“It’s a good idea to add a little lime to your soil at the start of each gardening season, particularly spread on the lawn.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “It’s a good idea to add a little lime to your soil at the start of each gardening season, particularly spread on the lawn.” No, it isn’t. Lime is not some super-additive, or magic nutrient...

“Hostas are a shade plant, and don’t tolerate sun.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Hostas are a shade plant, and don’t tolerate sun.”  Not quite correct. Some hostas need some direct sunlight in order to look their best. In deep shade, just about any hosta will grow smaller...

“Roundup, and its devil-spawn, Kleen-up, are hideous, monstrously toxic chemicals created in smoking vats by evil, monolithic corporate chemical companies who are reaping huge profits while poisoning our children.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Roundup, and its devil-spawn, Kleen-up, are hideous, monstrously toxic chemicals created in smoking vats by evil, monolithic corporate chemical companies who are reaping huge profits while poisoning our...

“If I water my trees and shrubs heavily starting this fall, it will help them survive winter, even though I’ve pretty much neglected them all summer long.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “If I water my trees and shrubs heavily starting this fall, it will help them survive winter, even though I’ve pretty much neglected them all summer long.” Ah, if only this were true. Making up for...

“Always buy and plant perennials in threes.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Always buy and plant perennials in threes.” This age-old piece of advice is not completely wrong, but it certainly is a myth that perennials can’t be planted as a single specimen plant. Japanese...

“Fertilizer runoff is the chief cause of excess algae growth in ponds, lakes and rivers.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Fertilizer runoff is the chief cause of excess algae growth in ponds, lakes and rivers.” Here’s a topic — and myth — I’ve already touched on a few times this season in different features on...