Attention homeowners: Spraying your plants with something is not going to fix your problem (flowers, lawn)

[azoria]

There are at least half a dozen current posts here asking what to spray on trees and grass and bushes and flowers which are less than perfect, or in distress.

Spraying stuff does not fix the cause of the problem.

You need to ask, what is causing this bush/tree/grass problem? And - is it really a problem?

If you have weeds in your lawn, are you running a pro golf course? What makes you think that any green thing which is not grass is ruining your lawn and needs to be sprayed? Pull a few weeds and live with some imperfections.

Is your tree sick? Why? Is this particular kind of tree disease prone? Is it planted in a place where it is unhappy an unsuited? Think about it. Spraying the tree is not going to make it it less disease prone or better suited to your poor growing conditions. Spraying your tree will NOT make it healthier.

Healthy, well-suited plants don't need to be sprayed.

If your climate/soil is a poor match for rhododendrons so that you're having to spray them for pests and diseases every year - - stop trying to grow rhododendrons there! Grow something else that likes your area.

Stop it America. You cannot spray your way to a beautiful yard and garden.

Lawns don't belong everywhere. Fruit trees don't belong everywhere. Roses don't thrive everywhere.

Don't grow plants that are ill-suited to their circumstances and expect to spray their way to luxurious health and beauty. It won't work.

[LIcenter]

Hear, hear!
This place needs a "Top Comments" list.

[jacqueg]

If people watched less TV advertising and worked in their yards more often, they'd understand this.

Knowing which advertiser claims what is not at all the same thing as knowing plants.

[GPax]

Preach! As they say, "Right plant, right place" and "Feed the soil, not the plant."

Folks would have far fewer garden problems by growing native plants; ensuring the right amount of water; giving them the proper sun/shade placement; amending the soil with good, ol' compost; topdressing the soil with natural mulch; and sticking to slow-release organic fertilizers if they must fertilize.

Toxic, synthetic chemicals - including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers - rarely solve probs w/o potentially creating new ones. That's why they come w/warning labels galore.

Most plant issues have a nonhazardous solution that doesn't involve poisoning the soil/groundwater and annihilating so-called pests (aphids, for example) that are eaten by beneficial organisms (ladybugs, for example). Gotta understand your plant's needs - based on science, not chemical companies - first and foremost.