In this video, I break down 5 of the biggest lies in gardening—from the idea that there’s one right way to garden, to the myth that good gardeners never fail.
Because the truth is, great gardening isn’t about following rigid rules. It’s about understanding your climate, your soil, and what actually works in your garden.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting gardening advice, this video is for you.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 The Biggest Lies in Gardening
00:56 Lie #1: There’s No One Right Way to Garden
02:53 Lie #2: Garden Advice Isn’t Universal
04:59 Lie #3: More Effort ≠ Better Results
06:35 Lie #4: Struggling Plants Don’t Always Need More
08:34 Lie #5: Good Gardeners Don’t Always Succeed
10:57 What Gardening Is Really About
24 Comments
What’s one gardening “rule” you used to believe… that you now realize isn’t always true?
I’ll start: “Full sun” doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere. ☀
Drop yours below — I think this could help a lot of newer gardeners who feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice.
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Your videos are awesome! One question that has nothing to do with this particular video is could you do one for those of us who are gardening in Polly tunnels. I find when to plant doesn’t often work with the normally accepted times because it’s so much warmer in there. It would be great to know what you’re thinking is.
6:29 Just like with raising kids…😬
Last year as I was cleaning up pre-fall, discovered a tomato plant (a determinant that I think was a Siletz) underneath nasturtium that had taken over. Had 4 lovely ripe tomatoes on it. Crazy. Talk about all wrong but totally right
Been at it for 50 years now in SW Wisconsin and just do what works best for me. I look for help from time to time, but I usually get a quick fix or advise from other local gardeners and the Amish.
I’ve been gardening for a lot of years. I gardened in southern Oregon where my climate was wonderful. I gardened in Phoenix Arizona where gardening is broken into very specific seasons. Now I’m gardening in the mountains of Montana. I battle birds, deer ground squirrels, chipmunks and insects. And of course the weather. My garden will never be pretty. I don’t care. I need the food. I never stop learning there are always failures. Like the fact that for the fourth year something ate all my kohlrabi. 😂 I’ll keep trying. Gardening makes me happy. I don’t have to succeed at everything. Something always grows well. Like last year my dill plants were absolutely massive!
I really appreciate your comments about how every gardener experiences failures, even the experts. And that every gardener kills something. I don’t feel quite as bad now. LOL.
I’ve never killed a plant!!!…. On purpose!😂
I thank you for this. I am as new as it gets to gardening and this video has helped me to not give up.
Thank you. I’ve been feeling really badly about
It mine this year. Ultimately not enough time to care for it properly but in all honesty with the rain we have had I don’t think it matters. Nothing is producing as it should except some gorgeous heads of cabbage. Otherwise 😢
Advice that everyone should plant the same plants in the same month. That's crazy. I can plant a month earlier than those living only 90 miles north because my climate is totally different. I've learned through years of good and bad results how to work within our climate. I also plant around pest load. No squash until late summer to avoid pests and powdery mildew.
Right now I am feeling overwhelmed I am breaking up my garden from scratch by hand in the heat of the south in North Carolina and it's no fun when the scorching sun is bearing down on you that's for sure. Started my garden late about May 15 in my backyard,ripping up grass and clover and have it about 20 foot by 40 foot so far with just garden tools. With it being in the 90's and a heat index of 100,it's rough at 53 years old compared to when I was younger. Hat's off to the Mexicans who work in the fields,need a Sombrero myself,lol! A raised bed would be much simpler and quicker but I am putting a big garden in for all my plants as I go. It's getting about to hot as your plants will die quick on you in the extreme heat,and you need to cool off so you don't have a heat stroke from the scorching sun. I moved from where I used to live and had a garden for over 20 years,so starting back from scratch tje hard way with a spade hoe,posthole diggers,and a garden rake.
Sooooo…..how many plants have you killed over the last 30-years? 😉
I believe this is your best video ever! Such important advice for both novice and experienced gardners. Gardening is truly a never-ending learning process that brings with it tears of sorrow and tears of joy. Keep telling it like it is, Brian. Happy Father's Day to you tomorrow!
Thank you
Thanks for making this video. It's probably your best.
Every year, I like to have some kind of experiment. Doing "everything right" every year would be boring. I want every year to be "that year that…"
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Thank you Brian. These topics are valuable. I appreciate you.
I watch all your videos and always feel like I learn something, even though our garden situations are very different….I’m in northeastern Ohio. I’ve never felt the necessity to beat myself up over failures. But, I’m sure many beginners do that. That said, this particular video is a great tool for beginners and a friendly reminder to us old pros. Learn from your mistakes and failures, and give Mother Nature her due. Thanks Brian.
What works here 100%. I live in zone 6 Illinois. Why would i watch a California garden channel, one from Canada, and Arizona and Florida. Some things are universal some are specific. I have super cold winters and very hot summers. I learn from everyone.👍🏼🥰
This! Thank you. I teach this too.
Awesome common sense video !!, I needed this as the weather has been in the 90’s and the garden was struggling. The weather cooled off to the 80’s for a week which helped my tomatoes and zuchinni , pumpkins and cucumbers. My peppers are struggling and have been growing a tiny bit at a time…. I think they got stunted early on ?!!