🌱 True or False: Garden Myth Buster

[TEG Project Manager]

Think you know your garden facts? Some of these common gardening “truths” are actually tall tales! Test your green thumb knowledge and see how many myths you can bust. Answers at the bottom – no peeking!

1. Coffee grounds always make the soil more acidic.
[ ] True
[ ] False

2. You should water your plants in the middle of the day to prevent wilting.
[ ] True
[ ] False

3. Epsom salt is a cure-all for plant problems.
[ ] True
[ ] False

4. Talking to your plants can help them grow.
[ ] True
[ ] False

5. Fresh manure is great to put directly on plants.
[ ] True
[ ] False

6. Tomatoes and potatoes can be planted next to each other with no problem.
[ ] True
[ ] False

7. All insects in the garden are bad for plants.
[ ] True
[ ] False

8. You should prune trees only in winter.
[ ] True
[ ] False

9. A bigger pot always means a happier plant.
[ ] True
[ ] False

10. You should remove all leaves from the garden in fall to keep it healthy.
[ ] True
[ ] False

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Spoiler: ✅ Answers

1. False – Coffee grounds are close to neutral after brewing.
2. False – Watering midday causes more evaporation; early morning is best.
3. False – Epsom salt can help in some cases but isn’t a universal fix.
4. True – Studies suggest vibrations (like talking) may stimulate growth.
5. False – Fresh manure can burn plants; compost it first.
6. False – They can spread diseases like blight to each other.
7. False – Many insects (like ladybugs and bees) are beneficial.
8. False – Some trees benefit from light pruning in other seasons.
9. False – Oversized pots can cause root problems from excess moisture.
10. False – Fallen leaves can protect soil and provide habitat for wildlife.

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How many myths did you bust? Share your score and which fact surprised you the most!

 

[digitS']

9 out of 10

#9 … for some plants that like to dry a bit and pots with limited drainage — yeah, I guess over-large pots could cause problems for those plants, re: excess moisture.

#10 ... I had the idea about the "correct" answer but, I think it matters what kind of leaves and what problems may have developed in the soil through the growing season. Mulch 12 months out of the year may not always be a good idea if certain disease or pest problems show up. Now, having said that –– I am not the one to diagnose those. My thinking is more based on experience with voles in the garden and committing to end-of-season garden clean-up on property that belonged to others has been successful. I think that the "correct" answer is generally the right idea - tree leaf mulch through the Winter can be a very good thing.

Steve