So okay , let ’s do just that – by examining the content of their articles and result by the particulars of anyone ’s resume . From what I can narrate , the critique of About.com ’s horticulture advice marrow on the writing of their “ Landscaping Guide,”David Beaulieu , whose advice Iranted about back in 2007.My charge then was that he frequently recommends the writing of “ America ’s Master Gardener ” Jerry Baker , known for his kinsfolk remedy that have been rebunked byall acknowledge science.(I also name then that his post credentials refer only to byplay piece of writing and work as a World Wide Web developer , with no visible expertness in landscape gardening . In the intervening years he seems to have gain some landscape gardening experience , as mull by his current online resume . )
But please note that the name of my 2007 post was “ About.com gets it Half correct ” because I had ( and have ) high-pitched praise for their “ Gardening Guide”,Marie Iannotti . And I laterpraised About.com for hire Colleen Vanderlindenas their “ Organic Gardening Guide . ”
It’s Pro-Big-Box
One other quotation is : “ You ’ll find such products at local home melioration stores , such as Lowe ’s and Home Depot . ”
It’s Pro-Scotts, not so much Pro-Environment
The core of the article begins thus : “ Scotts suggest a four - part agenda for fertilizing lawns ” then go along to let in all of Scotts ’ directives for lawn fertilization , likely direct from the Scotts merchandising material . But he does n’t block with just fertilise . “ Fertilizing lawns goes mitt in hand with sens controller , ” and “ The herbicide component crusade everything from basis ivy to purslane to white clover . ” There ’s that famous demonization of clover that Scotts has been so successful at for the last half - one C or so , the one that the Lawn Reform types are trying to battle with accurate information about the benefit of clover in lawns .
And one weird thing about the clause is that it part off by promoting slow - waiver fertiliser ( before recommending all those gradation ) , yet plugs products that are n’t . I ’m look up toScotts Turf Builder with Halts Crabgrass Preventer , which we have to presume is synthetic or presumptively their website would have say so , right-hand ? really the Scotts website does n’t recite us what ’s IN the stuff at all , although the product ’s bag boasts that it “ feed and green for fast green - up after wintertime . ” Fast , not slow .
Notice it ’s also byDavid Beaulieu . Probably not a coincidence .
In Their Defense
Despite these flaws in their landscaping advice , About.com is decidedly a cut above the typical content grinder , an example of which was offered by another garden core owner who circulated the link toa truly garbage subject matter - mill article , “ Green Yard Care Tips” . The very first prison term really galled the garden center possessor who advert it :
One province of being a householder is keeping a clear , well - manicured yard .
The source of that little diddy distinguish us this about herself in her “ by - line ” , which in its entirety says :
So yeah , much of the advice on About.com is far effective than that , but there ’s band on the subject of horticulture to find faulting with . Still . From a internet site own by theNew York Times , is it too much to expect advice that ’s environmentally responsible ?
