Garden Club — Common gardening misconceptions (Part 1)
Have you ever wondered whether online gardening recommendations and those offered by family and friends are fact-based? If yes, wonder no more because today, and in a subsequent article, we will be exploring a handful of those suggestions to determine their validity according to University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences(UF/IFAS) research.
Suggestion #1: Use coffee grounds to acidify the soil. Fresh coffee grounds in sufficient amounts can acidify the soil temporarily; however, used grounds will be much less effective. Once you have made that fresh pot of coffee, most of the original acidity has drained away. What was once a pH acidity of 5.0 on average is now between 6.5 and 6.8, very close to that 7.0 neutral mark. Hand-watering and Mother Nature’s rain will further reduce that acidity should you choose to add the grounds to landscape plants.
Rather than trying to acidify soil, consider re-imagining those used grounds into your compost pile if you have one. As “green” material because of their nitrogen content, the grounds can be worked into the pile in moderation, along with carbon-rich “brown” material.
Suggestion #2: To improve drainage, place gravel or stones in the bottom of a container before adding potting soil. I was a firm believer in this advice until I discovered that research has shown adding those items can actually hinder drainage. Because water is unable to easily and effectively breach the stone barrier, the soil tends to remain too moist, with greater potential for root rot.
If you add anything, consider packing peanuts or a small, porous screen. For a larger container you can add lightweight items and a porous screen before adding soil to manage container weight.
Suggestion #3: Use dish soap as a great, natural remedy for garden pests. Most dish soaps are, in fact, not soaps at all but, rather, detergents, and are not research-based for use on garden pests. We have all heard how certain products, for example, break up stains and cut grease. They can also negatively impact the protective wax coating on leaves. This coating serves as a natural barrier against disease.
A better option is insecticidal soap, specially formulated to attack active, soft-bodied insects on contact. Always follow label directions and only spray when unwanted insects are present on the plant. Avoid spraying when beneficial insects, such as lady beetles, are also present. You wouldn’t want to kill the “good” along with the “‘bad” bugs. When predators of the unwanted pests are present you can be assured they are taking care of business without a need for human intervention.
Suggestion #4: Use vinegar as a natural remedy for weeds. Household vinegar with its 5% acidity is a topical contact killer. Although a soaking can kill small, shallow-rooted annual plants, one application of vinegar will not kill the roots of mature weeds. The growth above ground will, indeed, turn brown but new growth will invariably follow.
The concentration of acidic acid needed to do an effective job (20%-30%) on larger, mature weeds is much higher than the product you will find in your pantry. Beware of purchasing the higher percentage horticultural vinegar because the product will burn everything it comes into contact with, including yourself if not careful. It also has a negative impact on the earthworms and beneficial microbes that work their magic in the soil. It is NOT recommended for home garden use.
So, how can we control weeds? Mulch is a good option. Consider placing 2-3 layers of newspaper or cardboard as a first step, topped with 3-4 inches of mulch. While there are no sure-fire ways to permanently rid ourselves of unwanted plants, mulch can impede weed development for quite awhile. Note: The use of landscape fabric is not recommended. Although its use will provide some relief, weeds tend to work their way up and through the fabric, making them twice as difficult to remove.
Although the online guidance and recommendations from friends and family may be less than scientific, you can rely on the fact-based horticultural publications found at the University of Florida/IFAS site. To begin a search, go to https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ and key in your topic of interest.
Until next time…Happy gardening!
Janetta Fox is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.
To reach JANETTA FOX, please email news@breezenewspapers.com