May (book 2): 14 May 19 It’s a continuation of evidence= base garden information from the informed gardener.
We need to have sustainability to help control environmental neutrality. We also need to help restore vacant gardens. Practices are supported by scientific study.
Myth; Garden practices used long ago are even more relevant today
heavy chemical pest management. spray and pray!
questions:
1. does it make sense
2. is it usable? work, or make sense??
could use mechanical stress
beating trees ????
need to evaluate
posted May 2005
Myth: Certain species will thrive, lean on, nestle with, and support each other in groupings
putting human relations to plants
plant not being mobile must make changes to grow or may hurt other plants
companion plant is to ague to be useful
posted July 2005
Myth: Biodynamics is a scientifically sound approach to sustainable management of plant systems.
it’s a series of lectures
has more recognition in Europe
can find procedures listed on web (page 18)
organic methodology was added to biodynamics
posted September 2004
What’s wrong with my plant?
1. Does a problem exist?
2. Does it meet plants environmental needs
3. Make a list of everything that’s been done in the area of your plant
4. look for damage patterns
5. look for spread of damage over time
6. use other resources to confirm your diagnosis
Myth: Fertilizers sprayed on the leaves of trees and shrubs are more effective than those applied to the soil
Studies say it’s good for max growth
reality: study in 1950, leaves are good for absorption. Could cause chemical interaction. Could lead to leaf burn
only use micronutrient for foliar spray
only temp solution
posted: March 20o5
Myth: Unless you’re a poinsettia, increased light can’t hurt
high intensity will lead to delaying the leaf senescence
lights can delay winter dormancy
posted February 2004.
Myth: If a plant develops red leaves, it means it’s phosphorus deficient
red is from water-soluable pigments
normal red leaves, even at maturity
salt stress
toxicity
could be wounded, or from pathogen
no reason why leaves turn red
page 42 gives many examples of leaf reddening
Myth: Unless it causes visible damage, touching or brushing has little effects on plant
plant respond to touch
since plants a immobile
could lead to shorter leaves
could be shorter and more thicker
page 48
posted August 2005
Myth: Landscape trees need to be headed back in the nursery to develop proper branching
topping trees have multiple trunks
tree topping can not be approved scientifically
posted February 2005
Don’t trust nursery tags!!
posted November 2004
Myth: Leaf milting shows the need for more water
it’s all about soil with shortage of oxygen which lowers the amount of water the roots can take in.
some times for plants in container
posted April 2003
myth: decrease fall irrigation to force landscape plant into winter dormancy
don’t stop watering plants
light to dark ratio
could cause drought stress
fine roots might die
don’t overwater at this time
posted February 2003
Weeds adapt to your garden. The Dandies adapt size to the mower
Myth: Arbor day/earth day is an ideal time to install trees
for all volunteers to work together
planting is based on the last frozen day i.e. for root growth
use arbore day to keep landscape maintained…not to plant
posted October 2001
myth: a bleached solution is the best disinfecting pruning wounds and tools.
do not use chlorine bleach for disincentive bleach (page 78)
use alcohol dips (ethanol)
or copper compounds
Household cleaners
NA3P04
posted January 2005
Watch out for pressure treated lumbers4
CCA is hazardous to both humans and animals
some veggies suck up some chemicals in their roots
don’t use pressure treated lumber in vegetable gardens
posted June 2005
myth: Low-oxygen root zones can be aerated by installing vertical aeration tubes.
for street trees
3 to 4 inch plastic pipes
good for container trees
studies show this is not effective (to deliver oxygen)
no scientific evidence to increase oxygen concentration
posted October 2003
myth: vibration from traffic causes soil compaction in adjacent landscape
rain drops and animal traffic
sandy soil is pours and will settle the most to vibration. Dry soils are less likely to compact than wet ones. Compaction results will dissipate over depth.
no evidence that vibration will compact soil.
posted April 2006
myth: use of drought-tolerant plants reduce residential water consumption
xerophytes store water (for droughts)
means home owners had to increase watering
need to establish a good root system
posted:
July 2003
How to avoid phosphate overloads in your landscape soils:
look at the n-p-k level. look to having a p=0
myth: add Epson salt
better for seed germination
could be used in growing some fruit
To much Epson salt leaves a high quantity of magnesium.
need magnesium
on page 114 it gives direction if Epson salts to apply
its not for ornamental landscape
no need to add any extra salt (even for tomato’s)
posted April 2007
myth: Adding gypsum to your yard or garden will improve soil tilth and plant health
changing particle size (calcium sulfate)
it’s for clay soil
gypsum effects are short lived
good on heavy clay
adding is a waste of money
posted: January 2004
Can use peat moss to hold water
peatlands is suffering from climate change (page 125)
posted July 2006
myth: super-absorbent water crystals will reduce your work and help keep your plants healthy
Use of polyacrylamide (PAM) the use of synthetic polymers (soil stabilizer etc)
they form a gel and release water as they dry
results for use could be only 18 months
access to polyacrylamide gels are dangerous to humans and other organisms
posted October 2007
myth: amending your soil with organic matter will improve water quality in streams
to much organic material warns of pollution
cause surface water pollution
add organic matter as a mulch
posted December 2004
Fungicides kill good things too!
Use woodchip as mulch
don’t use black walnut woodchips in mulch
posted June 2003
myth: Wood-chip mulches tie up soil nitrogen and causes deficiencies in plants
wood-chips do not bind up nitrogen
woody mulches conserve water
wood chips do not deplete soil nitrogen
wood chip mulches decrease weed seed
posted July 2007
myth: Wood chips made from diseased trees will spread pathogenic fungi and bacteria
disease transmission to a health plant is remote
Age chips before using
Posted December 2002
myth: recycled rubber mulch is an environmentally friendly, nontoxic choice for landscape
rubber mulch was less effective in controlling weeds in perennial plots than were wood chips
it could ignite
touted and permanent ground cover
do car ties have leachate?
rubber has to much zinc
do not use rubber for landscaping, and flammable
posted September 2005 (58%)
myth: Un-composted yard waste mulch is harmful to plant life and negatively impacts water quality
Yard waste is not rich in nitrogen
plants treated with pesticides should not be used in compost
clean yard waste is a natural mulch
posted May 2003
Buying ladybugs for your garden is a bad idea
can spread parasites and disease over the entire country.
myth: Aerobically brewed compost tea (ACT) suppresses disease
ACT was found ineffective for disease control
can demonstrated to have e coli.
posted October 2005
myth: Seaweed extracts reduce disease, improve production, and increase stress resistance in landscape plants
they are antioxidants
good for turf health;=
fewer documentation on foliar growth
seaweed extracts are aggressively marketed
though, can stimulate root growth
posted November 2005
myth: Success in the lab guarantees success in the field
reducing fertilizer and pesticides
concerns are for environmental safety
Harpin is a protein all about cell culture responses
Harpin is not recommended
posted April 2005
myth: milk sprayed onto rose leaves will prevent fungal and bacterial disease.
could be good for black-spot
reduce leaf viruses
milk fat can produce an order
no scientific evidence
posted June 2006
myth: Corn meal gluten is an effective organic herbicide
posted Jun
From MG Buds:
This book was a refutation of the last book we read, Trowel and Error, scientifically negating many of its suggestions.
While there were some interesting items presented in the book, for the most part I found it rather pedantic, making much ado about very little. It was a rather dry read. I also found that the author sometimes refuted garden lore even though she had no scientific basis to do so. The book gets a 3 🙂 score.
MG Buds book club 