Interesting

Companion planting promotes the idea that certain plants help other plants grow better. I purchased this book for information about companion planting, but it is much more. It includes the care and planting of plants and plant recommendations for many useful things including fly prevention. She discusses all kinds of plants that work well together. It is easy to read, but not particularly easy to use since it is written in paragraph form. Perhaps charts or groups would have been easier to read. I purchased the Kindle edition, but I believe it would have been easier to use in a print edition because I did quite a bit of ‘flipping back and forth.’ ( )

“The Complete Guide to Companion Planting” by Dale Mayer is a book that shows the reader how to get the best out of their garden. As the author states in the introduction, “companion planting is best described as the practice of planting two or more plants together to enhance the growth and quality of nearby plants; to provide maximum ground cover; and, when possible, to improve the soil.” If this was the information you were looking for, then this is the book for you!

Ms. Mayer gives examples in the first chapter about companion planting pairs and defines what such terms as perennials and flowering shrubs mean. She also discusses full-sun gardens, shade gardens, container gardens, window-box gardens, small corner (mini) gardens, raised bed gardens, and border gardens and gives the pros and cons of each in easy-to-read tables. She covers the good and bad bugs that usually come with gardens as well as birds, bats, frogs and toads.

Then onto the actual plants themselves. Starting with Chapter 6, Ms. Mayer goes into detail about companion herbs (with pictures!), vegetables, annuals, perennials, fruits and more. She definitely shows that she knows what she is talking about with her descriptions and her suggestions about what to plant with what (i.e. Dutchman’s Pipe Vine is a good companion for plants requiring dense shade and the flowers will attract birds and butterflies, in particular the swallowtail butterfly).

This is definitely a good book to have on hand when planning and executing any type of garden! ( )

Many years ago when I grew all of our own vegetables I used companion planting. I got away from having a garden but feel it is time again to embark on sustainability. I have forgotten much of how to companion plant so this book certainly gave me a flashback and brought into light much of what I have forgotten.
Although it takes time upfront to plan out the garden plot or the container assembling it is worthwhile. You will find that your plants will flourish but even more so the need for insecticides or pesticides will be nonexistent. In fact, with companion planting many good and necessary insects and garden creatures will be attracted.
One of my favorite herbs is dill. Not only is it easy to grow it is a good planting companion to cabbage and lettuce by "improving the plants' health and growth, and does well beside onions, sweet corn, and cucumbers." On the other hand dill shouldn't be planted by carrots because it will diminish the yield. As well, putting dill beside tomatoes will attract tomato horn worms. Dill repels aphids and spider mites but attracts butterflies, bees, and predatory wasps.
Information about companions is of utmost importance to anyone that is planning on gardening or is in the midst but having issues with low yield and pests. Learning the tools in this book beforehand will being you much satisfaction in harvesting and consuming your own fruits and vegetables. I encourage you to invest in this book - you will not regret it. ( )

Are you interested in becoming a gardener? The Complete Guide to Companion Planting gives you a basic understanding of what vegetables and flowers to use.

You’ll be informed by the history of companion planting, and where to place your garden. You’ll learn the biological benefits of combing plants, how to pick out your plants, where to plant, and ways to feed your garden. There are chapters on companion herbs, annuals for your garden, companion perennials, wildflowers and weeds, bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes, shrubs, bushes, and vines, and companion fruits.

With organic vegetables becoming popular, and the prices of vegetables going up in the grocery stores, it is no wonder why gardening is becoming a popular hobby. My favorite chapter 3 is my favorite. It lists the insects and bugs that you do and do not want in your garden. Author Dale Mayer has written a wonderful guide to new and advanced gardeners.

*I would like to thank Atlantic Publishing Group for sending me a copy to review. ( )

Do you have a green thumb? Or is it more of a black thumb of death? If you just can’t get your garden to grow, author Dale Mayer says it may not be you at all. In her book, “The Complete Guide to Companion Planting”, she explains how the specific pairing of certain plants can have either a positive synergistic effect or a disastrous one, depending on what plants you try and grow together in the same space. And the results of two compatible plants can be truly amazing!

Mayer begins her book with a conceptual explanation of companion planting, along with some history and biological benefits to this type of gardening. She tackles such subjects as good and bad critters, garden maintenance, and fertilizing. She also explains how easy it is to start a garden, whether you have a large space in which to grow or only a fence line or patio. The remainder of the book focuses on a myriad of herbs, vegetables, annuals, perennials, wildflowers and weeds, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, shrubs, bushes, vines, and fruits. With each of these items, she lists what plants would make good companion matches as well as those plants that won’t. These pairings can be based on one plant’s ability to enrich the soil for the other or on one plant root’s shallow depth with another’s deep reach to conserve valuable space. Either way, the results can range from a higher yield to tastier produce, even less space needed, and much more.

Mayer makes it incredibly easy for her readers to simply go to the short paragraph which contains their plant of interest and quickly find what they are looking for without having to labor over long, drawn out passages. This makes the book perfect for not only the beginning gardener, looking to get started without being overwhelmed, but also the experienced one, needing a good reference book and perhaps some fresh, new ideas. Mayer’s style flows with a laid back and easy feel, making her information and advice fun to learn. Straightforward and simple, anyone can learn to successfully raise a garden with “The Complete Guide to Companion Planting”.

Reviewed by Vicki Landes, author of “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” ( )