Welcome to Garden Myths – We are the Garden Myth Busters!
Our Goal: to provide correct gardening information and make you a better gardener.
Our Process: We research topics and examine scientific studies to bust gardening myths. Then we provide FREE blog posts.
Our Experience:
The author of most posts, Robert Pavlis, has 50 years of gardening experience, is an award winning author of 11 gardening books, holds an M.Sc. in chemistry and biochemistry, teaches numerous gardening courses and has written articles for many popular magazines such as Mother Earth News.
Robert has just won the Independent Publisher Book Award for Science with his book, Plant Science for Gardeners.
Our Guarantee:
- The information on this site is more accurate than most other gardening sites. If you find an error and let us know in the comments, we’ll correct it immediately.
- None of the information is created by AI – we prefer real people.
- All of the information is science based.
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I have some large rose geraniums, thyme, rosemary, Boston ferns that I want to overwinter. Of these the rose geraniums are the most important to me. Last year I used a plant light T5 fluorescent tubes. These no longer work. I was wondering what kind of is needed to keep these plants alive through the winter.
Another question: can lemon balm thrive as a houseplant? Does a sunny south west window offer enough light?
Thanks, Rhea
I’m not Robert, just a reader.
I’ve used regular cool white and warm white fluorescent tubes (half of each) with shop lights. Originally T12 (1.2 inches diameter) then T8 (.8 inches) when the T12 were no longer available. Had to buy new shop lights for the new tubes. Stocked up on them, as these are getting hard to get, and I don’t want to buy the very expensive LED ones.
Will be supplementing these with LED bulbs from the dollar ($1.50 US) store.
Both LED and fluorescent are cool, so I get them as close to the plants as practical.
They provide enough light for my geraniums to flower, but not my Lantana.
My goal is to keep the plants alive so I’ve gone with the cheap solution.
Robert has a whole post (or two) on plant lights.
Hi Robert, I love following your advice on YouTube.
Can you please help bust the following myths on how to maintain the soil quality of my 70 year old olive tree which is in its final pot size and too large to repot.
Replace the top few inches of soil twice a year, fertilise monthly and everything will be ok.
Using compost dissolved in water will maintain the soil quality throughout the year.
Using worm cast fertiliser will improve the soil quality.
Using an extra long bit to drill down in to the soil will aerate it and encourage new root growth.
Finally, what would be your top tips to maintain the soil quality to keep my olive tree healthy for decades to come?
A very interesting question. I have posted it here on our Facebook Group to get input from everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GardenFundamentals/posts/2283613378775745/?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZUvfOJbv3HJ8hcM8dnXCAvlbp2Mhk5RfvOZGI9h7guflNqBxXGU1Pjha3-Mje5BfeDaewGIQmdKQhgRL38mPUUtCEXVDXKeEFJNuC8pBEcvqnd4tPUZaX9ETgUvXkqf6iuy52tztTLQ6BKKaOmVrhv5&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
Hi Robert,
I’ve been following you for a few years and I have purchased a couple of your books. I really appreciate your matter- of- fact scientific approach.
I am wondering if you can offer any help with how to treat juniper pear rust?
I planted 2 little pear trees two years ago and both have been infected. I think the co-host of the fungus is the juniper bushes in my neighbours yard.
My poor little trees’ leaves were covered with bright orange gall-like structures that I assume contained the spores.
I have grown pears in a previous location (in another city) and have not encountered this is disease until now.
Is there any hope?
Thank you for any advice you can offer.
Sorry, I don’t have any experience with this issue.
I really enjoy your website and YouTube videos—they provide a lot of information that feels well-researched and trustworthy. (Of course, you could always be wrong, but I appreciate that you clearly explain your reasoning.)
I was thrilled to hear you on Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.
I’ve read conflicting advice about composting grass clippings. Some sources say not to use them if they’ve been sprayed, but others claim that herbicides for residential lawns must break down within days, making them safe for compost.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
1) It would be rare for any chemical to break down that fast. But that does not mean herbicide on or in a grass clipping will harm another plant. Each chemical needs to be examined separate from all the others.
2) What if the herbicide does not break down during composting? What happens. You lay the compost on as a mulch – it does not touch plant leaves, so it is unlikely to cause a problem. Or you bury it, and again the chances of causing a problem is very low. In all cases the dose is what is important. how much of the herbicide is left after composting? For home use herbicides – I would not worry about it.
Do you wash the coconut chips before planting orchids in it?
I don’t, but I know my source. Most material is now washed and is fine to use.
Thank you for your science based facts. We started gardening 40 years ago on 5 acres of abused farm land. We were young and naive in most things gardening. We spent many years and many $$ trying to get anything that would help to improve our terrible soil. We have 6″ -10″ of dead stripped used up over fertilized and pesticided soil with 18″-24″ clay on a limestone base.We have 2 compost piles going 365 days for 40 years.We use cover crops and let natives do their thing while keeping out most invasive. We almost have decent soil but still look for ways to improve. I watched a video you ran on microbes and their importance for soil. As I understood, any plant growing in soil attracts and creates its own microbial environment that enriches the soil for all plants in that environment. I used compost and mowed straw for a mulch in the vegetable garden and let most of the weeds grow thinking they are helping the veg. My wife was not happy with the appearance and refuses to believe the science that I interpreted. Did I misunderstand? I did notice in an older video you talked about keeping weeds out of garden. Can you please help ?
“As I understood, any plant growing in soil attracts and creates its own microbial environment that enriches the soil for all plants in that environment. ” – true.
Weeds improve soil
https://youtu.be/SY-di0xmeh4&list=PLq7hmpP9i05RsUgPmGDqGTdbWZrVZbfd-
Just discovered you, thank you so much for everything you do! The video was awesome! Liked and subscribed.
Thank you for your presentation at the IMGC. It was enlightening and yes I bought one of your books. It will arrive Tuesday. Can’t wait. I know there were a number of people concerned about your credentials because you were literally shaking MGs beliefs. However, we should be the first people to recognize research-based information. Recently Homegrown National Parks announced the “miracle” mosquito buckets that are supposed to reduce mosquitos. A member of my MG Association sent directions to me stating we should get 100 buckets and host make-and-takes. I asked, are these buckets based on research-based information? She didn’t know. We asked PJ Liesch from UW Madison (entomology department) and he said…it works but it won’t make a dent in the amount of mosquitoes that visit a backyard. He said turn on a fan and blow the mosquitos away is much easier and gets them away from where we are. Joe Lamp’l again promoted the buckets today in his talk. As well, he promoted it on his show and anywhere he can. I left a message in your chat explaining they don’t make a dent in the mosquito population. Is this something you could research? My feeling is, Joe and others trust HNP – so anything HNP says must be true. Thanks for digging deeper!!
The key to many of these discussions is to frame and understand the question.
Does the mosquito bucket work? Yes it works.
But since we have not defined the word “works”, the answer means nothing.
If we define “works” as does it allow mosquitoes to lay eggs? Then yes it works.
If we define ‘works” as will a mosquito larvae layed in the bucket dire? Then it works.
But who cares?
The real definition of works is, does it reduce the local population enough so we notice it? The answer to that is probably no, as confirmed by your expert.
It is something that is a bit difficult to research. I doubt anyone has studied this, because it fairly obvious it does not work well enough to bother with it. Without any research, it would be hard for me to research it.
I could contact all the people who promote it, and ask for their research evidence, but I would just find crickets. Even if I ask them to define “works”, as in how many mosquitoes does it kill each week and how does that compare to the local population – I would get blank stares.
If you really believe this makes a difference, just take any old pot, and fill it with water and dunks. that will work just as well.
This is the kind of nonsense we have to refuse to accept. This is from one blog promoting the idea: “It’s been about five weeks since I set up my mosquito ‘bucket of doom’, and I’d say about two-ish weeks ago I felt like there was a noticeable difference in the backyard. It wasn’t immediate, but I’m glad I stuck with it.”
How scientific is that? no numbers. no data. no facts. etc.
Two ideas for your MG group:
1) Get each member to contact 2 people on the internet who promote the idea and ask for their proof. Record the data and review it as a group. If you would like my input at a meeting, I’d do that for free.
2) Have me do a talk/training session on the scientific method. I can use the above idea as an example. I don’t have such a talk but would be willing to make one. MGs need to know this.
THANKS!!
I had questions on the companion planting. Two years ago at IMGC, Jessica Walliser spoke of her book on companion planting. She says scientific studies don’t use the same language and that is why the data is hard to find. Using different language she said she found considerable data. Most of the mutual benefits are very limited but do exist. Walliser has hort degree from Penn State. Here is her book:
https://www.amazon.com/Plant-Partners-Science-Based-Companion-Strategies/dp/1635861330/ref=asc_df_1635861330?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80058282096663&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=103122&hvtargid=pla-4583657830056125&psc=1
I reviewed her book, and looked at her references. She does not have references for the claims I reviewed in her book. When I asked her about this, she had no response.
She uses very general insect studies, and extrapolates them as proof that companion planting works.
Here is my review of her book: https://www.gardenmyths.com/plant-partners-book-review/
If you find a companion planting combination that actually works – let me know. I will write it up.
https://www.gardenmyths.com/?s=companion+planting
I wish I could download your free book on growing great tomatoes, but no matter how many times I click on the link, nothing happens! :((
I was able to download the book.