“Always plant a tree at the same level as the soil in the pot or top of the root ball.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Always plant a tree at the same level as the soil in the pot or top of the root ball.”  Listen up please! I so rarely get to write something important! Big news just rolled out of the University of...

“You can plant ball and burlap (B&B) material without removing the wire cage or burlap.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “You can plant ball and burlap (B&B) material without removing the wire cage or burlap.”  Stumbled upon this ghastly practice TWICE in the last few months, both times perpetrated by...

“Wrapping the trunk of a young tree with paper tree-wrap in the fall prevents winter sun scald.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Wrapping the trunk of a young tree with paper tree-wrap in the fall prevents winter sun scald.”line No, wrapping the trunk of a tree with paper tree-wrap makes matters worse, and that’s been proven...

“When planting a tree, dig a hole twice the diameter of the container.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “When planting a tree, dig a hole twice the diameter of the container.” Since the 1800s, everything written about planting a tree tells you to do just that, of course, the old “forty-dollar hole for...

“Vegetables grown in beds edged with copper chromium arsenate-treated wood are unhealthy to consume.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Vegetables grown in beds edged with copper chromium arsenate-treated wood are unhealthy to consume.”line No, turns out they’re all fine. Despite all the hoopla, a study just concluded by the...

“Groundcovers have a tough time under pine trees because the soil is too acidic.”

Jan 3, 2017 | Myth of the Week

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason “Groundcovers have a tough time under pine trees because the soil is too acidic.” No. Test the soil before making that assumption. Only rarely will one find the pH of the soil under pine trees to be more...