Bad Gardening Tips

Good tips make gardening easier, but faulty tips can make it harder, or worse. Gardener Scott discusses some common gardening tips that don't work the way gardeners think they do. (Video #475)
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[@eliandkate]

absolutely fabulous video. Finally someone telling the truth about all these "hacks" 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@mythiccass3837]

I've come to be highly doubtful of garden tips/hacks by default after reading that so many of these tips don't actually work. Even if there is that one tip that actually works, good old compost probably achieves it anyway.

[@ninemoonplanet]

The only thing I have tried is finely ground egg shells and vinegar. I forget the chemistry behind the process, but I do remember the calcium is more bioavailable. As I have both an outdoor composter and a wormery, the banana peels (organic) go there. The worms love it, finely ground coffee is ok. Just like me, I tend to provide a mixed "diet" for my thousands of worms.

[@danielmansour7230]

Having watched a lot of your other videos you covered a lot of these myths before. But today I really wanted to thank you for putting these resources out. You have said you were a teacher and it shows in your style and presentation. Your videos gave me such a boost in knowledge that while my first year wasn't that great, this year I have seen some incredible crops and eaten so much from my garden. Thank you.

[@aileensmith3062]

We basically went through all of the phases of what DOES NOT work, except milk. One of those growing and learning things I guess. We just started composting and we are composting much like you. Thank You for another informative video!

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

The Dude abides with a first-class presentation. The use of medium shots and closeups. The varying seating positons and locations. And my favorite: the oral presentation done clearly and calmly, with (far as I could see) none of those quick cuts mid-sentence that cut out all the natural pauses in speech. First-time viewer but immediate subscriber.

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you! Welcome to the channel!

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you! Once I threw a broken egg in my gardenbed. 6 months later it was stil there.

[@brookehendricks7600]

Thank you so much. I learn a lot from your videos. I also like that you garden in a zone more similar to mine than some other gardeners on KZbin. (I'm in Edmonton Alberta Canada).

[@mikeminden1090]

Best garden supplement is a blend of equal parts ground white truffle, beluga caviar and saffron. A handful under each radish seed and you will be astounded how your radish leaves outperform the green in your wallet!

[@desertflower9557]

I have had success with coffee grounds giving fresh life to weak backyard hydrangea and rhododenren. The eggshells are a waste to me in compost, no time to be grinding into a powder, etc. Thanks Gardener Scott.

[@rootsshootsgardenboots]

Great, great video. Composting is key. Thank you.

[@dm4952]

Great video! It is difficult for a newbie like myself to know who and what to believe, but I trust your opinion, and the info from several university agricultural sites, because it is science based. Having done so this year, my little garden has done much better this year. Thank you!

[@321novrain]

EXCELLENT video Scott !! As a new gardener, I get overwhelmed with all the information about "magical" tips here on KZbin. Great explanation , easy to understand ! Thank you Sir 👍

[@tuloko16]

Here is a tip: if the tittle includes “the best”, “the Ultimate” “they don’t want you to know this”, “secret”, “hack”... chances are its a fake video and they only want clicks. As far as gardening, look at nature. Watch how things grow naturally, and the processes that take place, and emulate that. Lastly, it takes years to become “good” at gardening, and evwn then, you are always learning. Yes, you can go and “force success” by putting all kinds of “ammendments” on your soil, and to some it may be worth it. But in my opinion, success is growing stuff with minimal to no input.

[@321novrain]

That's a good tip for everything on KZbin, not just gardening. Thanks for the reply. I believe I'll just concentrate on a good compost bin and good watering habits.

[@kamilfrancoolczak]

just Enjoy gardening ❤

[@dangalimidi5609]

Great video. I always see people responding about adding eggshells for blossom end rot and just shake my head. I grind up dried egg shells and feed them to composting worms. The use that to ammend my soil.

[@GardenerScott]

That is the primary way I use eggshells too.

[@oreopaksun2512]

Thank you! That reminds me of one reason why I should keep a Bokashi composting bin going: crushed egg shells break down in compost so much faster after the fermentation process. All those things do not work; compost can use all those leftovers from our kitchen, and help with all those problems in the garden.....but it is so hard to wait for the compost to be ready!

[@jeffjones4474]

What a phenomenal video. Thank you again, gardener Scott!

[@Benham_Design]

This was an awesome video. There is so much misinformation out there these days. So many people dismiss science and replace it with wishful thinking and folklore

[@frankbarnwell____]

Unfortunately at work ( a Lowes garden center). They perpetuate and reinforce these myths by keeping Epsom salt among the fertilizers. Thanks GS. Decent, honest fertilizer brands list calcium, magnesium and other added chemical elements.

[@DonnyPlunkett]

Good job, @Gardener Scott in calling out the gardening Bravo Sierra. Like Abraham Lincoln once said, 'you can't believe everything you hear on KZbin'. My dad's a big believer in the amazing benefits of eggs shells on tomato plants. :) There's no much gardening nonsense out there that if you run out of video ideas, you could probably make a whole series of videos just like this one. :)

[@berghauss]

When I came across this video and saw the title, my first thought was that this might be a bit controversial. Because I use almost all of these ingredients myself, except milk and epson salt. But in the compost heap! It quickly became clear to me what Scott was alluding to. Of course it makes sense to use some of these things in the garden, but as he says, not in the beds themselves. I have seen hundreds of videos of eggshells being mixed into the soil, say in buckets where tomatoes are grown (I grow them in buckets myself). And not one where the bucket is emptied at the end of the season. We know why. In our home, household waste is fermented through the bokashi process. And then it gets mixed into the compost heaps. Eggshells are also in the mix, but no one separates them out, like bones, oil and pits. The compost that goes into the beds themselves is at least one year old and has been mixed with household waste that has been fermented for at least two to three months (we have four bokashi containers). Sometimes I even put two-year-old compost in the beds. You can guess what is the only thing that has not decomposed inside. As for snails, uncleaned shells, or not toasted in the oven, even attract snails, a free meal. Great video!

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

In some places with neutral or alkaline soil, eggshells can last up to 100 years. We have fairly acidic soil around here, and eggshells break down within a year, but I still dry then and grind them up to speed up the process. Even then, it still takes time for the eggshell dust to break down, so it's best to do this at the beginning of the season. I've heard some people mix vinegar with the eggshell dust to make the calcium available from the start, but this seems like a waste of vinegar.

[@hugelpook]

Another thorough and informative video. Thanks for passing on your knowledge.

[@potpourrioflife]

Excellent video. I do put scraps into the compost (well, the ones the chickens don't consume) If I see that they leave them in their run after a few days, I rake them up and put in the compost. My compost sits for 2 yrs before using. Between the brown & green matter, along w/the food scraps and manure, I seem to always have a healthy compost with loads of worms.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. You probably already do it, but a great way to use eggshells is to feed them to your chickens.

[@angelaanderson5360]

The reason I was so interested in this post is that I wanted to see if gardener scott agreed with me. He did. The best place for those "remedies " is in your compost bin or your worm bed. Thank you for valuable information.

[@OutdoorScienceDad]

I love your videos and I highly respect you as well (I am also a veteran), however I disagree about eggshells in a way. Eggshells won't immediately help your plants, but they still support soil health. When I hear gardeners say not to use eggshells in their compost, I think they are not planning for the long haul. If eggs didn't decompose there would be piles of empty eggs at the bottom of every tree in the forest. Even if it takes 1 year, 3 years or even 5, those minerals and elements will eventually be available to your plants. Think about planting a bare root fruit tree. Do you expect fruit for the first few years? Nope. Gardeners gotta have patience and plan for the big picture. Eggshells are still organic materials that provide energy and surface space for microorganisms to use. If you are properly maintaining your hot compost pile, you are mixing, or flipping it over periodically. Then you not only have microorganisms breaking it down, but you have heat and moisture weathering it down, and the physical action smashing/crushing it into bits and moving it all around. Warm moist soil also lowers the pH, allowing elements to leech from the shells. Again, I am not saying eggshells will make your tomatoes better this year. But they will support a healthy soil and eventually be able to help plants. I am in my forever home. I will be gardening the same backyard for hopefully several more decades. I still add eggshells to my compost because it's kinda like investing for the future of my soil.

[@GardenerScott]

Eggshells can add benefits to soil to include improving drainage, but as you point out it is a long-term addition not a quick fix.

[@johnjude2685]

About BER I'm listening to the Lady of "Gardening in Canada " she's saying minerals during the seedings begins to first make new leaves and I'm improving my seedings soil mixture. Be surprised if you're not on board I'm with you I think the egg shell doesn't break down but that egg white and yoke is good Thanks again

[@jeand2139]

egg shells work, but you have to powder them.

[@gardeningwithcaitlin]

As always, thanks for the info 😊

[@HotPotatoGardener-HPG-143]

We often chase our tails in the garden. Assessment is the best skill of a gardener

[@PBarrPrince]

I'm glad I'm a skeptic in general. I shy away from anything gimmicky or too good to be true. I may investigate if i see a possible scientific basis for the claim though. I watch a lot of videos and try to get a consensus on something before i try it. I look up reading material too from 'experts.' There's a lot of JUNK out there! Beware! 🤔

[@northerntailsdogtraining3129]

This is very helpful. Thank you

[@garynorcal4269]

Nice content .. my thoughts. 1. Compost 2. Compost 3. And if you don't know what to do .. COMPOST.

[@philt77]

G-Scott is the shit. Very good video/subject. Thank You.

[@heidiclark6612]

Thank You for the good advice. I see so much of these things being pushed on the internet.

[@cliveburgess4128]

Good one. Thank you!!

[@DonnyPlunkett]

@Gardener Scott, What about compost tea and companion planting? Are those mostly gardening bravo sierra also? You should make a video on fertilizer myths. There are tons of those. The more fertilizer you use and the more often you fertilize, the healthier your plants will be. The bigger the NPK numbers the better. Use a plant specific fertilizer for every plant variety you grow. Foliar fertilization is superior to all other fertilization methods. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[@GardenerScott]

I like your question. I believe they are more bravo sierra than not. I've talked about compost tea and its ineffectiveness in some of my Monday livestreams. I've talked about the limitations of companion planting in livestreams too and have been planning a video on the myths of companion planting. I do have a video on foliar fertilization, but most of my focus has been on the importance of building good soil so you don't need fertilizer..

[@kevinferris4065]

Great video, thanks Scott!

[@Rocketman0407]

Crushed eggshells adds calcium fast. Look at soilabs experiments using eggshells in soil for 2 weeks. As for Bananas peels if they are dried and finly powdered they will break down in the soil fairly fast.

[@DanielS-hp3px]

Has anyone ever used potassium citrate in the garden and if so, how do you mix it?

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

Great vid Scott, but Don't use eggshells? Now I feel like I have "egg on my face." I'm "just a shell" of my former gardening self. Believing those other videos, I guess the "yokes on me," oops I mean Jokes...sorry,I just had to...

[@borracho-joe7255]

Well said GS!

[@emmalavenham]

I do not understand why anyone thinks they need to do anything other than compost and mulch - unless they do a soil test and the soil test says its lacking

[@dustyflats3832]

I did use 1/4 c of epsom salt around a rose shrub and it kicked many new canes up.

[@lilycardoso4679]

You made me laugh when you said the best use of espsom salt is in the bathtub.. 😂

[@casualgardeningwithdustin]

One thing that gets me frustrated are those "helpful" gardening articles that say you can control pests with baking soda. They claim that eating baking soda will release carbon dioxide and asphyxiate (or explode) the pests. The trouble with this idea is that most garden pests eat and breathe from the opposite ends of their bodies. So even if they were burping up a bunch of CO2, their spiracles, on their abdomens, would be clear of any threat of possible asphyxiation. The only way garden pests could explode is if their guts had a gas-tight seal. Most insects have a mid-gut pH of 6, which isn't going to get you a terribly exciting reaction with baking soda (for comparison, vinegar has a pH of 2-3, which is between 1000 and 10,000 times more potent than a pH of 6).

[@Junzar56]

Sone of these things I put in my compost.

[@angelaanderson5360]

14:43 there is so much misinformation on these videos out there. I trust this master gardener. Thank you.

[@aloras405]

Thank you. A lot of these "tips" drive me crazy because they just don't have any real evidence that they work but they're passed around like crazy.

[@annal3708]

😂IKR! They don’t even try to explain how that’s supposed to work. 🙄

[@annal3708]

😂IKR! They don’t even try to explain how that’s supposed to work. 🙄

[@aloras405]

@@annal3708 And when you go debunk them with real scientific studies, you get blasted by people who say "Well, it worked for me." or "You don't know what you're talking about because they have a ton of followers and you are a nobody." 🤦‍♀

[@smitty9999]

Robert Pavlis from Garden Myths covers all these topics. You may want to consider a collaboration with him.

[@TheLowLandGardener]

Scott, it would be cool to make video on how to use this products properly like eating the bananas and eggs and brewing coffee then lastly epsom salt to relax your muscles after hardwork of gardening.

[@GardenerScott]

I like that idea.

[@joycebovee5818]

I read somewhere about taking a banana peel and putting it in the jar and covering it with water and then using that to place around the base of your plants. Have you heard anything like that?

[@GardenerScott]

I have. It takes a low amount of potassium and effectively dilutes it. It still isn't a good source of potassium but it does ensure the plant gets watered.

[@rom4you]

Thank you for this very interesting video! It's all about life in the soil. What do you think of the fungi and bacteria you can find in garden stores? To enrich soil mix (peat worm compost...) in greenhouses... Regards from France

[@GardenerScott]

I'm hesitant to use fungi and bacteria from the store. They are harvested from areas that can be much different than mine and may not survive well. My hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters will be different than yours in France and we have different microbes in our soils.

[@thedude20125]

I wish the answer wasn't always compost is best. Not because I don't think it's true because I'm sure it is. But because even though I live in a residential neighborhood I'm basically on a bear highway and just can't safely have a compost bin in my yard. I had to turn back from a walk literally yesterday because 2 of them were trying to rip open a neighbour's municipal compost bin about 100 ft from my yard!

[@Jamescityboygardening]

I see on KZbin people now saying to pulverize the egg shells, what's position pulverized egg shells?

[@GardenerScott]

The idea is that pulverized shells will break down faster, but it still requires an acidic environment, takes a long time, and adds little to the plants.

[@austintrees]

A lot of tall over story trees in my backyard, do I need full sun, partial sun for a compost bin? Or am I fine in shade? I'd assume it doesn't matter...

[@GardenerScott]

You don't need sun or shade to compost. The bacteria generate the heat, so you're fine in the shade.

[@bobbybusche2716]

There's sugar in the banana peel. It will help feed the bacteria and accelerate decomposition. Banana peels break down rapidly anyway. I direct sow all my food scraps since i dont compost. Its not a miracle cure, but I'm adding organic manner nonetheless. For me eggs break down in a month. Basically, j think this video tries to show the point of "theres no short term solution for a long term problem"

[@WilliamFarwell]

add your vinegar to your egg shells Mr scott ie ......... Calcium : )

[@cindynielson4231]

Some of these I have heard of and thought were crazy. I never heard about sugar for tomatoes. My question is would it be beneficial to dry the egg shells and crush them in a food processor/blender before adding to my compost? TFS 👍

[@GardenerScott]

You can dry, crush, and pulverize eggshells, but they still break down slowly. When small like that they might help improve drainage a bit.

[@cindynielson4231]

Thanks for the answer I have been thinking about using that method and I don't feel like that is a a big deal to do. Thank you again. @@GardenerScott

[@justinarnold7725]

Epsom salts is also a very effective worm killer

[@swoodard429]

Hey Scott as usual great video. Question, I am about to dethatch my yard. Should I save this old thatch and put it in my raised beds this fall?

[@GardenerScott]

That can be a good mulch. Thatch tends to be thicker and longer-lasting than just grass clippings.

[@MrMikekenney120]

Gardener Scott, thanks for all you do for the community! I've never been early enough on a video that I think you would see my question. I have been building raised beds for the last few years, I'm trying to get away from planting in my soil because it is full of COAL (I'm assuming the house used it at one point for cooking or heating) my presumption is that this is "contaminated" and dangerous? Our family has owned the house over 50 years and have been gardening off and on over the years. Should we not be eating anything grown in this anymore?

[@charlesdevier8203]

You must mean that your soil has "ashes" from burning coal. Ashes has been used for generations to add minerals to the soil, and it works very well. Why do you think coal is poison? It is a deposit of plants of the past, just like the compost pile, but older. My Grandfather, father and I have all used ashes in the garden up to seven years ago; we do not have a wood/coal stove any more.

[@GardenerScott]

Getting a laboratory analysis of your soil is a good place to start. A soil test can tell you if your soil is contaminated. Look to a university near you for a test. Some Master Gardener programs do it for free.

[@MrMikekenney120]

​@GardenerScott Great idea Sir, work and life is very busy, I will have to find out if there is a Master Gardener program anywhere near me (just south of Boston). Thanks for the advice!

[@MrMikekenney120]

​@@charlesdevier8203I do not mean "ashes", coal hasn't been burned on the property for at least 60 years. Whatever system was used to burn mustn't have been very efficient because there is alot of (what I'm assuming is un burnt or remnant coal) throughout the soil. This is nothing like wood ash or "pot ash" this is like a shiny glass rock. Just interested to see if anyone has dealt with this.

[@charlescoker7752]

What about making anerobic compost tea? Some channels swear by it other say it is bad to use in a garden?

[@GardenerScott]

I'm not a fan of compost tea as a soil additive because I think it's better to add the compost directly. The tea dilutes its nutrients and reduces its usefulness as a microbe food source. There are some studies that show the tea may have some benefits as a foliar spray.

[@petrusvandermerwe-ln7vs]

what is best for garden compost or manure shop bought

[@GardenerScott]

Organic matter as soil amendment is good. You have control when you make your own compost or use manure from a trusted source, but store-bought can be a good alternative if that's your only option.

[@cliveburgess4128]

Just watching this again, what about bone meal? I have been saving my chicken bones and drying them out etc. to make my own, I kind of hope you say junk! Ha, ha, tired of messing with it, thanks again for your info!

[@GardenerScott]

Bone meal can be good way to add nutrients to soil, but less likely with chicken bones than beef bones.

[@Mastadex]

Scott, what do you think of using cold coffee (not the grounds) to acidify the soil? I would assume it wouldn't be long lasting, but I make coffee every day and was wondering if this could be used in some way once cold.

[@GardenerScott]

It isn't long lasting and not worth the effort. Pouring it into a compost pile does add some a small amount of organic matter while moistening the pile.

[@selah4719]

I add ground up eggshells to my compost, chopped up banana peels etc . Never used milk in garden , but my grandfather told me a spray of flour and milk will prevent cabbage worms . Never tried it, but has anyone heard of it ?

[@GardenerScott]

Milk does have some anti-fungal properties, but I haven't heard of it being used when mixed with flour.

[@roottrackerzbyyaira]

Milk diluted with water helps with powdery mildew. The flour I am unsure about. Baking soda helps with some things on the garden.

[@joelfwbfl]

What if you let the egg shells and banana peels completely dry up then grind them to a fine powder, can that be used as fertilizer? We're new at gardening. Great video and tips by the way.

[@GardenerScott]

Grinding them to a powder will hasten the breakdown, but it still takes a long time and won't add a lot of nutrients in a usable form. There are better fertilizer options. I prefer amending soil and letting the microbes break down organic matter into what the plants need.

[@joelfwbfl]

@@GardenerScott Thank you very much for responding, I'll quit using that method, hopefully I didn't ruin any of the plants I used it on. You have other great videos as well and a new subscriber. Have a great day.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Caffeine, I have heard, is an effective herbicide. It's not common that you want to throw that upon your plants.

[@WebMaster-vh7ek]

How do feel about dumping used ammonia mop water into the compost pile? Im thinking NH 4 could add some nitrogen.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

It's perfectly fine to use diluted ammonia in the garden, so it should be okay to add it to the compost as well. Ammonia is an ingredient in many fertilizers, after all. Just don't apply it full strength, and pay attention to any other ingredients in the detergents you use.

[@GardenerScott]

Plants use ammonium (NH4) rather than ammonia (NH3). Aerobic bacteria are involved with the nitrification process, and ammonia is often used as a compost booster.

[@Octoschizare]

What about milk for spraying diluted milk on cantaloupe leaves to combat and prevent powdery mildew? A lot of people are recommending it.

[@monikap8585]

It works for my pumpkin leaves, it helps to supress powdery mildew

[@GardenerScott]

There are studies that show potential anti-fungal properties of milk. I haven't found research with specific recommended ratios for a spray.

[@modliszqa]

Dzień dobry :) Pozwolę sobie pisać w moim ojczystym języku - mam nadzieję, że mi wybaczysz . Zgadzam się w 100% z Twoimi spostrzeżeniami , ale mam jeden p[problem z moją ziemią pod osłonami. Mam ziemię lekką, piaszczystą , pH 6,5 o sporej zawartości wapnia, więc sucha zgnilizna wierzchołkowa nie występuje u moich pomidorów. Występuje natomiast niedobór magnezu - w tym roku u 75% roślin była chloroza magnezowa. Pytanie do Ciebie - czym lepiej uzupełnić ów niedobór magnezu : wapnem magnezowym, czy jednak siarczanem magnezu (solą Epsom) ? A może są lepsze źródła tego niezbędnego składnika? Będę wdzięczna za podpowiedź. Pozdrawiam serdecznie . Jola.

[@GardenerScott]

Cześć. Obydwa są najczęstszymi sposobami dodawania magnezu. Wapno magnezowe może kosztować mniej, ale może podnieść pH gleby. Siarczan magnezu może również dodawać siarkę do gleby. Każdy wybór jest dobry.

[@modliszqa]

@@GardenerScott Dzięki ! Wybieram więc Epsom, bo nie chcę podnosić pH gruntu a siarka pomidorom sprzyja :)

[@lastchancemonicam3948]

Dear G.S. Peace and thank you for the video. I want to point out something with using milk to increase the calcium in your garden. The calcium found on the periodic table, which plants need is Ca- the pure form. The calcium found in milk is found in bound and iodized forms- modified. Plants can't process the modified forms even if they're modified and produced by a living organism- like a cow or goat.