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Re: [GWL]: A New Rant

On 1/25/02 2:50 PM, "Jeff Ball" <jeffball@starband.net> wrote:

> Joe Seals started me thinking.  We could have a gardening myth section on
> the GWAA web site.  Now this list is not for discussion because the are some
> really controversial items (off list off course).  But Joe's list had me add
> to the list.
> 
> 1. Leaving bare soil and thoroughly raked lawn from spring and fall cleanup
> is important
> 2. Rotating vegetable crops is important
> 3. Yellow tomatoes are less acid
> 4. Insects attack because they are there, rather than because plant is in
> stress.
> 5. Topping trees
> 6. Pruning flush
> 7. Pruning paint
> 8. Pruning back crown of new trees
> 9. Peonies need ants to bloom
> 10. Topsoil use as "organic amendment"
> 11. Soil under oaks and pines is acid
> 12. Oak leaf mulch is acidic impact on soil
> 13. Organic mulch sucks up nitrogen from the soil
> 14. Spaghnum peat moss is not renewable resource
> 15. Sulfur to reduce alkalinity
> 16. Sand, gravel, or Gypsum for breaking up clay soils
> 17. Tilling soil regularly, or at all after first two years
> 18. Watering overhead during sunny days
> 19. Watering lawns a little bit every day vs. deep infrequent watering
> (Michigan State University)
> 20. Earthworms in the lawn are a problem
> 21. Amending soil for planting trees
> 22. Automatically staking newly planted trees
> 23. Straw and hay as mulch creates weed problems
> 24. Aerating the lawn is important
> 25. Leaving grass clippings creates thatch
> 26. Moles eat grass roots and flower bulbs when it is the vole
> 27. Rolling the lawn is good
> 28. The shorter you mow the lawn the longer it takes to need mowing again.
> 29.

Yeah, but you know what?  In each and every one of those myths is a germ of
truth, or a circumstance under which it at least might be true.  "Debunking"
myths is the other side of the coin of "laying down the law" on universal
garden practices.  Both are dangerous.  Our best strategy is to make sure
that we are experienced and well-educated as gardeners ourselves before
sitting down at the keyboard--and then to use the appropriate qualifiers
when we write about things that have worked for us.

Bill Shear

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