Arborist and wearer of many hats in the field of horticulture—including Extension Urban Horticulturist and Associate Professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at WSU—Linda Chalker-Scott discusses the new, updated edition of The Informed Gardener, which won the Best Book Prize from the Garden Writers Association.

Chalker’s work serves to remind us that urban and suburban landscapes are ecosystems requiring their own particular set of management practices. Her advice, based on more than twenty years of experience in the field of plant physiology, has helped home gardeners, landscape architects, and nursery and landscape professionals to develop scientifically based sustainable landscaping practices.

“Linda Chalker-Scott is a scientist with a mission —–evidence-based gardening. Happily, she is also the most interesting, entertaining, knowledgeable, and useful garden writer I've come across. Home gardeners will learn practices that are more effective, safer, and—believe me, this is no small thing -- cheaper." -Constance Casey, former New York City Parks Department gardener and regular gardening and natural history contributor to Slate.com.

Chalker-Scott also the editor and co-author of Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens, the Washington State editor of MasterGardener magazine, and author of the online column "Horticultural Myths."