Plant Science for Gardeners

Essentials for Growing Better Plants

Robert Pavlis author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:New Society Publishers

Published:21st Jul '22

Should be back in stock very soon

Plant Science for Gardeners cover

A little plant science grows a long way

Plant Science for Gardeners is the key to growing better plants. This easy introduction to plant biology and chemistry gives you the knowledge and confidence to analyze problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden to optimize plant health and productivity. Learn the science and ditch the rules!

Stop guessing what your plants need. Learn how they actually grow.

When you understand how plants function — from photosynthesis to root absorption — you make smarter decisions in every season. Plant Science for Gardeners connects plant biology directly to practical gardening success.

Instead of memorizing tips, you'll understand the systems that drive healthy growth.

What You'll Gain

  • How photosynthesis and respiration fuel plant development
  • How roots absorb and distribute nutrients efficiently
  • What triggers flowering and fruit production
  • How plants respond to stress from heat, drought, or pests
  • Why pruning and fertilizing strategies succeed or fail

Rather than abstract theory, this guide gives you the biological foundation behind everyday gardening decisions.

Practical Applications

  • Improve flowering and fruit yield
  • Adjust watering based on plant physiology
  • Strengthen root systems for resilience
  • Reduce plant stress through informed care
  • Make evidence-based pruning decisions

If you're looking for practical ways to grow healthier plants without relying on trends, this book provides clarity rooted in modern botany.

Who This Book Is For

  • Gardeners who want deeper understanding
  • Growers seeking consistent yields
  • Market gardeners refining crop performance
  • Readers frustrated by conflicting advice
  • Anyone ready to connect biology with better growing

Grow with understanding. Cultivate with confidence.

"Robert Pavlis hit the nail on the head: know the science and you can grow anything. Plant Science for Gardeners, Pavlis' latest, is a sure (and enjoyable) way to learn that science. Mind you, Pavlis is not just a gardener who knows his science, he is a great science writer who does a fabulous job of making science fun. I am quite sure you are one read away from being a much better gardener."
Jeff Lowenfels, author, DIY Autoflowering Cannabis and Teaming with Microbes

"A work of genuine importance by an author for whom the phrase "received wisdom" is a contradiction in terms. You will never take horticultural lore at face value again."
James Armitage, editor, The Plant Review, magazine of the Royal Horticultural Society

"Knowing just how plants work is an interesting and useful way to ratchet up your gardening game and Robert Pavlis has provided that story in his engaging new book Plant Science for Gardeners. Read it and your garden will blossom, literally and figuratively."
Lee Reich, author, Growing Figs in Cold Climates and The Ever Curious Gardener

"Robert Pavlis has provided another detailed, yet accessible, addition to gardeners' home libraries. Be sure to give Plant Science for Gardeners an honored place on your bookshelves, next to Mr. Pavlis' groundbreaking Garden Myths series."
Rebecca Martin, technical editor, Mother Earth News magazine

"Plant Science for Gardeners is at once easy to read and comprehensive in presentation. Robert Pavlis has updated and made accessible information that in the past I have gleaned here and there from old textbooks and the odd gardening book. It's a great reference and a fascinating read. This book will be the next gift I buy for my budding botanist granddaughter!"
Darrell Frey, author, The Bioshelter Market Garden, co-author, The Food Forest Handbook

"Whether you grow plants for fun or for profit, Plant Science for Gardeners does a great job of explaining how plants work without overcomplicating it. This is an excellent book not only for the basics, but also to explain some of the lesser known aspects of plants. Whether you've taken plant biology and physiology or not, it is a good read for anyone who's interested in plants, and to keep on the shelf as a reference for when you forget the difference between a node and internode. Get this book to understand what to do to keep your plants healthy and why."
Andrew Mefferd, editor and publisher, Growing for Market magazine, author, The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution

  • Runner-up for IPPY Awards 2023 (United States)

ISBN: 9780865719736

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 13mm

Weight: 354g

224 pages