Deborah Ellis, Consulting Arborist and Horticulturist

Specialist in the Diagnosis of Plant Problems
in Horticulture, Arboriculture and Agriculture

All photos on this web site taken by Deborah Ellis

Useful Information


Click for Horticultural Myth Web Site

When something seems too good to be true, you can bet that it is NOT true.  As with the cosmetic, diet and vitamin industries, many time and money-wasting myths also persist in horticulture. I started to make a collection and explanation of these myths to add to my web site, and while doing that I came across Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott of Washington State University’s own web page called “Horticultural Myths”. I felt that her information was excellent and so well documented that I could not top it. I contacted Linda and asked if I could add a link to her fine web page, from my web site and she graciously agreed. Linda is an Extension Urban Horticulturist at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Washington State University as well as holding several other prestigious university and government positions. Take some time to breeze through her collection of topics and you may be able to dispel some myths you’ve been following – possibly without knowing that these are myths at all!

Horticultural Myth Article

An excellent article by Dr. James Downer, University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor for Ventura County.  Dr. Downer discusses some of the most infamous and trendy myths in circulation today, such as: Soil Microbiology Products (the soil food web, mycorrhizal products and various soil biological controls).  He also touches upon some of the most time-tested urban horticultural legends refuse to die, including my favorite, Vitamin B-1.  Other topics include placing gravel at the bottom of a pot or planting hole to increase drainage, pruning to stimulate growth and toxic mulches


Debbie Ellis



Download the following PDFs compliments of Debbie Ellis. She offers advice on the following topics gratis with the hope that you and your plants will benefit.

Pruning Urban trees: How Much and How Often is Really Necessary?

Urban trees do not need to pruned nearly as often and as much as most people (including most tree services) believe and/or say they do. Realizing and acting on this fact can save you a lot of time and money, and your trees will probably be much healthier and more structurally stable too.


Fruit and Nut tree and Vine Pruning: Calendar, Instructions

Confused about how and when to prune the various fruit, nut and berry trees in your yard?  Take a this “cheat sheet” out to the orchard the next time you do your pruning.


Residential Lawn Improvement

Are you dissatisfied with the appearance of your lawn?  If so, I have a few tips for you.


Tree Care Information Brochures

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Consumer tree Care Information Brochures. Well illustrated and easy to understand brochures for the general public on many aspects of urban and private tree management.

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