In the age of the internet and social media, gardening “hacks” that promise to benefit your plants and save you time and money are plentiful. However, according to gardening pros, these hacks aren’t always all they are cracked up to be.
We asked three experts to weigh in on the top gardening “hacks” to avoid, and their answers may surprise you. From ineffective to downright harmful, here are the top four gardening hacks to skip this year.
One of the most widespread and misinformed gardening “hacks” on the internet today is that you can increase drainage in the bottom of your plant pots and containers using a layer of rocks or pebbles. In actuality, using rocks below the soil can cause more harm than good, especially if you're using a pot without drainage holes.
“The theory is that a layer of rocks at the bottom of your plant will increase drainage," says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms. «But the rocks don’t help drainage—and they can actually decrease drainage if the layer is too thick.»
Instead, Hancock advises filling the pots and containers to the top with your chosen potting medium. In addition, you should always use a pot that has drainage holes (especially for outdoor plants) and utilize additives like perlite, pumice, and sand to increase soil drainage if desired.
If your favorite ceramic planter doesn't have drainage holes, don't fret. You can quickly and easily add drainage holes to any pot or container with this simple DIY.
Using landscape fabric to inhibit weeds in flower beds is common practice, but Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation advises against it.
“Made from synthetic materials, landscape fabric isn’t a
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