There’s so much gardening information out there from so many sources that what’s fact and what’s a myth can be difficult to discern. How do you know if you can believe what you’re reading online? For instance, are the following reality or myth?
- Coffee grounds are acidic and can be used to lower pH.
- Watering on hot, sunny days will burn the plants because the water droplets magnify the sun’s rays.
- When you plant a tree or shrub, add amendments to the hole.
- A layer of gravel or coarse material in the bottom of a pot or planter improves drainage.
- Epsom salt will prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes.
- Ants help peonies bloom.
- If a pesticide is organic or natural, it must be less toxic.
- Covering a tree’s pruning cut with pruning paint helps to protect the wound.
- Just add more organic matter to the soil.
- Tree roots only go as far as the drip line.
- You should top a tree to control its height.
To find out the answers, watch “Debunking Gardening Myths” from OSU’s Master Gardners, a source you can trust.
Master Gardeners debunk common gardening myths