Garden Gimmicks You NEED To Stay Away From

Gardening is taking off again with the onset of spring! But there are a ton of garden gimmicks out there. This Gardening In Canada video looks at which Garden Gimmicks you need to stay away from.
Hey GIC Crew!
The requests for some form of online course is humbling. I won’t have time to “design” anything for this year that’s a classic course. But I would have time for a small group to do a 4-week live course. If this is something you would be interested in now or even in the future could you fill out this Google form?
It would help me get an idea of the level of interest, what intensity we are looking for, etc.
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Ashley has had a passion for plants since she was a small child. In the long summers as a child, she would garden alongside her grandmother and it was then that she realized her love for greenery. With years of great studying, Ashley had begun her post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan.
At first, her second love, animals, was the career path she chose but while doing her undergrad she realized that her education would take her elsewhere. And with that, four years later she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in science and a major in Soil Science.
Some of Ashley’s interests are KZbin, in which she posts informative videos about plants and gardening. The focus of Ashley’s KZbin channel is to bring science to gardening in a way that is informative but also helpful to others learning to garden. She also talks about the importance of having your own garden and the joys of gardening indoors. Ashley continues to study plants in her free time and hopes to expand her KZbin channel as well as her reach to up-and-coming gardeners.
Disclaimer
This description or comments section may contain links to affiliate websites. I receive a commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such a link. This includes the gardening in Canada website. You should assume all links both on the gardening in Canada KZbin, Blog, and all other social media are affiliates and I will receive compensation.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hey GIC Crew! 🤓🥸 The requests for some form of online course is humbling. I won’t have time to “design” anything for this year that’s a classic course. But I would have time for a small group to do a 4-week live course. If this is something you would be interested in now or even in the future could you fill out this Google form? It would help me get an idea of the level of interest, what intensity we are looking for, etc. forms.gle/htxg5NSmNFRrLRAw5

[@ebby0808]

I would join that group. I have a lot to learn.

[@BuddieChuck-in2zd]

Learning from you, talk about a dream……..

[@LB-vl3qn]

Ashley, if you are ever in doubt about whether to speak your mind in a video, just know that I deeply appreciate your honesty and candor on the touchy subjects, and I am sure I'm not alone. Throughout this entire video, all I could think of were other content creators declaring such-and-such product the secret ingredient to their gardening success, as well as all the "must have" products and tools they declare no gardener should be without. Then. here you come and blow them all out of the water. From the bottom of my gardener's heart, thank you. ~ Lisa

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh jeeze thank you ☺️

[@juniperjonestown]

Agreed!! Myco is being advertised as “transplant shock prevention” or a way to avoid it all together!!!

[@wendymoyer782]

Yes, please; honesty all day everyday but especially regarding gardening gimmicks!​@@GardeningInCanada

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

I like hand watering my garden and landscape. It’s “me” time. It slows things down and let’s me get a good look at each individual plant.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s true I enjoy it as well.

[@gioknows]

"I shit you not"...OMG I died when you said that, it was so unexpected. Lee Valley is an incredible store. Cheers from 🍁Ottawa🍁

[@ArtFlowersBeeze8815]

Meh...it depends on what it is. I've had hand tools fall apart. 3x! And then there are those stainless steel shovels and forks...have had over 10 years. So they get gimmicky stuff as well. But fun catalogue to read!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahaha 😂 thanks!

[@YanickaQuilt]

That store is dangerous 😂😂😂😂

[@trevorlucas9971]

Please talk about worm castings for your next video Would like to upvote this twice but can not, great stuff! Please more of this!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I will do a giant version of this because you guys like it so much!

[@CassiexLifeCEO]

Just started a worm farm journey last week! Can't wait!

[@jaliranchr]

My favorite tool is probably 90 years old. It was my grandmother's triangular hoe, passed down to me and I won't let it go for anything. The handle has been replaced many times but the blade still takes a great sharpening, every time. Hit those yard sales and there are often truly good yard tools if you look carefully.

[@56243G]

I have a triangular hoe that my grandfather made from a blade on a sickle bar mower. It's not perfect, but I use it all the time anyway.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Awe I love that story ❤️

[@AscheOfTheLake]

Dont give away all our secrets! 😂 I also like finding amtique stores in those middle of nowhere towns. Plenty of old tools pop up.

[@wendymoyer782]

​@@56243Gmy Dad made those for us as well!

[@sqeekable]

I have a hori hori knife I love for a multitude of uses and pruners, which I wrap fluorescent tape around since I have a bad habit of laying them down in grass. Plus a cool leather belt/ pouch my husband made for me to store them in.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is a wonderful tool!

[@chesterhobbs7244]

You are a gardener's treasure. I so enjoy your videos on a number of levels. Please didn't stop!

[@andreimj]

Thank you for bringing science into this hobby of mine. Your content is exactly what I need

[@KiaGreenEyes]

Agree with all presented and would like to add to the topic of mycorrhizal inocculants: For permanent shrub beds and for trees, just mulch with arborist woodchips! They are naturally inocculated and will better condition the soil than any gimmiky soil amendment. Check out Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott from the University of Washington Extension for the peer-reviewed literature on the benefits of using woodchips as mulch. Cheers from a fellow Canadian Hortygirl.

[@janew5351]

I just bought rosemary and pansies at Home Depot today. I will name today , 1st day of garden life!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Woohoo! 🎉

[@kaptynssirensong2357]

😊

[@AscheOfTheLake]

I did that once 20 years ago... Now I have a grow tent in my living room with a massive grow light to with my 30+ tomato, 20 peppers, tons of herb, and cucumber seedlings... And more to come 😂 I don't have a problem, nope.

[@user-om8lm8yb9i]

@@AscheOfTheLake No you do not!! *leans in and whispers* Because if you have a problem, I also have a problem 😂🤣

[@carolstuff]

Love your debunk/gimmick vids; they’re informative, but also entertaining. Thanks for sharing Ashley!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you like them!

[@abydosianchulac2]

Slander against rock dust! Next you'll be saying bone broth, the miracle drink of our age, is just marginally passable stock the like of which we've been boiling down for the past ten thousand years. 😬

[@GardeningInCanada]

Ha

[@ArtFlowersBeeze8815]

Smoke your bones before making the broth. Soooo good!

[@user-uz8sn1qv8y]

no, but she MAY tell you how beneficial bone broth is if you pour it into your compost!!! :) :) :)

[@annettevanderklippe1653]

I have a Japanese gardening sickle I cant be without. I also need garden gloves! But same as you, I have a lot of tools I never use. I would love to see a video on how you care for tools, plus storage ideas.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Never heard of this before!

[@philee2020]

Omg yes! I find it so annoying when the term “soil enhancer” is used as a synonym for “fertilizer”…They’re two separate things! For years I was buying marine phytoplankton soil enhancer thinking it was a fancy and complete NPK fertilizer especially because of the higher price, but this isn’t the case. It seems that even if the brand isn’t labeled to be a fertilizer, that is how many website and stores advertise it as, unfortunately, so it can be deceiving to the consumer.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely. And it’s so sad that people are willing to market stuff that is like that…

[@Mastadex]

Great video. There are a ton of youtubers that push all these things, and thankfully I just tune out. My motto: keep it simple, stupid.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Kiss is the best method!

[@matthawkins4579]

My gardening tools are...a spade and a flat head shovel, a hard rake, a narrow and a wide hand trowel, a broad fork, a bucket, measuring spoons and cup (for fertilizing) and gloves (we get overrun by blackberries). Most of these tools serve more than one purpose, for example my hard rake is great for working compost or fertilizer into large areas and if you flip it over it's great for leveling soil.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Measuring spoon! Yes!

[@Lance.pigman]

Random gimmick that actually works, go to the pet store, grab coco coir, rehydrate into the best soil you ever used in your life. They typically use majority coco chunks in Thailand to grow with. Amazing for tropicals, especially vines.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I heard this years ago and totally forgot up until you just mentioned it 😂

[@Rocketman0407]

I hope you make a video on Kelp and seaweed emulsions and dry amendments too made with Kelp and or seaweeds.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have it added to the list

[@DragonflyenAmber]

I bought the Mycorrhizal potting soil last year for my raised beds, I like the feel of it. No large sticks or anything like others I've bought in the past. It did well. I hadn't heard of the rock dust thing before, that was pretty funny.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Honestly, if there’s something you enjoy adding to your garden and it’s not harmful just keep doing it. No reason why can’t

[@sweeterthananything]

sifting potting mixes to remove larger pieces of wood has become routine for me, particularly for starts and early season bump ups. MIgardener just had a video on different specialty bag mixes being scammy since you can just separate the larger vs finer material thru an appropriate sized mesh (and add sand for a cactus mix). of course if you like using a mix it’s great to keep using it-just saying, it’s not too much of a fuss to “clean up” an affordable bag soil that’s decent quality other than being too chunky.

[@dustyflats3832]

I wanted to see what the hype was about these other soils with bat guano ect in them-never again. I also wanted to see what the specialty Promix were about. We are unable to get basic Promix at normal big box so I got the Promix BX and very satisfied even though it’s costly and hard to find. I think I’ve decided to make my own after all the headaches. That guano stuff the plants didn’t like it and it molds something awful.

[@Lea-zf7lm]

​@sweeterthananything I saw that video too! I felt so smart because I asked my husband to make one of those soil sifters a few years back and it works magnificently 😁 Gardening has become such a big industry that we have to use our common sense and not fall prey to every silly fad.

[@DragonflyenAmber]

@@sweeterthananything When I was talking about the chunky potting soil I was referring to a video @GardeninginCanada did a few years ago evaluating various potting soils. One of the well known brands was full of big chunks while the no-name walmart brand was of better quality lol.

[@daliacastello2608]

Rock dust has been a gimmick for at least 20 years lol I don’t say much on anything I get attacked ❤️❤️ you are a brave soul

[@pansepot1490]

I agree with everything a part from the tools. Wasting thousands or even hundreds on tools one never uses just to follow a trend is silly but having the right tool for each task makes work easier, more efficient and saves time. It all depends on the size of the garden ofc. If one just has to take care of a couple of raised beds a trowel and a shovel can be enough but no way that’s enough for a bigger garden. For instance last year I bought a small battery powered hedge trimmer. I don’ even have a hedge. I use it to shape a few bushes and in spring to cut down dead vegetation of grasses and perennials as well as for dead heading. I use it only a handful of times a year but I can make in minutes jobs that would have required an hour. Makes time spent in the garden far more productive and enjoyable. 😊

[@webenbanu]

Oh wow, now that you mention it I haven't been remembering to give my worms their rock dust! I have an indoor worm bin with shredded cardboard for bedding, and I have a small box of rock dust for them to use as grit (because they don't have teeth). From what you're saying, I suppose I could just get some soil from my garden and throw it in there for grit, but I've got the rock dust so I might as well use it. When I set up my raised beds last year, I did throw a little in there because some people were saying it would be a good thing. Now I know better! I use the tools you've mentioned, and also a thing which I just call "the claw"--I don't know what it's actually called. It looks kind of like a very small metal rake about the size of the trowel, but the tines extend a little further after the bend than you would think. It's been very handy this year for pulling back the thick layers of leaves which I used to mulch my raised beds over winter, and sometimes I'll use to to break up clumps of things or to rake through parts of the garden which have been infiltrated by grass or thick weeds and I'm trying to reclaim them. I have a deep scoop which I use for laying out the mulch as well. But that's it, I swear! 😅 Thanks for your thoughts on the mycorrhizal fungi! That's actually what I'd come to this video to hear about. I've read about soil microbes in Jeff Lowenfels' book "Teaming with Microbes," so I know that mycorrhizal fungi tend to be host-specific and trees seem to benefit more often from these partnerships than vegetables (which is what I'm using it on this year). I'm trying to build up a robust community of soil microbes however, and my beneficial fungi and nematodes are really, really low to nonexistent right now. I don't know if the mycorrhizal fungi can survive in the soil without their normal plant-partners, and it would be great if any of them were able to interact with the plants I'm growing this year, but I'd like to bring in more nematodes to assist in cycling nutrients and also to help control the populations of certain types of insects. When my soil was analyzed recently, the soil technician told me that there are some nematodes who feed on bacteria and some who feed on fungi, and I'm concerned that if I buy a nematode mix to populate my soils with, any fungi-feeding nematodes will absolutely wipe out what little fungi I have in there. So even if it doesn't turn my vegetables into super-plants, I'd really like to build up that fungal population because other parts of the soil food web rely on them. I am concerned about what happens in the beds over the winter though, when there are no plants growing in there for the fungi to trade nutrients with. I do cut my plants at the base and leave the roots in place, and I cover with a thick layer of leaves to protect the microbes and worms, but I don't know if that's enough for them to use for food. So I guess I'll find out whether or not this works next Spring, when I have my soil analyzed again! It might be worth analyzing it both at the end of this growing season and the beginning of the next, so I can see if the things I'm adding were able to get established, and then see if they survived the winter.

[@dawnteskey3259]

I LOVE my broadfork, but I have a very large space with dedicated beds and heavy clay soil. Its my favorite tool ever. I do have a shovel, a small spade, a couple of sizes of pruners, a hoe for making rows, and some other random tools that get used occasionally. But, far and away, my favorite tool is my broadfork. Did I already say that? 😆

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for sharing!

[@janw491]

I have 2 x8 raised beds and like to gently ‘fluff’ in the spring but a broad fork is too unwieldy so I have a pitchfork for the chicken compost pile and it’s the perfect size for me ! Two in one tool, can’t beat it ‼️

[@masikaLUNGO]

Another great video Ashley thank you! Love how you approach giving us uncomfortable news. It does hurt and I appreciate it!

[@GardeningInCanada]

You are so welcome!

[@kansasgardener5844]

I learned years ago not to use azomite rock dust. This, of course , was after I purchased it.

[@GardeningInCanada]

It’s always after you make the buy that you find out that something wasn’t worth it 😅😂

[@kansasgardener5844]

@@GardeningInCanada Isn't that the truth.

[@jeil5676]

Re mycorrhizal products- Your soil already contains mycorrhizae so if you have plants continuously living in the soil, the networks will allready be there when you put new plants out. According to sources, The companies that produce these cannot produce any data suggesting that they have any effectiveness except in limited specific situations. The mycorrhizae in potting mix...you have no idea how much is in there, you have no idea if its still alive, and its useless unless its already established networks. A single fungi spore is not much use. Who knows how long it takes individual spores to set up an effective network that functions. It might be fine for perennials but its already in your soils.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I wouldn’t disregard the work of myco entirely yet. There is enough to support that there’s something to it, we just haven’t mastered the process. This may help you navigate the myco world a bit better. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7824734/

[@alanfoss3744]

Your videos are very informative and entertaining (to the geek in me). As a new to gardening retiree, I've been researching things to try and have made a couple questionable purchases of "must have" plant nutrition supplements (Cal-Mad, silica, mycorrhizae). Fortunately, your videos are inspiring me to be more cautious in my approach.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. The good news. None of these are harmful to your garden.

[@cardstockcollector]

Thank You!

[@GardeningInCanada]

You're welcome!

[@jimobrien2407]

“I shit you not…..” 😂😂😂. Liked and subscribed on that basis alone. All the useful information is just gravy.

[@GardeningInCanada]

😏😏

[@mpat23]

Interesting. I never thought of those contraindications. Thank you

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amandasshadow9605]

I recently read an article saying that some "soil conditioners" can be detrimental to worms and microbes. I hadn't heard of rock dust before today...haha! One tool that I'm curious about are those weed puller thingies. The ones with the long handles and bladed claws. They claim to be able to get long tap roots out easily. I don't wanna waste money on something that may not work, so I haven't bought one. For now, I use my hand trowel and my hands to pull up the crab grass. But my carpal tunnel and tendinitis hate me for it.

[@cryptelligence]

Ok, but I sing the praises of the Hori Hori knife! It's such a major upgrade and I've used it for years. I have a forest garden and it's so necessary for cutting roots & digging holes. I don't even use a regular trowel anymore!

[@prairieprepper]

Ashley: *Comes for Mykes* Me: Omg Ashley: *lists all the ways I actually do use them in the "good" column* Me: Oh thank god 😆 Great video as always!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

AHAHAHAH glad you enjoyed it some

[@shirleylangton7967]

I love my rolling toolbox. You can sit on it to do many jobs. I love foam knee pads and just got a water meter which I use often. I tend to overwater everything! Love your channel for its humour and good info!

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s is so neat!

[@kittiew260]

Preach it & ty hate the gimmicks because we lose so many who give up due to fads. I do love my Hori hori fad tool purchased years ago

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s very true. Sometimes the fads will lead people in the wrong direction, particularly beginners and then they’re off to the bad start. The reason you love a hori hori knife is because it’s a soil scientist tool 😉

[@GtJrGrowsItAlaska]

Lol I was hoping this azomite I bought two years ago was adding minerals from a to z. 😔. This truth hurt, lol. I appreciate you sharing how to stay away from Gimmicks.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahaha oh no I’m sorry! If it makes you feel any better, I always buy new products I know won’t work for funzzies

[@gwenh7125]

Dang, I fell for that one too.

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

There isn’t much to back up the claim that she is making. I used azomite in my raised beds last year as amendment mixed with compost because the research I did suggests that it can actually break down fairly quickly…I had one of my best years last year…this year I’m switching to basalt rock dust and insect frass as my main amendments. Who knows maybe I’m wrong…but lots of notill growers us rock dusts and seem to have great success.

[@gordsmith7708]

Thanks for the heads up ! Cheers 🍻

[@GardeningInCanada]

No problem 👍

[@mr.hamilton5393]

Short and Sweet I'm sharing 😊

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for sharing!! Means the world to me

[@rudedogg_2]

Awesome content! Thanks for Your dedication.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I appreciate that!

[@melissagray7565]

One tool that we use all the time in our large garden is a hula ho, absolutely love it and saves hours of weeding on my knees!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

What is that? The one with the loop!

[@melissagray7565]

I think it looks like a stirrup on a saddle. It’s sharpened on both edges so slides under the dirt and cuts the weeds off at their root base! Great for between plants or rows.

[@nicholasdemarest4254]

Earth boxes work very well

[@lifewithpugwinkle]

"I shit you not"! LOL! That was my dads saying. Love it. Thanks for your videos. :)

[@GardeningInCanada]

😉😁😁 it my inner old man 👴

[@jaxntax5509]

I use sea weed on my raised beds in the fall. I go to the beach collect the storm wash take it home rinse it three or five times lay it in the beeds put saw dust in too add some mushrom spawn cover in alfa alfa from my neighbor vover with straw from my own grain. In the spring I mix up that with the top couple inches of soil plant add more straw so far so good but hay for me the cost is going to the beach.

[@GardeningInCanada]

If it works keep doing it!

[@amorimontagnus2042]

This was a fantastically helpful video. Very happy to have stumbled across your channel, you have definitely gained a new subscriber! Thanks for sharing.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Welcome aboard! New GIC 🙃

[@user-uz8sn1qv8y]

i was already a subscriber, but when you managed to say 'I sh*t you not" and get it past yt, i would have subscri bed again!!! love you and your work!!! THANK YOU

[@GardeningInCanada]

You're the best! 🤣

[@adamjchafe]

Re; self wicking beds. Those ones look really good! I have built a few DIY ones and they seem to work for a single plant (I have a tomato in one in my greenhouse that is 8 feet tall and has been growing all winter). I still top water from time to time. I am not sure if it is the same but have you looked at using an olla? Basically just a buried terracotta pot filled with water, which leeches out into the soil. I have been messing around with them in containers and they seem to be working really well. Just helps keep the soil moist instead of being totally dried out and in needed of water 2-3 times per day. Also seems to keep the gnats down. Great video!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yes! I could see that working. Ollas work absolutely!

[@jeil5676]

You told me in a msg once that You were making a video after you tested the effectiveness of mycorrhizal products and I might be surprised at the results....I was not. Great video today though. I love when people point out the truths and failures of popular gimmicks, in many fields and subjects. Its somehow so gratifying to me. I realize some people go nuts afterwards with their superstitions.

[@GardeningInCanada]

The Michael does work under conditions like trees and shrubs. Don’t get me wrong. It has its place in the world of gardening. I just don’t think for annuals or containers There’s a purpose.

[@blacksmithden]

I had an auto water system (waters from the top) on 5 of my raised beds last summer. The actual emitters are those junky Chinese ones from Amazon. I just opened them up all the way. I settled on the timer going off for 6 minutes, twice a day. It worked well. THAT said, if the forecast said we were getting a lot of rain, I shut it off. If it was screaming hot and sunny for days on end, I'd go out and water in addition to what the automatic system was doing or I'd manually turn the system on for a while. Where it came in REALLY handy was when I had to go away for a while, and the forecast was for highs right around 20c with a mix of sun and cloud. I asked my wife (who hates gardening) to send me a couple of pictures of the beds part way through the week, and around day 5 or 6. Everything was happy and she didn't have to touch anything. The long and short of it is, they'll keep your plants alive if you have to go away for a week and have no one to watch them. If it pours rain, well, not much you can do. If it gets really hot out, you plants might not be super happy, but they likely won't be dead either. Is there such a thing as a "set and forget" system ? The short answer is no....BUT.....there are soil moisture sensors out there that you can use with an Arduino (computerized control board - very light duty) but that's more messing around than I'm willing to deal with and I sure wouldn't rely on one. I consider my auto water system more as a soil moisture moderator (keeps things a little more even), than an end all and be all watering system. No doubt they make wifi connected timers that you can turn on with your phone, but then you'd need a camera looking at the plants to see if they're wilting......bah.....it's not fun anymore if you have to go to those lengths.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I didn’t even know there was such a thing as auto watering devices 😅 that’s wild!

[@blacksmithden]

@@GardeningInCanada Sure you did. You've seen in ground lawn sprinklers that are set up to go off at a certain time of the day ? Same thing, but the timed water valve goes to your drip irrigation system.

[@Lance.pigman]

Speaking of gardening tools, nothing beats the hands!! Get them dirty! Axes work amazing too, especially for getting rid of old roots.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s true haha

[@alexpresent8907]

Love it ❤

[@GardeningInCanada]

🥰🥰

[@5ree6url]

Soil is also broken composted organic matter. I mean, I agree about the rock dust, but soil is not just rock dust, it is mostly broken down organic matter, plant, animal, and insect.

[@susanlisson7066]

Haha guilty of buying those extra garden tools. To me they’re like all the kitchen utensils that end up the the 2nd drawer of you kitchen drawers. lol

[@GardeningInCanada]

Right?! They are so so enticing

[@joplumridge3974]

Somehow my brain translated rock dust to stone dust and I was super confused about people putting fine gravel in their gardens! I envisioned many fence posts I have packed with the stuff and what that would do 😂 With the very bad load of garden soil I got 2 years ago, I have lambsquarters coming up every day. I took an old, dullish hacksaw blade, for metal it happened to be, and attatched it to the wide part of a scrap piece of 2x4 cut into T shape. Ran gently and slowly along the soil surface it grabs on and pulls weeds right out when they are little. I think it works better than the one I tossed out from the store because the teeth have that tilt to them.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s fair

[@657449]

Double solo cups seem to have been around for years but the videos just popped up in my feed this spring. One novel method uses a string going through one hole in the inner cup to act as a wick to keep the soil moist. Your thoughts on double cups? I enjoy your videos. Besides being actually knowledgeable, you have a great sense of humor. One thing that was pushed big years ago was upside down tomato pots. Pushed just for that year. Someone gave me one and I realized that the flaw was you needed to watch soil moisture carefully.

[@GardeningInCanada]

This is what I think of them 😅 do not watch this is you want to sleep at night kzbin.info/www/bejne/fanLZqdtncigoc0si=QMu0k2-9FRDJgXvn

[@657449]

@@GardeningInCanada A topic for a new video, starting seeds in glass mason jars.

[@GerryMantha]

On the subject of mycorrhiza, there is no need to add any unless you're attempting to terraform Mars or an especially arid sandy desert here on earth. They are everywhere where plants grow, and are ubiquitous in soil naturally, and their population depends on the amount of vegetation and moisture. If you have many weeds naturally growing in soil you want to plant a garden in, you've been already blessed with an ample supply of arbuscular mycorrhiza already. Plants and fungi have been together for a very long time as part of a co-evolutionary process that benefits both. If your soil lacks plants before growing, just grow something and they will come and multiply. Same with bacteria. Up to 30% of the energy used by plants in photosynthesis is used to feed these guys, and they wouldn't do that if they didn't count on it being everywhere they can grow.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have done infield studies on rhizobium and inoculated plants do have more biomass, harvest waits, etc. That is in a regular crop rotation setting. So you could argue that if you planted peas in the same spot repeatedly the result would be the same. Issue is now you have potential negative issues compounding as well. But Myco yes… that’s one that is meh.

[@makcity7850]

Information unclear, so I ordered all these gimmicks.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️❤️❤️

[@markcarruthers3313]

I’ve seen these broad-forks and, in my clay, I envision breaking the handle or the tines off it trying to loosen my soil, IF I could get it shoved deep enough it not the soil to enable it to do what it is supposed to do. I’ve broken shovel handles trying to loosen up soil, dig a hole or dig up small trees, shrubs, & poinsettias trying to move them. 🤷‍♂️

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nah, those broadforks are tough!

[@markcarruthers3313]

@@GardeningInCanada I like my (original) Garden Claw for loosening up my raised beds & amending them, and use it for a lot of other things, as well.😉

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

I’ve definitely seen some broad forks get destroyed by heavy, rocky, clay “soil” but not so for the meadow creature broadfork. Those things are solid.

[@lauraduchek5080]

I use my garden bandit all the time...I also have three gardens and about and acre of flowerbeds. I think tool use depends on the size of your garden.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh! What is this? I maybe need another tool 😅

[@kiemc1855]

She said witch's brew 😂😂😂😂 That is so Hilarious! But I am glad for the forwarning about these useless products. Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@OfftoShambala]

Hori hori, pruners, weed stick, gloves, full size spade, narrow rake, long rake, fork, hula hoe, soft hose, good hose end with mist option, garden cart or wheel barrel, covering system… more is really needed… but yes a small digger like handover or hori hori and pruners are the bare minimum tools used nearly every time you garden…

[@miriambartley6622]

My fave is yhe stirrup hoe from Johnny's, my small hand held stirrup how from Veseys, my short fiberglass spade shovel and my weed tool I step on and twist. I got it for $3 from a garage sale. I also like my pruner and Hedge clippers for cutting things back. I have a large space to manage. I also love my haws watering cans. I use all my tools. A good rake too.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh no, that’s really cool. I may have seen those before on Instagram.

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

Stirrup hoes and wire weeders are invaluable on a larger scale. Also love the versatility of a cobra head for both planting and weeding.

[@jtgoat9810]

I love this video and agree with everything but the mycorrhizal situation. All of my plants are healthy because if it!

[@GardeningInCanada]

If it works keep doing it!

[@annafink2245]

Can you talk about the science of Oh Happy Plants soil, or something like it?

[@PlantObsessed]

Ahhh ya got me on the azomite. I use it in my worm bins for nutrients/ grit for the little ones. BS in Environmental biology here. Environmental Chemist by trade for a decade. 😢

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh that’s different though. Using it for work grit is a reason.

[@YoushouldNeilAnblomi]

I’m probably wrong but I thought the rock dust thing was to help worms out in creating castings.

[@GardeningInCanada]

The idea of grit? I do believe people use it for that in worm bins.

[@WhichDoctor1]

if youre at all iffy about whether your self watering container is going to work i would highly recommend just buying some capillary matting. Cut it into strips a cm or two wide and long enough to reach all the way from the bottom of the reservoir to the compost, and then lay along the bottom of the compost for the same kind of length again and do that every 15cm or so. If you want to go all out you can cut a peace of matting to cover the entire bottom of the container as well to make sure the water spreads out evenly, but I've personally not found that necessary in my circumstances. It's really cheap, specially considering how little you need to use and how long the matting lasts and how often it can be reused, and works super well. My parents have been using self watering hanging baskets for like 20 years that use capillary matting and they make keeping the baskets watered super simple. And my new house has a brick wall around it that i want to put troughs on which is a pretty sunny and windy spot so i've been buying and DIYing some self watering containers for that and using the matting it's super simple to retrofit other forms of self watering or make your own from scratch.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yes! I did get one of those and I loveee it

[@chandeliercrypto3020]

I use my dribbler my husband made me regularly for direct seeding 6:27

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yeah, that’s definitely a tool I forgot on this list. I personally don’t own one. However, I can see where the value is there.

[@chriswalik8142]

Ohhhh the “witches brew” sounds interesting 😂. PS. Okay okay, I’ll moderate with the mycorrhiza…. Had some great success with that last year but agree the jury is undecided if adding it to all my plants is/was equally beneficial (pretty certain it was not) - the price ranges of those products ($4 to $45+) also put me in a bit of analysis paralysis.

[@anitabedard4163]

I find self watering planters also do not drain ( obviously)...but..if you get too much rain..they become too saturated. I drill holes in mine 😂

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh my goodness yes that has happened to me before. Literal potting soil everywhere.

[@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919]

My favorite garden tools are my ride on mower that pulls my big dump truck style wagon, a spade shovel, a broadfork, pruners, and my Japanese weeding sickle.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hahah oh man a ride on mower would satisfy anyones itch

[@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919]

@@GardeningInCanada It's a pretty sweet ride hahaha

[@GerryMantha]

@@GardeningInCanada Funny you think that. When we bought out property here in Renfrew County on the Ottawa river, the previous owner had a 2 acre lawn. I kid you not. Apart from the lawn, another 4 acres had gone to scrub and weeds, apart from the young 30 acre woodlot. We don't own a ride on mower and never will, and we have 2 acres of vegetables under production and another 1 acre of fruits (bushes and trees) and are expanding every year. The only grass we have on our property is a strip in front of the house (mainly flowers now), and over the septic field. I cut that grass with a battery powered Greenworks 80v lawn mower. So no, a ride on mower does not satisfy my itch nor many folks who have taken up homesteading and market gardening in my area. They are costly, emit GHGs that contribute to climate change, and have no place on my property. Disappointed yet again by your comments that advocate such unsustainably practices. But I hope your 2 acre lawn looks nice! :)

[@GardeningInCanada]

@@GerryMantha very cool!

[@ansabulfone6940]

I was wondering if rock dust would not have a place in improving a raised bed made with mostly organic materials ( compost, manures etc.) and not enough mineral soil.

[@Nocare89]

Just add mineral soil. It's cheaper and is just different stages of rock. All those organics are going to break down so you'll be needing to top it up anyway.

[@jenniferhunter4074]

Think of it this way.. how much rock dust would you need? A lot. (please note, I don't put that much compost in my beds. I like soil. it's cheap. We've been using it for a millennia The ultimate lazy man's product. It worked for Ug in Sumer so it'll work for us.) Maybe just buy a cheapo bag of top soil or get a few cubic yards delivered from your local soil company nearby and you have a lot of volume you need filled.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Go to the store and grab some garden soil or a garden centre and get a wheelbarrow full of soil. Throw that into the garden and drive to the races.

[@markcarruthers3313]

If you do any gardening in an actual garden, not just in raised beds or containers, you cannot tell me that you do not regularly use a hoe and/or a garden rake. And, if one’s tomato plants grown from seed get SO tall, one does not need a post-hole digger to plant them.🤷‍♂️😉

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh the farm I do use a sharpened how loll

[@marilynturcotte5304]

I really wish that you were my neighbour; I'd have you over for a glass or two of Fermented Grape Juice and have a great chat about Gardening. Cheers!

[@jeil5676]

I'm surprised you didnt mention humic acid and electrification (with antennae in soil and not the original type).

[@GardeningInCanada]

I mentioned electrification in my wrapup for dumb ideas for 2023. I didn’t want to repeat that one but yes, that is a load of bowl. I do have a video on the humic acid trend.

[@BigRed0011]

@GardeningInCanada I want to know the one time exception in your opinion on rock dust when you might have to use it😉

[@tomallison7416]

I'm a few hundred short of "thousands" spent on garden tools. I have something called a Japanese handheld hoe/tiller that is pretty amazing. My preference. I figured out I need to be careful about the tools I buy. In general, the older tools work really well - time tested - while the newest mods to a hand trowel will not give you the benefit suggested in the price tag. Estate sales... Avoid the cast zinc shit. You'll embarrass yourself.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s a good idea! But yea the old ones are the best ones

[@laurentco]

There is so much nonsense out there. Particularly loved the section on rock dusts and mycorrhiza. I used to get sucked in but a lot of the nonsense, but now I know better and get my info from science based sources. I got some rock dust and ruined a section of my garden. THings were growing really poorly after the dust was added. I had soil test done and everything was sky high (except for nitrogen of course, which is volatile). K, Ph, Cu, S, Ca, Mg: all of them were sky high. Now I have to wait till the nutrients are leached away. It'll probably take me years to get that part of the garden to grow again.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh what! I would not have thought it was damaging! That’s insane. What kind was it?

[@laurentco]

@@GardeningInCanada Azomite. And I'm in Winnipeg with our clay soil. It will take forever to get rid of these excessive nutrients.

[@GardeningInCanada]

@@laurentco man that sucks. Solution to pollution is dilution. That’s my words of wisdom 😂

[@dewiindasyah4621]

Hello from Indonesia. It is rainy season here

[@scharfaced]

Unlike soil, rockdust is inorganic. Probably not useful… but still not quite typical soil.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Soil is inorganic. If it’s organic it’s soilless

[@scharfaced]

@@GardeningInCanada hmm that doesn’t sound right.

[@lisachubrilo]

I have the long handled weed puller. But i dont use it to pull weeds. I put it in the ground give a twist. It breaks up the hard soil without my having to bend over at all.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s beautiful

[@Rocketman0407]

My neighbor recommended I spread sugar all over my yard since sugar ants would help with the compaction in the clay . 😂

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’ll actually do a video on the use of sugar, molasses that sort of thing this weekend. It’ll be published likely Friday or Sunday next week.

[@shellmcphee971]

Any updated info on coconut coir? Final thoughts?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I still don’t like it 🥲 I want to!

[@Nocare89]

Rock dust always made me giggle because good earth is just a composition of rock dust in its various stages. I saw someone selling a trellis that bolts into raised beds which is a pretty novel idea. But it was also $400 for you know, a few bucks of bent and welded pipe. I think raised bed accessories are going to blow up since everyone seems to be using them. I feel raised beds in general are a gimmick. I do a ton of yard work which means a lot of back stress. If you bend to any height and do something, you stress your back muscles. So unless you have a raised bed at chest level you're not doing much for your back. Further, getting on my knees and bending over my garden is much easier on my back than any standing bending I do. But its harder on your knees and legs, so I can see that being troubling for some folks. I got a pitchfork and pruning sheers before making my garden to start making compost and do yardwork. This year I bought a kind of japanese sickle for about the same price as those sheers. An hour working blackberry bushes I can move like 3x faster and get less sore :P I got a scuffle hoe and after using it I think I might just buy a regular hoe for weeds at some point. I will re-evaluate after I make mine razor sharp. So far it just kinda bends plants out of the way instead of slicing off tops. So anything somewhat established I still have to hand remove.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s true. If I had less raise beds and more inground space, a sharpened hoe would definitely be a top tool for me.

[@katie7748]

I have raised beds amd various containers because I can't dig up the yard this year. (Really hard clay and extremely rocky soil...and not even sure how long we'll be here...I can take these metal beds with when we move.) It's got nothing to do with my back. Edit: a word

[@Nocare89]

@@katie7748 Definitely some valid reasons I missed :)

[@iamtheonewhoyoulove]

mychorriza is a waste on annuals imo. i use it on perennial transplants to help them establish with the rest of the soil better. mainly trees or bushes

[@GardeningInCanada]

I agree!

[@momcq]

What about egg shells broken down by vinegar for calcium in the soil?

[@KenSiebring]

Hi , from Australia and enjoy your videos , what’s your opinion on adding inoculated charcoal to the soil ? ( you may have already touched on this elsewhere and lve missed it lol ) Cheers Ken

[@GardeningInCanada]

Honestly depends on how much you’re adding. There are some cases where it makes sense to add charcoal however, watch for the volume you add. I do find you can add too much very quickly. So start small with this product and then work your way up. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away.

[@KenSiebring]

@@GardeningInCanada thanks for your reply , yes I'll try it as l can make it myself so l can't see a problem. Cheers Ken

[@applet8330]

Is landscaping cloth ok to use in the veggie garden? I’m asking Ashley, or any of you experienced gardeners. Thank you in advance

[@GardeningInCanada]

I wouldn’t it makes watering properly difficult

[@marcellemay7721]

My name is Michael Rizal, and I'm a fun guy!

[@brianseybert192]

Just for shits and giggles I look at all the crap big box stores and nurseries are selling to gardeners. Garden and raised bed "soil" that is nothing but forest products, peat moss and vermiculite, not one ounce of soil in a 40 lb bag. I still have a bag of epsom salts in the garage gathering dust, might as well use it to soak my feet. Bat guano, this is the cure all for all garden issues don't you know. I need to run out and get me some of that rock dust for sure. Stay Well!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

I always go to Home Depot in water around looking at all the different things to get. There’s a few times where I get things I know won’t work just for the sake of saying I did it.

[@sqeekable]

Adding a sprinkle leaf mold, from under old trees, a good thing instead of purchased mycelium?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Adding leaf mould as a top mulch in general is always a good idea.

[@leanner6485]

Can we go sweet potatoes in AB prairies? Buy organic sweet potato from store and make slips? Will it work in our climate?

[@GardeningInCanada]

You would have to start then in February

[@leanner6485]

@@GardeningInCanada ok thanks

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

A question: I have a small greenhouse like the second one you had. It condensates. A lot!! Is there any way to keep the condensation from happening?

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s normal. The only real solution is to stop bottom watering, make sure that the ground isn’t getting too wet, and then opening the door during the day. I wouldn’t worry too much about it unless you are getting mold.

[@MelbelleRVA]

Myco folks about to come for youuuuu 🍄 😂

[@GardeningInCanada]

Lol yes they are

[@user-vj7ip8vn9m]

Three questions: Is rainwater better for plants than water out of the tap? Are coffee grounds helpful on the soil of potatoes and tomatoes and leafy greens? If not, are they helpful on any vegetables?

[@GardeningInCanada]

First one answer is yes question second one answers no

[@user-vj7ip8vn9m]

@@GardeningInCanada thank you!

[@jonathanhao1640]

Hi, for container plants does an organic fertilizer offer any significant benefits compared to a synthetic fertilizer like Osmocote? Thanks.

[@Nocare89]

Organics will generally release nutrients slower so you can't really 'burn' plants with them. Probably more likely to be supporting a smaller business too.

[@teac117]

Not enough biome volume typically for containers to do solid organic fertilizer. Water soluble ones, fine. But emulsions are not as that's just suspended solids, not soluble ions. Osmocote (as a class) has a bit of a leg up, unless you're in a really cold climate which slows down the release schedule. But osmocote is the coating tech, not the internals. There are various NPK products using osmocote so read the package.

[@teac117]

For the geek crew, there's a survey paper "Substrates and fertilizers for organic container production of herbs, vegetables, and herbaceous ornamental plants grown in greenhouses in the United States" by Burnet et al, in Scientia Horticulturae 2016 that goes over the issues with organic container fertilization. Basic gist is that it's doable, but there's serious limitation one needs to know of. Incorporating granular into substrates will yield short term results, maybe getting a plant through to seedling stage. Long term, liquid fertilizers are required. Because there's a separate step by microbes involved in getting soluble salts, synchronizing nutrient supply with plant demand is a challenge. EC and ammonium toxicity is also something to keep a watch on. But they give some success stories with certain crops, etc etc. Good read if you're trying to do organic container gardening.

[@adamgeorge37]

what about seaweed products? iv been seeing that a lot lately and was wondering what your opinion was.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I need to do a video on these. It comes down to what they’re made of and how they processed, even how much density if you will is in the product.

[@tinaouellet8782]

@@GardeningInCanada in coastal regions, some will use seaweed (washed out to release extra sea salt) as a mulching material over garden beds. I can't say much for its ''soil conditionning properties'' although its adding organic matter yearly. But I can say that it works very well at weed suppression and water retention.

[@austintrees]

Is rock dust the same as "green sand" and azomite?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes that’s the same

[@MariThomas01]

There is a popular youtube channel that puts rock dust in their beds :D.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oops 😬 not sure who it is but yea… just don’t