Robert Pavlis

Vitamin B1 for Plants

Vitamin B1 is that miracle drug that makes all plants grow bigger especially after transplanting. It is added to several different kinds of fertilizer and plant additives. Guess what – it doesn’t work. Photo Source: Farmer Fred Rant The history of this myth is quite interesting and told in detail here. In 1930 a scientist … Read More

Anvil or Bypass Pruners (Secateurs)

There are two types of secateurs, also called pruners; bypass and anvil. If you are using an anvil pruner for most of your pruning needs – you are using the wrong tool.

anvil secateurs (pruners) — Anvil secateurs (pruners)

bypass secateurs (pruners) — Bypass secateurs (pruners)

If you like this post, please share .......

Square Foot Gardening

The idea of square foot gardening has become popular over the last few years and some of the underlying concepts of the this gardening technique make sense.

I was at an industry gardening show recently and spotted a plastic box for square foot gardening. I just started to laugh. What a silly idea!!!

square foot gardening — Square foot gardening box

If you like this post, please share .......

Hand Garden Cultivator

This garden tool is designed for weeding and loosening the surface of your soil. You see them everywhere and I always wondered why people buy them??? I’ve never found any use for them.

Hand garden cultivator

If you like this post, please share .......

What is Humus?

You have probably heard that humus is an important part of your soil, but few people know what it is and why it is important. There are many myths about humus that need to be cleared up.

It turns out that humus may be the most important thing in soil: more important that dew worms, and organic matter, but it gets so little attention. This post will have a closer look at humus to better understand how we should be gardening to create and maintain humus rich soil.

Humus soil — We are talking about humus, not hummus!, source: Middle East Delights

If you like this post, please share .......

Hardiness of Liriope ‘Super Blue’

GardenMyths.com was contacted by Formostco Inc to trial one of their new plants, Liriope ‘Super Blue’. They wanted to know if the plant was hardy in our area (Zone 5b). This blog entry will be used to track out experience with the plants.

Liriope ‘Super Blue’

If you like this post, please share .......

Organic Fertilizer – What Is Its Real Value?

In my last post What is Organic Fertilizer I explained why the nutrients in organic fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer are the same. Plants can’t tell the difference between the two because there is no difference. However, organic fertilizer is better for the garden. In this post we will look at why this is true.

manure - organic fertilizer — manure – organic fertilizer, source: slimmer_jimmer

If you like this post, please share .......

What Is Organic Fertilizer?

If you read a number of web sites, especially organic gardening ones, you quickly realize that there are two basic kinds of fertilizer. There is the ‘synthetic fertilizer’ which you buy in bags. This fertilizer is clearly BAD! Then there is the good stuff; organic fertilizer.

What is the real difference between organic fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer? Is there a difference? The answer may surprise you.

variegated Lilly of the valley — Variegated Lilly of the Valley – by Robert Pavlis

If you like this post, please share .......

Something Stinks About Manure Tea

In may last couple of posts on manure tea and compost tea I explained why there is little or no reason to brew the tea. I am sure that I have not convinced all of you since the web is full of stories promoting manure tea as a good thing for your plants. If you want to brew some tea it probably will not harm you or your plants, but it could; see the bottom section of Compost Tea.

If you must brew some tea, please do it intelligently. Don’t use commercial products!

Manure Tea bags ready for brewing your own.

If you like this post, please share .......

Manure Tea is an Organic Sin

Brewing manure tea is a sin. Not a religious sin, but an organic gardening sin.

manure tea is an organic sin

If you like this post, please share .......

Is Compost Tea Organic?

You are probably sitting there thinking – is this guy crazy? Compost is organic and so the brewed tea from compost or manure must also be organic. Read on and I just might convince you that compost tea is NOT very organic!

compost tea brewing

If you like this post, please share .......

Growing Baptisia australis from Seed

Baptisia australis (false indigo) is known to be difficult to grow from seedlings. Several sources report that plants die during the transplanting and subsequent maturation process. Today’s post reports on my success rate for maturing these seedlings.

In a previous post I reported on a research project to determine the best way to germinate Baptisia australis seeds.

germination of baptisia australis seed — Germination of baptisia australis seed

If you like this post, please share .......