Last week, we busted five plant care myths. This week, we’re going to bust a few outdoor gardening myths.
Outdoor Gardening Myths
- Adding sand to heavy clay soil will lighten it up. WRONG. Sand adds bigger particles of matter to clay’s smaller particles. The smaller particles of clay can settle between the larger particles of sand, creating a horrible, almost concrete-like texture. The best way to deal with clay soil is to top dress it with 3 or 4 inches of organic matter and work it into the soil. You can then plant the area with a cover crop, such as crimson clover or alfalfa. I like clover because the growing roots will also aid in loosening the soil.
- Eggshells are good for your garden. Maybe, in about 10 to 15 years, when they have decomposed to a usable form. Same for banana peels. Put them in your compost pile and let them break down first; however, in your regular garden, they take way too long.
- You need both male and female flowers for a plant to set fruit. YES and NO. Some plants are self-pollinating (e.g., tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, carrots, beets, radishes), but others require both male and female flowers (e.g., cucumbers, squash, melons, pumpkins).
- To make a plant grow faster, feed it more. The same rules apply to outdoor plants as indoor plants. NEVER feed a plant more than the label on the fertilizer says. Too much fertilizer can actually kill plant roots.
- A lot of acorns mean a bad winter. Acorn production varies from year to year based on the variety of oaks and if the growing weather during the summer was to their liking.
- An organic pesticide won’t kill beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Truth? Yes, they can. There are some popular non-toxic ingredients that are commonly found in pesticides include Bacillus Thungerianus (Bt), kaolin clay, corn gluten and garlic. If one of these is the key ingredient for a pesticide, it’s probably safe. You can also try companion planting. The spicy fragrance of marigolds can repel some insects—not bees, though, as well as the scent of herbs.
- Epsom salts make a good fertilizer. Well, yes and no. Epsom salts can make a decent fertilizer IF your plants happen to be deficient in Magnesium. If they’re not deficient, however, you’re wasting your time and energy.
- Braid or remove bulb foliage when they finish blooming. If you want your bulbs to bloom again next spring, DO NOT disturb bulb foliage until it dies back on its own. The green foliage is performing photosynthesis and feeding the bulb for next year’s blooms. Remove it too soon and the bulb may not bloom next year.
- Water every day during the summer. WRONG. Always water when a plant NEEDS it. When you do water, water deeply so the roots at the bottom also get it.
- Sprinklers are great. Actually, not really. We have high humidity during the summer and LOTS of our flowers and veggies are prone to powdery mildew. Constantly getting the foliage wet can lead to powdery mildew or make it worse. Soaker hoses, on the other hand, get the water where you want it—on the roots, NOT on the foliage.
This one is NOT an outdoor gardening myth. Enjoy your yard!