpose is a high compliment. From book to earth, from earth to life. From life to book. I predict that your reading experience of this book will enlighten and inform you like no other."
― Mark Cullen, C.M., president, Mark's Choice, co-author, Escape to Reality
"Like many gardeners, I use soil all the time, yet rarely give it much of a thought. But Soil Science for Gardeners takes you behind the scenes to the underground world of soil: what it is, its inhabitants, and how to use soil to really get the gardening results you want. Much of what you thought you knew about soil is simply not true and you'll learn why, plus how to make the soil you garden as healthy as possible. Painless science, practical knowledge. Read it from beginning to end!"
― Larry Hodgson, the Laidback Gardener
"Good gardens start from the ground up. In Soil Science for Gardeners, Robert Pavlis tells what's going on in soils and then offers practical directions to manage soil for more productive and healthier plants."
― Lee Reich, author, The Ever Curious Gardener
"Natural systems are more than the sum of their parts. And yet to understand them we must closely examine these parts. Soil Science for Gardeners takes us on a journey through the microscopic levels of soil geology, chemistry, and biology, and illuminates the soil ecology that sustains all life on land. From this knowledge base it then teaches us strategies and methods to regenerate and sustain life giving soil."
― Darrell E. Frey, author, Bioshelter Market Garden and co- author, The Food Forest Handbook
"Thank goodness for this book! If I had one wish for all gardeners, no matter their experience, I'd wish for them to endeavor to understand the vital role that soil plays in gardening success, and then, I'd have them read this book for the most comprehensive understanding behind it all. As a self-proclaimed soil super-fan, this is the most comprehensive book on the subject I've ever seen. I've been following Robert's work for a long time and I trust his science-based, no-nonsense approach to helping us all debunk gardening myths while making us all smarter gardeners in the process. Robert is one of my trusted, go-to sources when I want to get to the bottom line, and this book does that in spades. Soil Science for Gardeners will teach us everything we want and need to know about the critical role soil plays in the success of our garden and landscape, and more. It's extremely well thought out, comprehensive and a joy to read: practical wisdom for real life application in all our gardening pursuits. Three cheers for Soil Science for Gardeners!"
― Joe Lamp'l, Creator and Host of Emmy Award-winning PBS television series, Growing a Greener World® and Founder, joegardener.com and The joe gardener® Show podcast
Review
"Robert Pavlis once again proves science is wonderful! Soil Science for Gardeners explains why things work in your garden! Equally important, Pavlis uses science to destroy so many gardening myths. This is a book for all gardeners, especially the curious ones."
― Jeff Lowenfels, author, DIY Autoflowering Cannabis and the Teaming With Trilogy
"Robert Pavlis speaks the language of plants. More to the point, while he understands the science of healthy plant life he knows that none of this knowledge is very useful to the average gardener (nor of much interest) until it is distilled into language that we understand. Voila! Soil Science for Gardeners. This book will help readers understand the language of horticulture as it relates to soil. And good soil health is the foundation of every great garden and every successful garden experience. You will become a more confident gardener and your enjoyment of the gardening experience will be that much deeper. I will place my copy of this book within easy reach for future reference. Its pages will become well-worn from use long before it becomes compost. And in my books, composting a good book after it has served its purpose is a high compliment. From book to earth, from earth to life. From life to book. I predict that your reading experience of this book will enlighten and inform you like no other."
― Mark Cullen, C.M., president, Mark's Choice, co-author, Escape to Reality
"Like many gardeners, I use soil all the time, yet rarely give it much of a thought. But Soil Science for Gardeners takes you behind the scenes to the underground world of soil: what it is, its inhabitants, and how to use soil to really get the gardening results you want. Much of what you thought you knew about soil is simply not true and you'll learn why, plus how to make the soil you garden as healthy as possible. Painless science, practical knowledge. Read it from beginning to end!"
― Larry Hodgson, the Laidback Gardener
"Good gardens start from the ground up. In Soil Science for Gardeners, Robert Pavlis tells what's going on in soils and then offers practical directions to manage soil for more productive and healthier plants."
― Lee Reich, author, The Ever Curious Gardener
"Natural systems are more than the sum of their parts. And yet to understand them we must closely examine these parts. Soil Science for Gardeners takes us on a journey through the microscopic levels of soil geology, chemistry, and biology, and illuminates the soil ecology that sustains all life on land. From this knowledge base it then teaches us strategies and methods to regenerate and sustain life giving soil."
― Darrell E. Frey, author, Bioshelter Market Garden and co- author, The Food Forest Handbook
"Thank goodness for this book! If I had one wish for all gardeners, no matter their experience, I'd wish for them to endeavor to understand the vital role that soil plays in gardening success, and then, I'd have them read this book for the most comprehensive understanding behind it all. As a self-proclaimed soil super-fan, this is the most comprehensive book on the subject I've ever seen. I've been following Robert's work for a long time and I trust his science-based, no-nonsense approach to helping us all debunk gardening myths while making us all smarter gardeners in the process. Robert is one of my trusted, go-to sources when I want to get to the bottom line, and this book does that in spades. Soil Science for Gardeners will teach us everything we want and need to know about the critical role soil plays in the success of our garden and landscape, and more. It's extremely well thought out, comprehensive and a joy to read: practical wisdom for real life application in all our gardening pursuits. Three cheers for Soil Science for Gardeners!"
― Joe Lamp'l, Creator and Host of Emmy Award-winning PBS television series, Growing a Greener World® and Founder, joegardener.com and The joe gardener® Show podcast
Book Description
- Co-op available
- Galleys available to sales reps, trade publications, and long-lead media
- Digital galleys on Edelweiss
- National advertising: Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms, Acres U.S.A., Growing for Market
- National print campaign: Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms, Acres U.S.A., Growing for Market, Small Farm Journal, Urban Farm, American Gardener, garden columnists
- Online/social media campaign
- Gardening podcasts
- Gardening groups on Facebook
- Promotion on New Society Publishers social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, our blog, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube
- Eblast to GardenComm (Previously Garden Writers Assn.)
- General eBook marketing plan
- eBook will be available at the same time as print publication to maximize sales
- eBook ISBN will be included on all press materials, author and publisher websites, and whenever print ISBN is listed
- publisher and author will be promoting both e and p through social media
- Excerpts target for first serial rights: Acres U.S.A., Growing for Market, Hobby Farms, Mother Earth News
- Promotion through the author's websites: http://www.GardenMyths.com, http://www.Gardenfundamentals.com
- Bookseller/library promotions: Baker & Taylor super annotation
From the Inside Flap
Build healthy soil and grow better plants
Explains why things work in your garden! Equally important, Pavlis uses science to destroy so many gardening myths.
JEFF LOWENFELS, author, DIY Autoflowering Cannabis and the Teaming With Trilogy
A horticultural path of success and discovery.
MARK CULLEN, C.M., president, Mark's Choice, co-author, Escape to Reality
HEALTHY SOIL MEANS thriving plants. Yet untangling the soil food web and optimizing soil health is beyond most gardeners, many of whom lack an in-depth knowledge of the soil ecosystem.
Soil Science for Gardeners is an accessible, science-based guide to understanding soil fertility and, in particular, the rhizosphere the thin layer of liquid and soil surrounding plant roots, so vital to plant health.
Robert Pavlis, a gardener for over four decades, debunks common soil myths, explores the rhizosphere, and provides a personalized soil fertility improvement program in this three-part popular science guidebook. Coverage includes:
- Soil biology and chemistry and how plants and soil interact
- Common soil health problems, including analyzing soil's fertilityand plant nutrients
- The creation of a personalized plan for improving your soil fertility, including setting priorities and goals in a cost-effective, realistic time frame.
- Creating the optimal conditions for nature to do the heavy lifting of building soil fertility
Written for the home gardener, market gardener, and micro-farmer, Soil Science for Gardeners is packed with information to help you grow thriving plants.
Painless science, practical knowledge. Read it from beginning to end!
LARRY HODGSON, the Laidback Gardener
Tells what's going on in soils and then offers practical directions to manage soil for more productive and healthier plants.
LEE REICH, author, The Ever Curious Gardener
ROBERT PAVLIS is the owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a 6-acre botanical garden that features 3,000 varieties of plants. Specializing in soil science, he has been an instructor for Landscape Ontario and is a garden blogger, writer, and chemist. He resides in Guelph, Ontario. gardenfundamentals.com
To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select New Society Publishers books to its readers. This book is one of them.
From the Back Cover
Build healthy soil and grow better plants
"Explains why things work in your garden! Equally important, Pavlis uses science to destroy so many gardening myths."
― JEFF LOWENFELS, author, DIY Autoflowering Cannabis and the Teaming With Trilogy
"A horticultural path of success and discovery."
― MARK CULLEN, C.M., president, Mark's Choice, co-author, Escape to Reality
HEALTHY SOIL MEANS thriving plants. Yet untangling the soil food web and optimizing soil health is beyond most gardeners, many of whom lack an in-depth knowledge of the soil ecosystem.
Soil Science for Gardeners is an accessible, science-based guide to understanding soil fertility and, in particular, the rhizosphere – the thin layer of liquid and soil surrounding plant roots, so vital to plant health.
Robert Pavlis, a gardener for over four decades, debunks common soil myths, explores the rhizosphere, and provides a personalized soil fertility improvement program in this three-part popular science guidebook. Coverage includes:
- Soil biology and chemistry and how plants and soil interact
- Common soil health problems, including analyzing soil's fertilityand plant nutrients
- The creation of a personalized plan for improving your soil fertility, including setting priorities and goals in a cost-effective, realistic time frame.
- Creating the optimal conditions for nature to do the heavy lifting of building soil fertility
Written for the home gardener, market gardener, and micro-farmer, Soil Science for Gardeners is packed with information to help you grow thriving plants.
"Painless science, practical knowledge. Read it from beginning to end!"
― LARRY HODGSON, the Laidback Gardener
"Tells what's going on in soils and then offers practical directions to manage soil for more productive and healthier plants."
― LEE REICH, author, The Ever Curious Gardener
ROBERT PAVLIS is the owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a 6-acre botanical garden that features 3,000 varieties of plants. Specializing in soil science, he has been an instructor for Landscape Ontario and is a garden blogger, writer, and chemist. He resides in Guelph, Ontario. gardenfundamentals.com
To help bring you the very best inspiration and information about greener, more sustainable lifestyles, Mother Earth News is recommending select New Society Publishers books to its readers. This book is one of them.
About the Author
Robert Pavlis is the owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a 6-acre botanical garden that features 3,000 varieties of plants. Specializing in soil science, he has been an instructor for Landscape Ontario and is a garden blogger, writer, and chemist. He resides in Guelph, Ontario.
