@GardenerSuze -it would just be like that other recent thread about mixing herbicides from the person in Texas.... When I started gardening it was the days of 'spray this on your roses, or use this chemical' to 'get rid of XY and Z'. When Geoff Hamilton took over at G's World, it started to change, because he realised that, not only was it largely unnecessary to use these things, but they also killed all the beneficial insects [many of which we can't see ] and was harmful to the soil itself. We still get folk advocating those home remedies too, which also do a lot of damage. At least the newer, targeted weed killers, for example, are much better, and if people are struggling to remove something very persistent, can be used without obliterating everything else as well. You're right about struggling plants too. How often do we see queries about that on the forum. 'Is it an insect causing it?' or similar, when it's simply a case of wrong plant, wrong place and also wrong climate. Choosing the right plants for your conditions is always the best route, and that's where this forum is so helpful in assisting folk to get a good compromise, and a healthier garden - for everything and everyone.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I thought that article was about fungal infections in humans, not plants. I think it's a bit scaremongering. One of the fungus mentioned as being dangerous is Candida Albicans, which is what causes thrush. Candida Albicans lives naturally in the human body but sometimes it can get a bit out of control and it likes warm damp places, mouth, vagina. It is quite common, when I was young I used to get it when I took antibiotics. Antibiotics treat bacteria, not fungi and can lower resistance to fungi.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
@Bede Perhaps you could start a new thread and ask forum members for their thoughts on the use of chemicals in the garden and the advice they would give to new gardeners.
No. Go on, you do it.
A lot of the questions from new posters suggest that they have never read anything before about plants and gardening, or asked anyone experienced. They haven't thought through their purchases or the care necessary. They are unlikely to read the post you suggest.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
When Geoff Hamilton took over at G's World, it started to change, because he realised that, not only was it largely unnecessary to use these things, but they also killed all the beneficial insects [many of which we can't see ] and was harmful to the soil itself.
He may have drawn many people's attention to it, but Silent Spring predates his stint on GW by about 20 years. Rachel Carson was studying the issue in the 1950s, before she wrote the book. Don't it always seem to go.....
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'm sure you're right @raisingirl, but I'd have been too young as I was born in the 50s G's World was the main programme for all things gardening when I was growing up, so I expect the larger audience was already there, and was therefore made more aware of the problem.
It hasn't stopped the 'kill it, bash it, obliterate it' brigade though, unfortunately, although at least places like this forum can keep it in the forefront of people's minds. We do still get the occasional query along the lines of 'I sprayed this with A,B or C but nothing's changed. Can you help?' , instead of asking for the help first. If we can prevent a couple of folk from just reaching for a spray every time they see 'something' then that's a good thing. I posted a link to that other forum in that herbicide thread. It's a real eye opener.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
When I started gardening it was the days of 'spray this on your roses, or use this chemical' to 'get rid of XY and Z'. When Geoff Hamilton took over at G's World, it started to change, because he realised that, not only was it largely unnecessary to use these things, but they also killed all the beneficial insects [many of which we can't see ] and was harmful to the soil itself. We still get folk advocating those home remedies too, which also do a lot of damage. At least the newer, targeted weed killers, for example, are much better, and if people are struggling to remove something very persistent, can be used without obliterating everything else as well.
You're right about struggling plants too. How often do we see queries about that on the forum. 'Is it an insect causing it?' or similar, when it's simply a case of wrong plant, wrong place and also wrong climate. Choosing the right plants for your conditions is always the best route, and that's where this forum is so helpful in assisting folk to get a good compromise, and a healthier garden - for everything and everyone.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A lot of the questions from new posters suggest that they have never read anything before about plants and gardening, or asked anyone experienced. They haven't thought through their purchases or the care necessary. They are unlikely to read the post you suggest.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I agree, but I don't think that the audience you need is listening.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Don't it always seem to go.....
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Perhaps you are concerned as to what the reponse might be?
G's World was the main programme for all things gardening when I was growing up, so I expect the larger audience was already there, and was therefore made more aware of the problem.
It hasn't stopped the 'kill it, bash it, obliterate it' brigade though, unfortunately, although at least places like this forum can keep it in the forefront of people's minds. We do still get the occasional query along the lines of 'I sprayed this with A,B or C but nothing's changed. Can you help?' , instead of asking for the help first. If we can prevent a couple of folk from just reaching for a spray every time they see 'something' then that's a good thing.
I posted a link to that other forum in that herbicide thread. It's a real eye opener.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border