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.
