Gardening Myths Debunked

Just finished reading a great little paperback (about 200 pages) debunking a number of common gardening myths.  The Informed Gardener, by Linda Chalker-Scott. Heard of it? 



I found it to be a quick, rewarding read written in an easy style that average folks like me can understand.  I'm a bedtime reader, so loved the fact that each chapter was just enough pages to make for a quick read before turning out the light.  There are 6 sections to the book, each focusing on a different topic:

  1. Critical thinking
  2. Understanding how plants work
  3. How/what/when/where to plant
  4. Soil additives
  5. Mulches
  6. Miracles in a bag/bottle/box

Inside each section are a series of myths.  Each myth is discussed, then the scientific reality is handed out, followed by a bottom line summation and a list of references.  4-6 pages tops on each subject with easy to understand explanations for the scientific stuff. 

I'm a big container gardening fan and was particularly attracted to the chapter titled "The Myth of Drainage Material in Containers". 
The myth is that adding a layer of coarse material (gravel, pebbles, pot shards and the like) to the bottom of a container will improve drainage.  I've been doing that for decades..... never questioned the practice.
The scientific reality is that water doesn't transition well between layers of finely textured materials to coarse ones.  Studies have shown that MORE moisture is retained in soil when a coarse bottom layer is present and the more coarse the material the harder it is for water to move across the interface.  Gravitational water will not move across that interface until the finer textured layer is totally saturated - meaning the soil will stay waterlogged.  Not a good thing when we're needing well drained soil to keep our plants happy.
So the bottom line is to use the same planting material throughout the entire container to ensure proper water and air movement.  I probably learned all about this principle in school way back when, but just never put two and two together.  Now I just put a used dryer sheet in the bottom before filling the entire thing with potting soil.   The soil can't work it's way out of the holes and everything can drain readily.

Linda had a lot to say about those hydrogel sprinkles we add to potting soil to increase water retention.  Suffice to say.... they're not so nice to the environment (or us either).  In their solid, dry state (polymerized form) they're harmless, yes, but over time (just a few years), they break down (depolymerize) and become toxic (acrylamide's nasty stuff)...... interesting how the manufacturer fails to tell us that part.  Now I know better......

So, The Informed Gardener, by Linda Chalker-Scott.   If you decide to go check it out, let me know.  I'd be interested in hearing which topics grabbed your attention and why.

Naturescaping principle #3 of 11: Key Learning

... and now for your next installement in the Naturescaping series......

Principle #3:  TRY TO PROVIDE ALL FOUR WILDLIFE HABITAT ELEMENTS
 
The four wildlife habitat elements are food, water, shelter and space.  By offering all of the them you'll increase the chances critters will come visiting and more importantly, stick around.  It's the diversity of wildlife that will help to bring balance to your naturescape.  Just like too much chocolate is not a good thing (mmmmm, I should re-think that example.... too much chocolate is always a good thing), let's say..... just like too many french fries are not a good thing, too much of one type of wildlife isn't necessarily good either.  Birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, small mammals of every description - the wider the variety the greater the likelihood you'll have a well balanced ecosystem in your naturescape.

Here's a quick run down on three of the four elements....

Food:  By food we mean naturally occurring food, as much as possible.   By growing plants that are appealing food sources for the native species of the PNW they will naturally want to visit and stick around.  Look for assortment of plants that produce nuts, berries and seeds throughout the year.

Water:  Ponds, streams and rivers are wonderful if/when you live by/near them, but for most of us, they're not a part of our landscape, so folks like us need to think of other ways to offer water.  A bird bath is the most common idea, or a critter bath (basically the same as a bird bath, but it's down at ground level).  Collection bowls under rain chains are another option, and small fountains/water features yet another.  Keep in mind, mosquito season is upon us, so be sure to plop a portion of a mosquito dunk into the water.  They're pet/wildlife safe, so no worries.

Space:  When we talk about space we're referring to leaving part of your landscape au natural - undisturbed.  If a tree blows down and it's not in the way of anything, leave it where it is and scape your garden around it.  Or perhaps just chop up part of it and leave the stump.  We've got a family of winter wrens living in this one.....

If you live next to a green belt or a neighbor with woodland, try to keep part of your garden connected so animals have a safe means to travel from place to place.

..... and for the final one, shelter I thought I'd go into a little more detail and show you some things I've done in my own garden.

First let's look at rock walls..... critters LOVE hidey holes - it offers them protection from the elements and enemies.  A rock wall is like one big condo complex to little critters.......hidey holes galore here!

Got a broken pot?  Here's a great way to recyle it.  Take a suitable piece and create a little place for critters to seek shelter from the elements.  Semi bury it into the ground so it's secure, and leave a few pieces of wood lying around for added effect.

I created this little set up right along where part of our garden meets the surrounding woodland, hoping that critters will come visiting from the woods and hang out.

Here's another idea.  Take a handful of small logs and pile them up log-cabin style and place an old piece of slate on top.  Ta dah!  Another opportunity to invite neighbors into your garden.

Wood stacks make great temporary havens.  My husband has a few assorted woodpiles in staging areas that will ultimately become firewood.... so while they're piled up the critters can move in and take cover.

Many of us have birdhouses -they're the most common form of wildlife shelter we humans place in our gardens.  We have lots of them scattered around our property, but the one shown below, situated in the rafters of our carport, is extra special.



First, because it was made by my husband's grandfather, so it brings with it wonderful memories.  Second, because it's become the annual residence for violet swallows who come back every spring to raise a family.... and swallows eat a LOT of bugs/mosquitos!  So while they help us with pest control we get front row seats to a great show.  We hear the peep, peep, peeping of the chicks and watch the parents tirelessly, time and again, return to the box with food.

Here's one poking his/her little head out of the hole marvelling at the world, and yes, I've even been lucky enough to see them fledge.  Early one July morning a few years back I just happened to be out in the front garden at the right time ..... a number of adult swallows were flying around the roof of the house making a heck of a noise - must have been calling out encouragements - and one by one the young ones came out of the hole, paused, wobbled and finally took the leap.  So cool!

Here's another type of shelter you can offer your flying friends......

How about a bat house?  We have one mounted on the outside of my husband's workshop.  Ideally, they should be placed high up on a structure (don't nail to a tree), in a location that gets a good amount of sun so the box can warm up.  Many folks think bats are like rats..... something you don't want hanging around your house.  But bats are beneficial..... just like swallows, they also love to eat insects - so get both of them to live in your garden and you'll have 24 hour bug patrol - swallows during the day, bats at night!

One final idea for your flying friends..... how about a mason bee house?  Find ways to encourage pollinators to come and live around your home.  A few months back I posted a blog about mason bees.... feel free to refer back to it for more details.

Finally, here's a truly unique shelter - I challenge anyone else in the PNW to claim they have one of these in their garden! 



See that swiss-cheesey looking dome thing in the background?  It's a miniature reef ball. My husband and I are avid SCUBA divers and learned about REEF BALLS when we were living in South Florida - and we were given a minature sample to take home.  When we moved up here I decided to put ours into the garden for critters to use as a shelter.  Here's what it looks like up close....

Lots of nooks and crannies.... a toad house perhaps?   

So, these are just some examples of ways you can introduce shelter in your garden.  Get creative, be whimsical!  Rather than throw an item out in the trash, consider recyling and re-using it as a critter shelter.  A double whammy benefit..... you keep things out of the landfill and you encourage critters to come and be a part of your naturescape.

Garden #2 - BDG holds a special say for interns

Oh my....... I just looked at the date of my last posting.... been a while since I touched base with you all..... where's the time gone?  I've been so busy!  The good kind of busy...... busy at work, busy with things to do in my own garden and busy with other family happenings..... my days are full and happy ones, so not complaining!

And what about my MG stuff?  It continues to hum along.  Working on completing one garden and one clinic assignment per month, and so far, things are just dandy.   Yesterday I attended my second garden activity - the Bellevue Demo Garden (BDG) held a special day for interns.  Educational and great fun!

The garden opened as usual at 9:00am, with many MGs arriving to tend to their assigned beds....



I spent some time helping in the Shade Garden...... just look at this Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum)... rear, and False Solomon's Deal (Smilacina racemosa) in the foreground..... spectacular! 



(On a side note..... I recently purchased two 1 gallon pots of Solomon's Seal for my own garden.... two beautiful fronds, each with that lovely row of pretty flowers hanging down..... they're now all safely planted in what I hope will be an ideal spot for them.  Anyone know how long it'll be before I'll go from two fronds to a spectacular show like this one?)

Back to the BDG...... after about an hour of digging in, the first year interns were invited to take part in a detailed tour of the garden.   Bonnie Nordgren, Assistant Leader for the BDG, and Education Leader, did the honors, giving us some history about the garden and then walking us through each and every area, telling us interesting facts and stories along the way. 

We then attended a very informative workshop on water gardens.  There's certainly more to it than meets the eye.  So, when you see a beautiful, well maintained pond or water feature in someone's garden, just know that it took a lot of time, effort and $$ to create it, and consistent ongoing care to keep it that way.  Didn't realise how much was involved...... my hats off to those that are willing to jump in and do it.



After the workshop we returned to the main garden to participate in a scavenger hunt.  A chance to meet our assigned BDG mentors, team up with some fellow interns and continue learning.  We had a series of 20+ garden-related questions/riddles to solve, each leading us to a different part of the garden and an envelope with yet another clue.  Very creative way to get folks networking, engaged and learning more about the garden.

All that exploring worked up quite an appetite!  Time for lunch!    Each BDG member contributed a pot luck item and helped serve up all the goodies.  My, what a spread. Not only do we have very knowledgeable MGers here, but talented cooks too!

Yum!

 

As lunch concluded, we each took a moment to introduce someone else in the group, from all the BDGers to us first year interns.   To finish things off.....see those potted plants down the center of the table?  Each one was a take home gift for a first year intern..... what a thoughtful and lovely idea! 

On behalf of all of us first year interns..... I'd just like to say THANK YOU to each and every member of the BDG team for putting on such a wonderful event.  You clearly went out of your way to make each and every one of us feel welcome.  Such attention to detail.......you even arranged for a gorgeous, warm, sunny, blue-sky day!    Hats off and a big round of applause to all!