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Horticultural
Myths
Looking for the newest myth colums? Please consider subscribing to our new quarterly MasterGardener Magazine, where you can find new horticultural myths, a Q&A page, and other garden and landscape articles - all edited for scientific accuracy. Web access to the magazine is free.
Summer 2008: Dust mulches (Literature)
Spring 2008: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Literature)
Winter 2008: Three twisted tales of urban landscape management. Indiana Nursery and Landscape Magazine 68(1): 28, 30.
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2007 I 2006 I 2005 I 2004 I 2003 I 2002 I 2001 I 2000
2007
Myth: Super-absorbent water crystals - are they really so "super?" - Fall (Literature)
Myth: Arborist Wood Chip Mulches: Landscape Boon or Bane? - Summer (Literature)
Myth: Adding Epsom Salts to Gardens is a Safe, Natural Way to Increase Plant Growth - Spring (Literature)
Myth: Compost Tea: Examining the Science Behind the Claims - Winter (Literature)
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2006
Myth: Peat Moss Is
an Environmentally Friendly Organic Amendment Essential for Many
Horticultural Purposes - July
Myth:
Milk Sprayed
onto Rose Leaves Will Prevent Fungal and Bacterial Diseases - June
Myth:
Vibration from Traffic Causes Soil Compaction of Adjacent Landscapes
- April
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2005
Myth: Seaweed Extracts Reduce Disease, Improve Production, and
Increase Stress Resistance in Landscape Plants - November
Myth:
Aerobically-Brewed Compost Tea Suppresses Disease - October (also
please see the EPA
statement about pesticidal use of compost tea)
Myth:
Recycled Rubber Mulch Is an Environmentally Friendly, Non-Toxic
Choice for Landscapes - September
Myth:
Unless It Causes Visible Damage, Touching or Brushing Has Little
Effect on Plants -
August
Myth:
Certain Species Will Thrive, Lean On, Nestle With, and Support Each
Other in Groupings -
July
Myth:
The Chemicals in Pressure-Treated Lumber Will Not Affect Adjacent
Soils or Plants -
June
Myth:
Applying Horticultural Practices from Past Eras is a Sound Approach
to Landscape Management -
May
Myth:
Harpin Success in the Lab Guarantees Success in the Field
- April
Myth:
Fertilizers
Sprayed on the Leaves of Trees and Shrubs Are More Effective Than
Soil Applications - March
Myth:
Landscape
Trees Need To Be Headed Back in the Nursery to Develop Proper Branching
- February
Myth:
Bleach
Is the Best Choice for Disinfecting Pruning Wounds and Tools - January
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2004
Myth:
Amending
Your Soil with Organic Matter Will Improve Water Quality in Streams
- December
Myth:
Nursery
Tags Are an Accurate Indicator of Final Plant Size - November
Myth:
Adding
Potassium or Magnesium to your Landscape Plants Will Increase Their
Cold Hardiness - October
Myth:
Biodynamics
Is a Scientifically Sound Approach to Sustainable Management of
Plant Systems - September
Myth:
Nursery
Brochures Are Always the Best Sources of Appropriate Planting Practices
- August
Myth:
Balled and Burlapped Root Balls Must Be Left Intact During Transplanting
- July
Myth:
Corn Gluten Meal Is an Effective Organic Herbicide - June
Myth:
Add a Handful of Bone Meal to Planting Holes Before Installing Shrubs
and Trees - May
Myth: Vitamin B-1
Reduces Transplant Shock by Stimulating New Root Growth - April
Myth: Are Polyacrylamide
Hydrogels Environmentally Safe Substances That Reduce Irrigation
Needs? - March
Myth: Unless
You're a Pointsettia, Increased Light Can't Hurt - February
Myth: Adding Gypsum to
your Yard or Garden Will Improve Soil Tilth and Plant Health - January
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2003
Myth:
Fertilizer Injection Is the Most Effective Way to Correct Tree Nutrient
Deficiencies - December
Myth: If It's Published,
It Must Be True - November
Myth: Low-oxygen
Root Zones Can Be Aerated by Installing Vertical Aeration Tubes
- October
Myth: Tree Topping
Is Like a Haircut - Sometimes It's Necessary, and a Tree Can Always
Grow Out of a Bad One - September
Myth: Aerobically-brewed
Compost Tea Suppresses Disease - August
Myth: Use of Drought-tolerant
Plants Reduces Residential Water Consumption - July
Myth:
Woodchips Made From Cedars Will Kill Landscape Plants - June
Myth: Uncomposted
Yard Waste Mulch Is Harmful to Plant Life and Negatively Impacts
Water Quality - May
Myth: Leaf Wilt Is
the Best Indicator of Insufficient Soil Moisture - April
Myth: Healthy
Soil Has High Organic Content - March
Myth: Decrease
Fall Irrigation to Force Landscape Plants into Winter Dormancy -
February
Myth: You Shouldn't
Disturb the Rootball When Planting Trees and Shrubs - January
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2002
Myth:
Uncomposted Wood Chips Can Spread Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria
to Healthy Roots - December
Myth:
Glyphosate Will Move Through Root Grafts and Kill Non-target Plants
- November
Myth: Botanically
Derived Pesticides Are Safer Than Synthetics - October
Myth: Antitranspirants
Prevent Drought Stress, Especially in Newly Installed Trees and
Shrubs - September
Myth: Watering
Plants on a Hot Sunny Day will Scorch Their Leaves - August
Myth: Bark Mulch
and Sawdust Are Aesthetically Preferable to Wood Chips and They
Work Just As Well - July
Myth: Newspaper
and Cardboard Sheet Mulches Are an Excellent Ways To Reduce Weeds
and Retain Soil Health in Permanent Landscapes - June
Myth: Garden
Plants Do Not Become Invasive - May
Myth: If Plants
Develop Red Leaves, It Means They Are Phosphorus Deficient - April
Myth:
Roses Need Phosphate Fertilizer for Root and Flower Growth - March
Myth: Compost
Is a Safe, Chemical-free Source of Nutrients for Gardens - February
Myth: Landscape
Fabric Provides Permanent Weed Control for Ornamental Landscapes
- January
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2001
Myth:
Wire Baskets Will Not Interfere With Root Growth of Transplanted
Trees - December
Myth: Organic
Products Are Safer Than Chemicals - November
Myth: Arbor Day/Earth
Day Is an Ideal Time to Install Trees - October
Myth: Native
Plants Are Always the Best Choice for Environmentally Sustainable
Landscaping - September
Myth: Planting
Is Simple - Just Dig a Hole and Insert the Plant - August
Myth: Any Action Taken in
Defense of the Environment Is Justifiable - July
Myth: Polyacrylamide
Hydrogels are Environmentally Safe Substances that Reduce Irrigation
Needs - June
Myth: The Quality
of Plant Material Is Directly Proportional to the Price - May
Myth: Compost Tea
Is an Effective Alternative to Traditional Pesticides - April
Myth: Newly Planted Trees
Must Be Firmly Staked - March
Myth: Wound Dressings
Protect Pruned Trees from Pathogen Damage - January
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2000
Myth:
Adding Coarse Material Improves Container Drainage - December
Myth: Adding Sand
Improves Clay Soil - November
Myth: Pruning
the Tops of New Transplants Compensates for Root Loss - October
Myth: Phosphate Fertilizer
Stimulates Root Growth upon Transplanting - September
Myth: Adding Organic
Amendments Improves Soil - August
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| A recently
transplanted tree that failed due to following a horticultural
myth. The native soil was removed and replaced with organic
matter, leading to drought and other stresses that killed the
tree (L. Chalker-Scott). |
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