NOT FOUND: plantlady.jpgDoes this really work? Or is this going to hurt? That’s a question we often ask ourselves. Ever heard of an old wives tale? Why do we have to be old and have a tale to know what really works? I’m old now, 40 thank you, and I do think I finally might know what I’m talking about. My dear sista, Tiffy Boo, asked if I could cover myths & truths so maybe this is my best attempt.

1. Does watering my lawn in the hot sun burn it or burn my plant leaves? NO is the truth. Watering in extreme heat does not burn the lawn. Heat magnification burns occur from a distance like a bug & a magnifying glass. However, when hot the evaporation rate is accelerated and our water can vaporize and be a waste of money and resources.
2. To avoid transplant shock use B-1. This one took me by surprise, B-1 does nothing. It’s the other minerals and ingredients such as hormones. The B-1 is simply a marketing strategy. Wow!
3. Gypsum to break up clay soil: not exactly! At Home Depot we used to carry a product called Soil Buster. It contained 70% pelletized gypsum. There was even an article in the Sac Bee. Wow, sales boomed. Then the product was pulled. Hmmm. Yes the plot thickens.
Gypsum claims to soften hard clay soils. Gypsum is actually – (calcium sulfate) – and when added to high sodium soils (hard soil) it actually replaces the sodium (salts) with calcium leaving a more pliable desired soil. The sodium has now left the building, “as did Elvis”. TCB Baby!
4. The soil under pines and oaks is acidic. Yes and No. The first few inches are, however, if the bedrock underneath consists of limestone, then that soil will be on the alkaline side. It takes many years of leaf build up to counteract for the acidity to become an effect! FOOD FOR THOUGHT! LISTEN TO YOUR PLANT LADY.
5. Poinsettas are poisonous: NOT! Long, long ago a king’s son got sick after eating a bloom. Coincidence. Years of testing has proved.
6. Seeds are no good after one season! Wrong. Store in an air tight jar with a lid, with a little powdered milk in it to absorb moisture and keep them in the dark. They will last 5 years or more. I shoulda done this long ago.
7. Rubber mulch vs. bark – straw. Yes, as far as aesthetics goes rubber wins, does not decompose, fungi and insects do not desire it as a habitat, does not fade, etc, etc. However, if you place it in an area or live in an area high in fire significance it will be the easiest to ignite and the hardest to extinguish.
8. This one is just kinda cool. Country soil vs. urban city soils. Kinda like in the 70’s, free, flowing, soft, fertile out in the middle of nowhere, anything’s possible. Loose, no restrictions, oh the possibilities. That’s the country soils. Urban/city landscape is such a challenge relating back to the compaction of rock, soil & dead debris from the big heavy trucks when the neighborhoods were being formed. This could explain why our yards never look like grandma’s out in the sticks did. When housing areas are being formed all the soils are graded and scraped, flattened. Heavy equipment compacts the entire area, etc, etc, etc. Wow. Interesting. Therefore we gotta to bring in so much top soil, raised beds, etc. I woulda never thunk it.
9. Cover fresh cuts or pruned branches with tar, seal or paint: to keep fungus out, etc. This can actually be false! If the tree is pruned properly it can seal and heal itself if the cut is a straight clean cut right outside the branch collar. If done incorrectly and sealed off, moisture is held under the wound, bacteria incurs and fungal decay begins.
10. Last but not least: if we do everything right, then, by golly, nothing can ever go wrong! Sure. We all know this truth. Drive thru the country, take a trip to the Redwoods, Yosemite, Highway 101 Scenic Coast, Yellowstone, the desert, even Tahoe. Who designed and gardened that? The Garden God himself, the only green thumb there really is. Natural environments will always be our example in the quest to duplicate it for our own satisfaction. All that nature receives is poop and water and look at it. We’ll never be able to out do it. However, with a little grace and some effort we can achieve our own personal little piece of heaven in our own backyards. Sometimes less is more and new ain’t always better. I have learned the stupidest questions get the smartest answers. Trust me I have asked many in my time.

Now to answer August readers:
1. Diane: The bayer is 402, and if your tree measures 50 or more inches then you will definitely need more Bayer Systemic, and the water is increased to two gallons.
2. For shrubs or multi stemmed trees & bushes measure all major trunks and add together the inches and mix that amount of Systemic with one or more gallons of water.
3. I remember you well. I love you, come see me anytime. Your lawn requires only an inch of water per week. When over 100 degrees, two inches is sufficient.

This actually was a common problem brought to me this month. Don’t overwater and cut your set timers down to halftime. This year’s weather has been absolutely unpredictable and yes, weird.
As always, whoever and wherever you are – you are loved. Yes you. Thank you for sharing your time with me .

Love Your Plant Lady,
Rene