The hobby and professional worlds of gardening are full of myths that unfortunately still receive attention in trade publications and home improvement shows. The fact remains that many myths promoted for gardening aficionados help manufacturers sell more gardening products, but in truth achieve little else.
Whether you treat gardening as a hobby or make a living cultivating soil, stay savvy and make sure you don’t fall for these 5 gardening myths!
Gardeners Must Change Potting Soil at Least Once per Year
This myth derives from the philosophy of gardeners that soil nutrients last only for about one year. Many gardeners worry that when the next growing season arrives, there is not enough potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen to sustain healthy plants and vegetables. Most types of soil remain nutrient rich for at least two years, and you can add compost to bolster nutrient levels in soil that was not potted the previous year.
You Have to Water Your Lawn Daily During Summer
To much water causes long-term harm to your lawn, which prolonged heavy rain demonstrates during the rainy season. Healthy lawns include periods of dry soil to prevent insects and disease from going to work on your plants and vegetables. Water your lawn three times a week early in the morning or after sunset to maximize soil moisture absorption.
Use Organic Pesticides
Numerous natural toxins can taint soil enough to stunt or prevent the growth of plants and vegetables. Misuse of organic pesticides poses health threats to animals and people, as well as the creatures that help gardens thrive, such as bees and frogs. Safe storage of pesticides removes some of the health risks, but you still have to pay attention to the directions presented on an organic pesticide box or bag.
Small Stones Improves Pot Drainage
You see professional gardeners recommend adding gravel or small stones at the bottom of pots to enhance drainage. However, what happens when the gravel and small stones find the small holes typically drilled at the bottom of pots and soil containers? There is no place for water to go. To optimize pot drainage, work with high quality soil that naturally encourages water drainage.
Slugs Avoid Eggshells
Large amounts of eggshells can discourage plant and vegetable damaging slugs from entering garden soil. To place a large amount of eggshells around the perimeter of a garden and next to plants and vegetables, you have to eat a steady diet of your favorite egg preparation, and lots of it to boot. If you would rather break the eggs and keep the shells, you are wasting money that you can better use by implementing another slug-fighting strategy.
