Robert Pavlis

Review of “The Ever Curious Gardener” by Lee Reich

Lee Reich contacted me and asked if I would review his new book, called “The Ever Curious Gardener – Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden. I was thrilled to have a look at the book. Combining science and gardening makes so much sense and so few books take this approach.

If you have not heard of Dr. Lee Reich you’ve missed out on one of the industries leading authorities on gardening. He has degrees in chemistry, soil science and horticulture, and has done research in agriculture. He uses this extensive knowledge in his writings to cover a wide range of gardening topics.

I became familiar with Lee many years ago when I read one of his earlier books called, “Weedless Gardening“. It combines science with common sense to figure out how to simplify chores in the garden. I also remember a multi-month series on soil in Fine Gardening. Each month I learned something new about soil. Lee’s writing has significantly increased my understanding of plants, microbes and soil.

The Ever Curious Gardener - Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden, by Lee Reich — The Ever Curious Gardener – Using a Little Natural Science for a Much Better Garden, by Lee Reich

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Select the Best LED Grow Light for Great Results

Is it time to update your grow light fixtures? Are you looking for a new grow light system? In both cases this post will provide you with all of the information you need to make the best choice.

LED lights have come a long way and if you are buying a new light today, LED is the way to go. They last a long time and provide a good level of light at a very low electrical cost. They are good for you, your plants and the environment.

If you already have a florescent grow light, consider replacing the bulb with an LED bulb that fits in your existing fixture.

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Eggshells – Decomposition After Three Years

Three years ago I started a study to see if eggshells decompose in my soil. Details of the study can be found here: Eggshells – Decomposition Study. It is now year three of a six year study and time to have a look at the buried eggshell.

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10 Garden Jobs You Can Stop Doing

Most gardeners work far too hard. Why? Because a lot of books and web sites tell you it’s the only way to keep plants growing well. As a young, inexperienced gardener I followed all the advice but over the years I have developed a new style of gardening. I now only do the work that is required.

This blog will save you hundreds of hours of work each year.

In this post I will reveal 10 things that you can stop doing in the garden because they are not needed by your plants. The focus in this post will be on ornamental gardens (perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees). In another post I will deal with vegetable gardens specifically.

Garden Jobs You Can Stop Doing — Gardening the right way

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Learn How Pruning Affects Flowering Shrubs

My two Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ are coming into bloom, but one shrub was several weeks ahead of the other with respect to flowering. I was wondering why, until I remembered that one was pruned in spring and the other was not. It was the perfect opportunity to make a short video about how pruning affects … Read More

Organic Soil Can Be Nutrient Deficient Soil

Everyone loves organic soil! It is the best soil you can have because it is full of nutrients and all the things your plants need. Or at least that is what many people think.

In this post I will describe a situation that is very common. It illustrates that organic does not equate to nutrients. Using ‘100% organic soil’ can in fact create a garden where nothing grows well due to nutrient deficiencies.

To be clear, not all organic soil is nutrient deficient – most is full of nutrients and great for plants. But you can’t rely on the word ‘organic’ on the package to figure this out.

Organic Soil Can Be Nutrient Deficient Soil

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Three Sisters Agriculture – an Example of Companion Planting

I’d like to talk about the Three Sisters. No, not the play written by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, and not the three mountain peaks near Canmore, Alberta , Canada. I am talking about Three Sisters Agriculture used by Native Americans; corn, beans and squash.

If you have read anything about companion planting you will have come across a description of the Three Sisters as one of the best examples of companion planting that works. But have you ever seen any data to show that this system works? Did the Native Americans actually use this system?

The Three Sisters are the corner stone of the companion planting movement and if it is all a myth, is there any validity to the whole idea?

Iroquois family growing beans, corn, and squash using three sisters agricultural companion planting — Iroquois family growing beans, corn, and squash using Three Sisters agricultural companion planting

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Companion Planting: Truth or Myth?

I have wanted to do some posts on companion planting for quite some time. There is certainly a lot of nonsense out there about companion planting, but some of the advice seems to make sense. The problem with this topic is that it is vast and complex. So I have ignored it – until now.

This post is an overview of the topic. I will look at some general concepts and try to gain some basic understanding of companion planting. Future posts will look at specific combinations of plants.

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Doronicum orientale ‘Finesse’ (Leopard’s Bane)

Doronicum orientale ‘Finesse’, by Robert pavlis

Doronicum orientale is a fairly common plant but a better option, a cultivar called Doronicum orientale ‘Finesse’, is not found in a lot of gardens. It is a lovely yellow color and fills that blooming void between spring bulbs and peonies. Easy to grow, and reliably hardy in many zones.

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Don’t Feed Sugar Water to Exhausted Bees

The bees are in trouble again. If you see one that is exhausted give them a sugar-water mixture which will give them the energy boost they need to get back to the hive. You probably saw this advice on Facebook where it was first posted, and then shared thousands of times. You have just experienced the birth of a new gardening myth.

The image below shows part of the original Facebook post.

Around the middle of July, 2018, the BBC asked Facebook to remove the post since it was fake news, and thankfully, they complied. In fact, I had a hard time finding a copy for this post.

What did Sir David Attenborough really say? Is it a good idea to feed sugar to bees? Do bees get exhausted and need our help? All good questions that will be discussed in this post.

Facebook fake news - Don't feed sugar water to bees — Facebook fake news – Don’t feed sugar water to bees

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Secrets to a Weed Free Garden

Do you have a lot of weeds in your garden? Do you want to know how to get rid of them? Are you making a new garden bed and want to eliminate years of weeding? You have come to the right place.

In this blog I will provide you with solutions for both of these problems. Most people who have a lot of weeds in the garden have made two mistakes. They did not prepare the new garden properly and they are not mulching enough.

Weed fiasco in the garden - poor squash plant is trying to compete with a ton of competition. — Weed fiasco in the garden – poor squash plant is trying to compete with a ton of weeds.

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LED Grow Lights – Getting the Right Color Spectrum

In this post I will look at one of the most important criteria you should consider when shopping for an LED grow light, the color spectrum. If you don’t get the right color of light, plants will just not grow well, no matter how much you spend.

If you are looking to get a new grow light, you should really consider LED lights since they are much more energy efficient. That is good for your pocket book as well as the environment. The problem is that selecting the right type of light is no trivial matter. The market is full of products in a wide price range and many manufacturers are making claims that are designed to confuse you.

If you just want a quick answer, head on down to the last section called, The Best Color Spectrum for LED Grow Lights. If you want to understand what you are doing so you can make an intelligent choice, read the whole post. I promise I won’t get too technical on you.

LED Grow Lights - Getting the Right Color Spectrum, provided by Green Relief — LED Grow Lights – Getting the Right Color Spectrum, provided by Green Relief

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