From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
We became alarmed when animal species began to decline and become extinct. Then we started exposing tree fellers in the Amazonian jungles. But now a new scourge has lifted above the horizon that many gardeners are seemingly unaware - garden decorative pebbles or river stones as they are also affectionately marketed.
Fast becoming the mulch of choice for many landscapers due to their varied textures, colours and size, these decorative pebbles are turning up in gardens all over the world. And why not? They're natural, can quickly transform a garden area and are basically maintenance free. Plus, they don't need to be renewed - so long as we don't take fashion trends into account.
So what could possibly be wrong with gardeners utilising these natural resources?
Two reasons, really. Firstly, most decorative pebbles come from a finite source - ie. that being the rivers of the world. What has taken hundreds - maybe thousands - of years to cultivate through erosion of larger rocks will take the same amount of time to replenish. However, at the rate that the world is excavating these for home gardeners there will be a lag of a few thousand years before the next harvest is ripe.
The second reason is far more concerning. These pebbles play an important part in our river systems. While they get tumbled and smashed against each other or larger rocks on their descent therefore producing more silt, it is actually the silt that they hold back from moving too fast through the river.
If you take these river stones out of the equation then silt can become a problem further down the river. Increased levels of silt can bring a heap of problems as it builds within the river delta. The sheer volume can increase water temperatures killing fish and producing algae that destroys the life within these rivers.
And the effects are irreversible.
While it may not effect your backyard it is having, and soon will have, devastating consequences in developing nations where these are sourced. Counties such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and India are the big exporters and while the price is high these countries will always put economic gain ahead of their future environmental welfare.
Firstly, if you plan to use decorative pebbles in your landscape then buy them from a producer that sources them from less important rock specimens. If they come from a river bed somewhere they will always be doing the environment harm. Yet, if they are produced as a byproduct of mine tailings or sourced from rocks that have little impact on the earth's structure then they will be far more appropriate.
Even better than the first option is not to use them at all. Stick with organic mulches that are readily renewable and are much better for your garden soil anyway.
Decorative pebbles may be the current landscaping trend but is the cost worth the aesthetic appeal?
We became alarmed when animal species began to decline and become extinct. Then we started exposing tree fellers in the Amazonian jungles. But now a new scourge has lifted above the horizon that many gardeners are seemingly unaware - garden decorative pebbles or river stones as they are also affectionately marketed.
Fast becoming the mulch of choice for many landscapers due to their varied textures, colours and size, these decorative pebbles are turning up in gardens all over the world. And why not? They're natural, can quickly transform a garden area and are basically maintenance free. Plus, they don't need to be renewed - so long as we don't take fashion trends into account.
So what could possibly be wrong with gardeners utilising these natural resources?
Two reasons, really. Firstly, most decorative pebbles come from a finite source - ie. that being the rivers of the world. What has taken hundreds - maybe thousands - of years to cultivate through erosion of larger rocks will take the same amount of time to replenish. However, at the rate that the world is excavating these for home gardeners there will be a lag of a few thousand years before the next harvest is ripe.
The second reason is far more concerning. These pebbles play an important part in our river systems. While they get tumbled and smashed against each other or larger rocks on their descent therefore producing more silt, it is actually the silt that they hold back from moving too fast through the river.
If you take these river stones out of the equation then silt can become a problem further down the river. Increased levels of silt can bring a heap of problems as it builds within the river delta. The sheer volume can increase water temperatures killing fish and producing algae that destroys the life within these rivers.
And the effects are irreversible.
While it may not effect your backyard it is having, and soon will have, devastating consequences in developing nations where these are sourced. Counties such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and India are the big exporters and while the price is high these countries will always put economic gain ahead of their future environmental welfare.
Firstly, if you plan to use decorative pebbles in your landscape then buy them from a producer that sources them from less important rock specimens. If they come from a river bed somewhere they will always be doing the environment harm. Yet, if they are produced as a byproduct of mine tailings or sourced from rocks that have little impact on the earth's structure then they will be far more appropriate.
Even better than the first option is not to use them at all. Stick with organic mulches that are readily renewable and are much better for your garden soil anyway.
Decorative pebbles may be the current landscaping trend but is the cost worth the aesthetic appeal?
"Mind, not outward form, prevails.
But if it’s true that there’s no teacher like experience, it’s safe to say that my gardening experiences have been dripping with wisdom. I’ve learned so much about what not to do, I’m almost out of mistakes. Pretty soon, the only stuff left for me to try will be all the right plants and the right ways of growing them. While reading garden books suffices in winter to replace actual gardening, I am still determined to cultivate my garden my way once I get back outside. 
Plant Roots - I’m going to beat on that drum again! The roots of plants - unfortunately - are many times the most neglected and least maintained part of the plant. Yet they are probably the most vital.
Instead of considering a root is a root, let’s look a little farther. I know we in general all roots being equal what their basic functions they are.
One area I find many homeowners caring for:
They assume all plants must have a vigorous root system. Don’t assume (myself included) that a newly purchased plant has a container full of roots. Stop and take a look at the root system before jumping into any regular maintenance routine.
Some plants don’t have a vigorous root system or deep root system. Probably the most widely grown indoor plant is the pothos or golden pothos. That “philodendron looking” plant with gold coloring on it. The pothos is a shallow-root plant. Many times I’ll see a basket or pot of pothos with the center completely rotted out.
The plant vines around and hangs over the edge of the pot, but the center looks pretty sad.
Why does this happen?
What is this person caring for? Roots or Soil?
Most likely what happens is they watch and water the soil - not the roots. The dirt doesn’t Grow!
Does this sound like you? Not all plants need a thorough soaking, but would prefer a light watering - depending on the plant and root system. Also most of the water is probably being poured right into the center of the plant and not around the pot.
Yes, roots may reach the bottom of the pot, but will most likely be found at the outer edges of the pot and not the center. The outer edges allow the soil to drain off, leaving the soil moist and not wet. This is one reason I like sub-irrigation - watering from the bottom up!
Another place we may find a shallow rooted plant is in new plant arrivals. These plants have been in transit and had their root systems knocked around. They need time to slowly repair themselves and become efficient again. In the case of an under rooted plant, it may need time to fill out it’s growing media in its new surrounding.
A plant in a 10 inch pot may only have the developed root system of an 8 inch pot. The bottom soil may take a long time to dry out. It may be necessary to allow the plant(s) to dry down halfway before watering again.
That being said, take a look at your plants and plant watering techniques.
Are you pouring your water right in one spot? Are you watering a plant with a shallow root system or undeveloped root system?
Take some time to look at the roots of your plants. Don’t forget plants in lower light levels probably aren’t going to use as much water. Learn to water the roots and not the soil.
Your plants like it much more and has less chance to create plant root problems.
