537: Robert Pavlis on Garden Soil Myths.
Clearing up illusions about the substances we use to grow our food.
In This Podcast:
We’ve all bought plant-specific fertilizer or used leaves to diagnose what additives we need for our plants. But according to Robert Pavlis, building great soil needs a different approach. After all, how can you know what to add if you don’t know what’s already there? Listen in for common soil and fertilizer myths, the easy additive that fixes anything over time, your ideal soil ratios, and how to distinguish fact from urban legend. You’ll never think the same about fertilizer!
Our Guest:
Robert is a well-known speaker and educator with over 40 years of gardening experience. He is the author of three books, Building Natural Ponds, Garden Myths, and Soil Science for Gardeners and publishes the popular gardening blogs; GardenMyths.com and GardenFundamentals.com. As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden, he grows 3,000 varieties of plants.
Listen in and learn about:
- The microbes and organic matter that lead to healthy soil.
- Fertilizer ratios vs what your plants need
- Myths about fertilizers
- Starting with a soil test vs letting your plants show you deficiencies
- How organic matter makes nutrients available in soil
- Knowing when you’ve added too much organic matter
- The air to water ratio in healthy soil
- Identifying soil deficiencies using plant symptoms
- Building natural ponds
- Gardening myths and the science and research that debunks many common beliefs
As well as:
His failure – Doing poorly in English in school even though he is now a writer.
His success – His family and their dynamic.
His drive – A love for learning and teaching.
His advice – Learn how to filter fact from fiction online and which resources to use.
Books written by Robert*:
Robert’s Book recommendation:
Weedless Gardening by Lee Reich
How to reach Robert:
Website: GardenMyths.com and GardenFundamentals.com
Facebook: Garden Fundamentals
YouTube: Garden Fundamentals
UrbanFarm.org/soilmyths
*Disclosure:
Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
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