Robert Pavlis

15 Myths About Seeds and Seed Germination

Starting plants from seed is a great hobby and a good way to increase your collection of plants. Most people only think about germinating vegetable seeds and much of the information on the internet is focused on these. But there is a whole other world out there. I am always surprised when people don’t understand that all of the perennials, trees and shrubs originally come from seed.

There is still a lot of mystery around seeds and for many species we still do not understand the best way to germinate them. This allows amateurs and hobbyists to do their own thing. This is great because it adds to the collective knowledge, but it also leads to many myths about starting plants from seed.

Sanguinaria seedlings Myths About Seeds and Seed Germination — Myths About Seeds and Seed Germination, picture of *Sanguinaria canadensis* by BotantyCa

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Planting Trees – Remove String, Burlap and Wire Basket

Society has been planting trees for hundreds of years and yet we still don’t know how to do it properly. The average landscape tree is not planted correctly – but that long discussion is for another post. Today I would like to show you what happens when you do not remove string, burlap and wire baskets.

Planting B&B (bare and burlap) trees, with permission of Maple Leaves Forever

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Bee Hotels – Do They Really Work?

There is a great movement afoot for creating bee friendly gardens. People not only want to provide flowers, water and a habitat for the bees; they also want to provide a home for them. Lots of websites provide DIY instructions for creating these, and many companies now sell commercial products. Do bee hotels work? Which ones work better? Are there designs that will increase your chance of getting bees to move into your bee hotel?

This blog will answer all of these questions and many more.

If you think the picture below shows a good bee hotel – your wrong. It’s pretty but not good for bees.

Bee Hotels - Do They Really Work? — Bee Hotels – Do They Really Work?

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Best Potting Soil for Container Gardens

Container gardening has become extremely popular and there are all kinds of potting soils you can buy. Gardening in containers is very different than gardening in the ground so it is important to understand the special requirements for potting soil.

If you are looking for a simple solution, where cost is not a factor, and you don’t mind watering a lot, use a name brand potting mix. Almost all of them will produce healthy plants.

If you want a better solution – keep reading.

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Cinnamon – Does it Stop Damping Off in Seedlings?

Cinnamon is commonly used by gardeners to prevent damping off in seedlings but does it really work? Lots of people claim that it does, but I can’t find any scientific studies that use cinnamon in the same way as gardeners, but there is evidence that it might work.

There is also an issue about which cinnamon should be used. There is the real or true cinnamon and the fake cinnamon. Which one, if either, stops damping off?

I spent quite some time reviewing the information and this subject is a lot more complex than I had originally thought. Here are the spicy details about cinnamon and damping off.

Does Cinnamon Stop Damping-off in Seedlings? source: Cinnamon Vogue

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24 1/2 Garden Design Ideas

One of the best ways to improve your design ability is to critique other gardens. By looking at a landscape which you’re not intimately familiar with, you are better able to see both the good and bad of the design. I learn a lot by wondering the neighborhood and looking at front yard gardens. At each one I ask myself some important questions.

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What do I like about the design?
What don’t I like about the design?
Is it functional?
How much work is required to maintain it?
Were the plantings done correctly?
Does it contain some design elements I could use?

I am really asking the same questions I ask myself when creating a new design except that I am working with an existing landscape and not trying to picture one in my mind. This makes the whole process so much easier.

Free eBook: 24 1/2 Garden Design Ideas, by Robert Pavlis

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Corn Gluten Meal – Does it Work For Weeds?

Corn gluten meal is the new herbicide for lawns. The movement away from synthetic chemical herbicides has left a gap for managing lawns and researchers are scrambling to find an organic solution. One product that is showing promise is corn gluten meal. Its proponents claim that it prevents weed seed from germinating, and if seeds don’t germinate you have a weed free lawn. Sounds like a perfect solution.

There are scientific reports, both for and against the product. Anecdotal evidence from gardeners is also mixed. Does the product work? How should it be used? Are people using it correctly?

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Selecting the Best Pond Liner?

You have decided to build a pond and now you need to select the best pond liner. There are numerous choices out there, at various price points. In this post I will compare your options and make a recommendation for the best pond liner.

Which pond liner is best? — What is the best pond liner?

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Allium karataviense ‘Ivory Queen’

Allium karataviense ‘Ivory Queen’ is a very unusual onion. The leaves are extra wide, grow close to the ground and cup a large head of white flowers. Even in flower, the plant is only about 8 inches tall. Common names include kara tau garlic and Turkistan onion.

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Asian Lady Beetle Attacks Dogs – The True Story

By now most of you are familiar with the Asian lady beetle. They look as cute as our native ladybugs, but they bite. They invade our homes in fall and crawl all over our windows in spring. But worst of all, the Asian lady beetle attacks dogs and can kill them. Or at least that is what is reported in social media and some newspapers.

Some people are quick to point out that this is a complete myth. The posted pictures, like the one below, are photoshopped. Fake-news sites use them to create fear in the minds of dog owners.

What is the truth? Gardenmyths.com has looked into the matter and will reveal all.

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Waterfall at Aspen Grove Gardens

A quick post to show you some pictures of the waterfall at Aspen Grove Gardens—my private garden located in Southern Ontario, Canada.

It has been in place for about 12 years and is 12 feet high and 55 feet long, with a small pond at the bottom. There are 5 smaller waterfalls along the water’s route. It does use a pump to get water to the top of the hill, but there is no filtration system. The rocks and plants in the waterway act as biological filters for the system. No chemicals are used, and water is never tested. I believe that if you build it correctly, nature will take care of it for you.

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Seedless Tomatoes – Everything You Need to Know

I understand the reason we want seedless watermelons – because of the big seeds, but seedless tomatoes? Do we really need them? Why would you grow them? If they don’t make seed, how can they be grown from seed? Are these some kind of new GMO franken-toms?

The story of seedless tomatoes is quite interesting and can teach us a lot about plants. In this post, I’ll squash out the current knowledge about them and provide you with the background you need to make the proper choice when buying plants for your garden.

Ketchup manufacturers would love seedless tomatoes

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