How many people are really experieced gardeners who are on this forum now?

Question

I am a landscaper, but I do have questions myself from time to time, and I have just been getting a bunch of total hogwash answers from people. Just totally untrue, regarding herbacides and pruning, etc.!

just curious, how many people reading this question are expereinced gardeners??

Answer 1

well, it depends on what you mean by experienced...
i consider my self experienced, as i was growing up we had a lot of vegetable gardens, a HUGE concord vine, and i've grown a varienty of plants (including roses that are five years old).

or do you mean people who have gone to schools, taken classes, and/or work as professian landscapers/gardeners?

yeah, i know how you feel.... some people aswer just for the sake of answering...

Answer 2

Well, there's a question that's an open invitation to puff out our chests and polish our qualifications...

Probably quite a few though. Some answers are pretty duff, some are excellent, I guess it depends on who's on-line at the time.

I take it you mean English gardeners of course? Are there any good American gardeners? Just kidding! One of the gardeners I admire most in the world is a mate from Chicago. He does work in England now though... : )

Experience isn't always a good indicator of understanding or knowledge though. I've heard some answers on here that have been answered by guys with "20 years experience" that are wrong and could have been better answered by a first year horticultural student.

Experience and learning are the best combination in whatever part of the world you garden in if you ask me.

We're ALL learning.

Answer 3

As you can tell from the first answer there are allot of immature adolescents that have nothing better to do with their time. I have been gardening for over 30 years and feel that I am experienced some what and would not waste anyone's time with the wrong answer in something that I have no knowledge of.There is still so many things that you can learn no matter how experienced you are.

Answer 4

I have not been on the website for a couple of months because I have been on vacation but I am back now. I am a certified Naturalist from Morton Arboretum in Lisle Illinois. It took me two years of intensive training and homework to get this certificate. I have just finished 60 hours of classroom training from the University of Maine Agricultural Extenstion and am now a Master Gardener volunteer in training. I have 30 more hours of 50 to complete in volunteer work before I receive my certificate. I live in Michigan and have a piece of property with 10 acres. I have many experimental as well as vegetable gardens on my property. I am attempting to restore native plants into an empty meadow that was allowed to go fallow. I am trying to work with what is natural rather than what is non-friendly to the area. I have taken several classes in invasive plants and am attempting to educate people on how their one plant can help destroy a whole ecosystem. My stepmother loves her purple loosestrife in her flower bed. I have tried education but this year I am going to remove it when she's not looking. Reasoning has not worked.

Answer 5

With regards to some of the answer's you have had, I'm a pup but i have nine years experience involving hard landscaping, ground maintenance and forestry. The later being the foremost. I don't believe anyone is an expert on anything, we all learn something everyday and we always will. I've answered a few with good feedback but like you i have questions also. Your not alone

Answer 6

I am experienced in roses (R.N.R.S.medal winner) but would not have an in depth knowledge about other aspects so wouldn't comment when there are people out there who know far more than me.
What bothers me is if you were to apply your question to the field of medicine.I shudder to think what some are doing to themselves on foot of rubbish advice.
There are plenty of categories where people can use their opinion and score points without as you say attempting to come up with 'facts' that are in effect wholly misleading and untrue.
Unfortunately we have all seen this-our right answer judged inferior to a load of crap

Answer 7

I'm a North Dakota "Master Gardener" with 50 yrs. of experience growing in ND, Virginia, southern England,Colorado and Minnesota. We are a national group coordinated by local county agents and our advice is free. To become a Master Gardener you must take the required coursework and perform various volunteer work. You can find someone like me by calling your county agent or you can get me personally by email. RScott

Answer 8

I am a greenhouse grower with 25 years of experience in the houses. I have some experience in nursery, but only because I must have a pesticide license in nursery, and in my state that includes continuous education classes.
I have some hard learned lessons from my own yard, but a lot of my knowledge in what not to do.
I also teach a class and lecture on occasions in my field so I have a wealth of professors to ask my own stupid questions to.
Boy, can I be stupid! Bugsie

Answer 9

regarding pruning i really don't have a whole lot of experince in it....i do however have alittle insight as far as herbicide go...the frist thing i try to do is gather as much information as to what type of weed that needs to be controled. second to explain that no single herbicide will kill all weeds in all situations.from the infromation given i try to detrmine whether the weed problem is an annual or perennial, a grass or broadleaf weed:the type of problem will narrow down the choice of chemicals. also it is good to know if you are trying to prevent weed growth or trying to control exsiting weeds. if a pre-emergence herbicide is needed, be sure to infrom them that timing is critical and that irrigation after is necessary without rainfall. if a post-emergnce chemical is required, suggest they apply it on a clear dry day. i also like to remind people that there are other options for preventing weed growth- mulkches and weed fabric can also effective. i the choice is made to use herbicides, emphasize the importance of reading the label....i hope this helped in your quest...

Answer 10

I consider myself an experienced gardener as I have over 50 years of experience. However, my experience is limited to Zones 5 and 7a. I wouldn't answer any questions on herbicides as I try my best never to use them.