Dr. Judyth McLeod

Once again, Robert Kourik has done it! His latest book, Greater Garden Yields With Drip Irrigation, is the perfect blend of down to earth practical advice and interesting scientifically accurate information. Many current horticultural writers simply rehash old material, write from dry scientific perspectives, or are high on blissful visions but low on grit beneath the fingernails. Whereas, Robert has a very firm grip on the latest horticultural science combined with years of practical experience as a highly respected professional environmental landscaper. He knows how to turn visions of a personal Eden into reality.

This book, Greater Garden Yields With Drip Irrigation, follows a long successful series by Robert Kourik, including the ground-breaking Maintaining Your Edible Landscape - Naturally and his recent Roots Demystified. As a much-published author, his books have a clear personal style.

Knowing how to use drip is a must in a world of climate change, with extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent. Robert guides you through every aspect of drought proofing your plants with drip irrigation, from creating the best possible soil to all the practicalities of optimising drip irrigation. These techniques are not just for drought periods. Pests have long been demonstrated to attack plants that are nutritionally impaired or water stressed. In addition, plants under water stress will close their stomates (pores in the surface tissue of leaves that allow gaseous exchanges), which then temporarily close down the process of photosynthesis. With Robert’s clear guidance, your plants will grow stronger, healthier and more resistant to pest attack. All you will need to know about drip irrigation is contained in this one book.

Dr. Judyth McLeod has been the head of landscaping in a leading Australian university for thirty years and owns a national award winning plant nursery in the Blue Mountains, just north west of Sydney. She has been a horticultural consultant editor for Readers Digest Books Australia (six books including Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables, and Kitchen Garden Cookbook), and for New Holland Books, was a major co-writer for  several books  on organic gardening and on herbs such as Herb and Vegetable Gardening (Murdoch Books), Organic At Home (Murdoch Books) and The Complete Book Of Herbs (Readers Digest Books, Australia), and has been the sole author of eighteen books including In A Unicorn’s Garden (on medieval gardens, Murdoch Books), Botanica’s Organic Gardening (Weldon), Heritage Gardening (heirloom plants, Simon and Schuster), and’ Lavender Sweet Lavender (Simon and Schuster). She has been a horticultural consultant editor for New Holland Books and Readers Digest Books, Australia, with six books that include Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables and Kitchen Garden Cookbook. In addition, she was a co-writer for several books on organic gardening and herbs, such as Herb and Vegetable Gardening (Murdoch Books), Organic At Home (Murdoch Books) and The Complete Book Of Herbs (Readers Digest Books, Australia). Finally, Dr. McLeod has been the sole author of eighteen books, including In A Unicorn’s Garden (on medieval gardens, Murdoch Books), Botanica’s Organic Gardening (Weldon), Heritage Gardening (heirloom plants, Simon and Schuster) and Lavender Sweet Lavender (Simon and Schuster).

Brett Graf

Owner of Habitat Gardens in Santa Cruz, CA
www.habitat-gardens.com

Robert Kourik’s ebook, “Greater Garden Yields With Drip Irrigation,” provides strong evidence that drip irrigation is not just for low-water landscapes. It contains information from numerous studies that show that using proper drip irrigation strategies can improve the health and production of garden plants and the soil they live in. 

He covers important topics like soil health and structure, how different methods of irrigation influence root growth, choosing the right emitters for the job, effective use of in-line emitter tubing, watering schedules and much more. Kourik does a great job explaining how the right combination of these elements will produce the healthiest plants and the best harvest.

This is great reading material for anyone who is skeptical about using drip irrigation, or wants to learn basic to advanced drip irrigation strategies. Kourik explains how it works, and this ebook will help build your confidence in the design and installation of drip irrigation. He tops it all off with some specific plant knowledge and great recipes for meals and snacks using low-water garden plants - like fruits, veggies, and herbs.

Brett Graf is the owner of Habitat Gardens in Santa Cruz, CA, offering ecological, sustainable, and innovate approaches to landscape and garden services. Brett is a certified as a Permaculture Design Consultant, Western Herbalist, and Landscape Horticulturist. Committed to social justice and a healthy environment, Brett is involved with many local and national conservation groups. He may be reached at via his website.