Gardening
Plants, landscaping, and cultivation.
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Gardening
Mulch volcanoes around trees kill more trees than drought
Piling mulch against a tree trunk (volcano mulching) holds moisture against the bark, causing rot, fungal infection, and root girdling. Per the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture), mulch should be 2-4 inches deep in a ring starting 3-6 inches away from the trunk. Every landscaping crew does it wrong because mounds look neat. This single practice kills more urban trees than any pest or disease.
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Gardening
Tomatoes need consistent watering more than heavy watering
Blossom end rot — the black bottom on tomatoes — is caused by inconsistent calcium uptake, which is caused by inconsistent watering. The calcium is in the soil; the problem is delivery. Water deeply every 2-3 days rather than lightly every day. Mulch 3 inches deep to maintain soil moisture. Adding calcium supplements is almost never the fix — consistent soil moisture is.
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Gardening
Raised beds with pressure-treated lumber are safe for food gardens since 2004
The concern about treated lumber leaching arsenic was valid for CCA-treated wood (banned for residential use in 2004). Modern ACQ and CA-B treated lumber uses copper-based preservatives that are approved for food-contact applications. Per the EPA and multiple university extension studies, the copper levels in adjacent soil are well within safe limits. Do not waste money on cedar or composite for raised beds if cost is a factor.
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Gardening
Soil pH determines nutrient availability more than fertilizer quantity
You can dump unlimited nitrogen on a lawn with pH 4.5 and the grass still starves — the nutrients are chemically locked in acidic soil. Most vegetables thrive at pH 6.0-7.0. Test soil pH annually with a $10 kit. Amend with lime to raise pH (takes 3-6 months) or sulfur to lower it. Per most state extension services, pH correction is the single highest-ROI action for any garden.
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