Gardening Myths You Should Stop Believing: Top 10 Revealed
Nov 13th 2024
Gardening is a rewarding hobby that offers numerous benefits, from producing fresh harvests to increasing the beauty of outdoor space. With so much information available, it is easy to fall prey to common gardening fallacies that can hinder your success. Gardening myths are common and can confuse novice and expert gardeners, wasting their time following unnecessary practices.
Although gardening can be incredibly joyful, it remains a subject of misunderstanding. There are lots of gardening myths out there. From myths about improving soil to suspect ways to feed plants, you've probably heard some prominent old tales before. Here are the ten most common gardening myths we have debunked to settle the score.
Myth 1: Spreading eggshells in the garden can cure blossom-end rot.
Calcium deficiency is considered a primary cause of blossom-end rot. Plants like Tomato plants require a lot of calcium during the growing season and fruit development process. However, adding eggshells to the soil won't help plants absorb calcium. Eggshells can take years to decompose and release calcium in the soil, which can be helpful to plants. Unless you add tons of eggshells into a powder form and put them into an acidic solution, the calcium remains intact and may not benefit the soil and plants.
Blossom end rot is a nutritional deficiency caused by inconsistent watering. Tomatoes need plenty of water to grow healthy, so if you notice this issue, make sure your tomato plants are getting enough water.
Myth 2: Water droplets on leaves can cause sunburn.
This is one of the gardening myths that belong in the old wives' tales' category. There's an idea that water droplets act like mini magnifying glasses when you water plants on sunny days and focus the sun's rays into your garden, which burns the foliage. This has been debunked many times. Watering during hot times of the day can quickly evaporate water droplets. Still, it's a good idea to deliver water to the plant's base using drip irrigation and avoid leaves to reduce the risk of diseases. Additionally, it is best to water plants in the morning or later in the afternoon to prevent quick evaporation.
Myth 3: Sand improves clay soil.
Another common belief is that adding sand to clay soil will loosen the soil and improve drainage. However, this can worsen soil structure and make it concrete-like. When you mix sand with clay soil, the clay particles fill the voids between sand grains and form a solid, cement-like material, which creates soggy conditions and rotting roots. This can result in poor drainage and make it difficult for plants' roots to penetrate the soil. Instead, add lots of organic matter like compost to improve soil structure or grow plants in raised beds for better drainage.
Myth 4: Drought-tolerant plants don't need watering.
Another common misconception is that drought-tolerant plants don't need any watering, but this is not true. This false belief can result in plant stress. All drought-tolerant plants need watering during the first growing seasons. Plants develop their root systems during this stage, which makes them more resilient to future dry spells. After this period, these plants can benefit from occasional watering to increase growth and maintain foliage—which is necessary for photosynthesis.
Cacti and succulents are perfect drought-tolerant plants, but it's crucial to remember that they also need watering every once in a while. Some cacti species can thrive without water for two years, but this isn't true for all species.
Myth 5: Coffee grounds can lower soil pH.
Sprinkling coffee grounds around plants is not so effective. Coffee grounds are acidic but have a minimal and slow effect on soil pH. It's worth noting that adding lots of fresh coffee grounds can lock nitrogen in the soil. Their decomposing process can cause nutritional deficiencies in plants and prevent them from growing.
A better alternative is to mix used coffee grounds into the compost pile. When composted, grounds become organic matter that gradually enhances soil quality.
Myth 6: Adding sugar to soil produces sweeter fruit.
This makes no sense; otherwise, it would be so easy to produce sweet, delicious fruits. Sugared soil will not make fruit sweeter. There is no connection between sweet soil and the sweetness level of fruit. Regular watering, proper feeding, and plenty of sunlight help plants develop the most incredible flavor in fruits and vegetables. Choose suitable varieties known for their sweetness if you want to produce sweeter fruits.
Myth 7: Banana peels are great fertilizers.
Banana peels are a great source of potassium, which is a vital nutrient for flower production and plant growth but using them as fertilizer is not as beneficial as many gardeners believe. Burying banana peels in garden soil can have negative consequences. Soil microorganisms will break down the peels and extract a lot of nitrogen from the soil, meaning less nitrogen will be available for your plants. This process can hinder plant growth rather than promote it. Besides, banana peels can also attract uninviting wildlife.
The best way to use banana peels to boost plants' potassium levels is to add them to a compost pile with other organic matter. This way, the peels will have plenty of time to decompose before reaching the plants.
Myth 8: All young trees require staking.
Staking is not always recommended for new trees unless you're planting in a windy area or sloping terrain. In fact, unnecessary stalking can result in weaker tree growth. Staking a newly planted tree can prevent it from growing strong naturally, so we should let them do their thing. A little wind will promote the tree to develop a healthy root system. On the other hand, the stake will act as a crutch, and your tree will remain frail.
Myth 9: Painting fresh tree pruning cuts protects them from insects and diseases.
Pruning is an essential component of gardening and caring for your plants. However, the advice of painting fresh cuts with tar, sealant, or special pruning paint to protect the wound is unnecessary. According to research, this technique can hinder the tree's natural recovery process. There's no need to dress pruning wounds and cuts.
Proper pruning will allow trees to heal naturally. Healthy trees are resistant to disease and insect attack and have their own defense mechanism. When the tree bark is injured, it naturally heals the wound and isolates it to prevent insects, decay, microorganisms, and fungi from attacking. So, don't waste money on paint. Prune correctly and use clean, sharp pruning tools.
Myth 10: Adding gravel to the bottom of pots or containers improves drainage.
Adding a layer of gravel to the bottom of containers to improve drainage is a common practice, but this method can have the opposite effect. Rocks in the bottom can restrict water drainage by reducing the size of drainage holes. When the water reaches between soil and gravel, it creates a waterlogged layer there rather than draining freely. This keeps the soil above gravel saturated by forming a perched water table, which can cause root rot. Instead, choose a container with drainage holes and add well-draining soil for healthy root growth.
More Common Gardening Myths
Here are some more myths and mistakes that gardeners think are true.
- Myth: Organic pesticides are safer than synthetic ones.
Reality: Natural doesn't mean safer, such as nicotine sulfate, which is an insecticide derived from tobacco, is toxic to both humans and animals.
- Myth: A little fertilizer is good, but more is even better.
Reality: Excess fertilizer can burn the roots, mess with the soil's nutrient balance, and lead to plant decline.
- Myth: You should only plant vegetables in straight rows.
Reality: This is also a false belief. You can break the rows and mix crops using companion planting to confuse pests and ward off diseases.
- Myth: Grass clippings can cause thatch.
Reality: Short clippings after lawn mowing are not the cause of thatch. Grass clippings are high in water content and break down quickly. Thatch buildup is due to excessive watering and fertilization.
- Myth: Misting your indoor plants is essential as it increases humidity.
Reality: It'll increase humidity for only a short time; instead, water accumulated on leaves can promote fungal disease.
Wrapping Up
Gardening myths are often passed as sound advice among green-fingered fans, but they can be misleading and harmful to your plant's health or productivity. We hope this guide gives you the knowledge, helps you debunk these common myths that have persisted for years, and inspires you to create a successful garden. By dispelling these myths, you'll be better prepared to nurture your plants and make your dream garden. Always look for trusted information, and adjust gardening practices to meet your plant's growing requirements.