Robert Pavlis

Is Compostable Plastic Really Compostable?

Everyone wants to be green, and now you see a lot of compostable plastic on the market. Is compostable plastic really compostable? Can I add it to my compost bin? How long does it take to decompose? These are all good questions that gardeners should be able to answer.

My Master Gardener group had a year-end party, and one member brought some compostable plastic drinking glasses. As I was collecting them at the end of the evening, I started to wonder how well they decomposed. I had previously looked into compostable tea bags and was surprised by what I learned. Are these drinking glasses just some more greenwashing?

In this post, I’ll discuss compostable plastic, compare that to biodegradable plastic, and explain the role of all of these in the garden.

Is Compostable Plastic Really Compostable?, image by aaron.bihari

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The Truth About Roundup and Glyphosate – That Every Gardener Should Know

Several years ago I was going to write a post about Roundup and glyphosate, its active ingredient, but decided against it because several very good science-based reports were produced by others. Unfortunately, those reviews were not directed towards gardeners and based on frequent discussions on social media, the message is still not getting through to the gardening community.

My goal in this post is not to do my usual deep dive into Roundup, but instead I want to give readers a summary overview of the facts along with references containing more details. I hope that putting all of the information in one spot will make it a useful tool for discussions in gardening social media groups.

The Truth About Roundup and Glyphosate That Every Gardener Should Know. photo by Mike Mozart

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27 Composting Myths That Will Save You Time and Money

Composting is an integral part of gardening that has been carried on for generations. That has led to a lot of composting myths. What can you add? What can’t you add? Is it difficult? Do you have to follow specific methods to make it work?

In this post I will answer all of those questions and more, by looking at 27 common composting myths.

Composting Myths That Will Save You Time and Money

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10 Easy Soil Testing Methods For Measuring Soil Health

Have you ever wondered how healthy your soil is? There are three ways to get a handle on this question. Grow lots of different plants and if they grow well, your soil is healthy. Another option is to get a lab to analyse your soil, but standard lab tests only measure certain characteristics like nutrients and pH, and including more tests can be costly. The third option is to do the soil tests yourself.

This post is a collection of 10 simple DIY soil tests that you can do at home. Most require no equipment or purchase.

Easy Soil Testing Methods for Measuring Soil Health: Ribbon Test

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The Stumpery Garden – A Perfect Place for Ferns and Woodland Gems

A stumpery garden is a way to take your shade garden to a new level. It is the perfect place for ferns, hosta and all other shade loving plants. It’s a gardening style that lets you be as artistic as you want to be. Now cover all that with lovely moss and a great habitat for insects, toads and mushrooms, and you start to see the wonders of a stumpery.

Its the next big gardening craze and in this post I’ll tell you all about it, and show you how to design and build your own.

The Stumpery Garden - A Perfect Place for Ferns and Woodland Gems — The Stumpery Garden – A Perfect Place for Ferns and Woodland Gems

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Is Synthetic Fertilizer Made From Petroleum?

Synthetic fertilizer is shunned by organic gardeners, and one reason is the fact that they are made from petroleum, or so it is claimed. Who wants to put petroleum chemicals into their garden and then eat vegetables from it? Nobody.

Terms like oil-based fertilizer, petroleum fertilizer, and petrochemical fertilizer have been used to describe synthetic fertilizers, as in this quote from a popular gardening blog: “Petrochemical fertilizers are another name for the synthetic products because they are produced using large quantities of petroleum.”

I am not going to argue for or against synthetic fertilizer in this post. I just want to examine the claim that fertilizer is made from petroleum.

Synthetic Fertilizer Ingredients - Are They Made From Petroleum — Synthetic Fertilizer Ingredients – Are They Made From Petroleum

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Don’t Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths

The trillium is one of the main harbingers of spring, at least here in Ontario. It is not the earliest ephemeral to flower, but it is the most spectacular, and if you find the right location, a deciduous forest without a lot of visitors, the ground is covered with them. It’s the prettiest weed I know.

It is an odd plant. Takes forever to grow big enough to bloom and is mostly distributed by ants. It blooms white but then fades to a light pink. If you transplant one in flower, it could take years before it flowers again. This is one plant that is best left alone.

Many people think that it’s illegal to pick, probably because it is the Ontario flower. Why would it not be protected? This and several other myths about trillium need some attention.

Don't Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths. Photo of Trillium grandiflorum — Don’t Pick The Trillium Flower and Other Trillium Myths. Photo of *Trillium grandiflorum*

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Why Do Hellebore Flowers Last So Long?

Hellebores are all the rage right now and everybody seems to be adding more to their garden. A big appeal is the fact that they flower so early, sometimes even when there is still snow on the ground. But the real reason people like them is that they bloom a very long time; as much as five months.

Or do they?

They certainly seem to bloom for a long time; a closer look will reveal their secret. Once you understand why they bloom so long you will be able to select other plants that do the same thing.

Why Do Hellebore Flowers Last So Long? This is Helleborus niger, by Robert Pavlis

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What is the Best Manure for Your Garden?

What is the best manure for the garden? This question is routinely debated on social media providing a wide range of opinions. Some say chicken manure is great but others say it’s too hot and will burn plants. Horse manure can be used almost fresh, but cow manure needs to be composted. Sheep manure is higher in nutrients and sheep digest their food more fully – is that important? Some swear by rabbit manure.

Many of these discussions consist of a lot of opinions, but they’re very weak on facts. In this post I’ll look at the science and try to determine which manure is best.

What is the Best Manure for Your Garden?

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Ligularia przewalskii

Ligularia przewalskii: photo by Robert Pavlis

Ligularia przewalskii is a great plant for part shade to heavy shade. It likes lots of moisture but does just fine with medium moisture levels. It has interesting toothed leaves and tall yellow flower spikes that contrast well with other shade plants. I cut it back the flower spikes after flowering and that is all the maintenance it gets. By spring, in zone 5, the leaves are on the ground and you can just leave them there. New foliage will soon cover them.

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Myths About Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Gardens

Rainwater harvesting systems are a hot topic in gardening circles. As we become more aware of the value of water, gardeners want to collect rain and use it to water their plants. Not only does this make financial sense, but in many cases the quality of the water is much better than tap water. And it is great for the environment because it sends less water to the city for processing.

Along with any good idea comes a number of myths. In this post I will look at myths pertaining to the use and harvesting of rainwater.

Myths About Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Gardens, photo from Buzzword

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Can Cactus Reduce Radiation From your Computer or Cell Phone?

Everybody knows by now that electronic devices with displays, like cell phones and computers, give off radiation, and people have been looking for ways to reduce their exposure. A NASA study is claimed to report that some plants absorb this harmful radiation and protect the user. Cacti in particular were very efficient at absorbing radiation.

How effective are cacti, and what is the best way to use them for protection? Are they as good as other plants?

Can Cactus Reduce Radiation From your Computer or Cell Phone? — Can Cactus Reduce Radiation From Your Computer or Cell Phone? photo credit: CactusCare

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