Thank you for condemning plastic weed barriers. I don't know any experienced gardener who likes it. I agree that plastic edging is hideous. The decline of education means fewer people take physics, but some physics is common sense: water runs downhill. As for choosing the wrong plants. Wherever you live, there are lovely plants. But just as I can't grow camellias in Central Texas, I have plumbago that blooms all summer and returns year after year. The opposite is true of the Carolinas where camellias flourish, and plumbago has to be treated as an exotic annual. People can grow beautiful plants in most places, but no one can grow every plant where they live unless they undertake extraordinary efforts. Growing grass lawns in most of Texas is a costly waste of precious water.
I have lived on my property for 30 years and have been fighting a thick plastic weed barrier put down by the previous owner. I Planted trees and have to use a jackhammer to punch holes through out the gravel, dirt and then plastic so the trees can get water to the roots. Just can't afford to pull all the heavy gravel and dirt to pull it all out. It covers a long driveway I am trying to convert.
The other thing that drives me nuts is people buy some shrub in a gallon container and never take the time to find out how big the shrub will become as it matures. They plant it about one to two feet from the house which looks okay but in five to ten years the shrub will be growing against their house, blocking air circulation around the plant and causing mold to form on the house. Or, they plant it under a window. It might look ridiculous to plant a small shrub four, five (or more) feet from your house when you first buy it but in time it will look great. I have seen this done throughout the entire east coast.
Thank you for these tips! My neighbor just had to remove plastic weed barrier from a long bed because the plants and trees started dying. The landscapers originally put it in, and then piled multiple inches of mulch right on top..
1) You should never raise the soil around a tree more than 2 inches, or you will rot the trunk. However, if you need to raise the soil level, say 6 to 8 inches, you can use bricks or rocks to make a well around your tree. Place them 18 inches to 2 ft around the tree, and use them to hold back the soil. Over time soil will eventually build up in the well (after all, soil builds up in the forest over the 100 year or so lifespan of most trees), but this occurs at a rate on the order of a quarter to half an inch a year. The area inside the well may become weedy, but that`s OK, just weed it every now and then, and maybe plant a low ground cover. In 20 years the soil level in the well may eventually reach the same level as the rest. 2) I hate garden geotextile. The only 2 places place I've ever used it is when I planted a new cedar (really thuya) hedge, I put an 18-inch strip on either side to control weeds, and I also put it under flagstone or brick paths.
Hi Robert! Great video, as always; thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I was curious, if I was to reach out to you for a potential product review that my company is currently working on, what would be the best way to do so?
Hello, sometime ago you made a video with neem oil into the soil. I was wondering if I can put neem oil in my grow bags before winter months so it kills bugs. I'm in zone 4A Quebec. Thank you
I don't think I made that video - Neem is mostly a contact pesticide. It will work if it gets in contact with the bugs, but won't do much good sitting in cold soil all winter. www.gardenmyths.com/neem-oil-insecticide-fungicide/
Thank you for condemning plastic weed barriers. I don't know any experienced gardener who likes it. I agree that plastic edging is hideous. The decline of education means fewer people take physics, but some physics is common sense: water runs downhill. As for choosing the wrong plants. Wherever you live, there are lovely plants. But just as I can't grow camellias in Central Texas, I have plumbago that blooms all summer and returns year after year. The opposite is true of the Carolinas where camellias flourish, and plumbago has to be treated as an exotic annual. People can grow beautiful plants in most places, but no one can grow every plant where they live unless they undertake extraordinary efforts. Growing grass lawns in most of Texas is a costly waste of precious water.
I have lived on my property for 30 years and have been fighting a thick plastic weed barrier put down by the previous owner. I Planted trees and have to use a jackhammer to punch holes through out the gravel, dirt and then plastic so the trees can get water to the roots. Just can't afford to pull all the heavy gravel and dirt to pull it all out. It covers a long driveway I am trying to convert.
The other thing that drives me nuts is people buy some shrub in a gallon container and never take the time to find out how big the shrub will become as it matures. They plant it about one to two feet from the house which looks okay but in five to ten years the shrub will be growing against their house, blocking air circulation around the plant and causing mold to form on the house. Or, they plant it under a window. It might look ridiculous to plant a small shrub four, five (or more) feet from your house when you first buy it but in time it will look great. I have seen this done throughout the entire east coast.
Great video!
Did you say, “frikkin’,” Robert?
Lol
Yup, I heard that too. Hilarious.
Very informative and you speak clear and straightforward which is perfect for new gardeners like me.
Love your channel, filled with important info especially, for me a new gardener, Thanks!
MIstake nr 3 - i had this problem, bed was below at first, but roots grew and filled up the bed.
Thank you for these tips! My neighbor just had to remove plastic weed barrier from a long bed because the plants and trees started dying. The landscapers originally put it in, and then piled multiple inches of mulch right on top..
Thank you. You are great for all of us who attempt doing gardening. ❤
Thanks so much, learned a lot. I have 2 lilac trees and wasn't sure where to plant them, so I left them in the container.
Good basic advice! Thanks
1) You should never raise the soil around a tree more than 2 inches, or you will rot the trunk. However, if you need to raise the soil level, say 6 to 8 inches, you can use bricks or rocks to make a well around your tree. Place them 18 inches to 2 ft around the tree, and use them to hold back the soil. Over time soil will eventually build up in the well (after all, soil builds up in the forest over the 100 year or so lifespan of most trees), but this occurs at a rate on the order of a quarter to half an inch a year. The area inside the well may become weedy, but that`s OK, just weed it every now and then, and maybe plant a low ground cover. In 20 years the soil level in the well may eventually reach the same level as the rest.
2) I hate garden geotextile. The only 2 places place I've ever used it is when I planted a new cedar (really thuya) hedge, I put an 18-inch strip on either side to control weeds, and I also put it under flagstone or brick paths.
Love yout teachings. Tanks.
Thank you. 🍁🍂🍁💚🙃
What a great video!
Hi Robert! Great video, as always; thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I was curious, if I was to reach out to you for a potential product review that my company is currently working on, what would be the best way to do so?
You will find my email here www.gardenmyths.com/media-kit/
Hello, sometime ago you made a video with neem oil into the soil. I was wondering if I can put neem oil in my grow bags before winter months so it kills bugs. I'm in zone 4A Quebec. Thank you
I don't think I made that video - Neem is mostly a contact pesticide. It will work if it gets in contact with the bugs, but won't do much good sitting in cold soil all winter.
www.gardenmyths.com/neem-oil-insecticide-fungicide/
@@Gardenfundamentals1 Thank you so much :)
I think I have to watch all of your videos.🙂
I agree :)
👍👍👍
Couldn’t find the design video??
th-cam.com/video/_PTTpgyrpmk/w-d-xo.html
Tip #6: don't plant trees under power lines.