Is much of gardening based on folklore?

Oftentimes, gardening is all in the telling. We do things the same way generations before us did them or the way people with flourishing flowerbeds tell us they do them. Using banana peels to fertilize roses, for example. Planting vegetables by a waxing moon. Both are folkways handed down from parent to child, neighbor to neighbor.

But are they validated science or myth? In many cases, they're a bit of both.

"My grandmother might be astonished to find that I make tea specially to water the geraniums once a week, but she and my mother always watered them with tea leaves as a bit of astringent helped them to thrive in pots," says Charlie Ryrie, in her book, "Garden Folklore That Works."

"The only difference is that I have more geraniums and less tea so the habit of using the leaves has turned into something more proactive," Ryrie says. "This is exactly what happens in folklore: an old habit or saying changes slightly through the ages until it is hard to see exactly where it came from. But there is still a reason for it."

Consider the accuracy of some other plant lore, like ants being necessary on peonies if the buds are to open.

That one is all myth, says Vernon Bryant, director of horticulture for the Florida Botanical Gardens at Largo, Fla.

"Generally, the ants are there to harvest the drops of sap exuded from the sepals of the flower buds, but their presence will neither hinder nor help the buds to open. Peony flowers usually fail to open for reasons related to the overall health of the plant, because of disease problems or due to weather factors," Bryant says. "As a matter of fact, there has been some research to suggest that ants may even carry some of the disease that negatively affect the blooms."

Then there's the one about fall being the best time of year for pruning. Only one-quarter true, Bryant says.

"Generally, pruning on must plants can be done whenever your pruning shears are sharp and in good repair," he says. "If you prune too early in the fall you may actually encourage new growth that fails to harden off before winter and will be more susceptible to damage. Many trees and shrubs set flower buds in the fall and by pruning in the fall you may be pruning off the flower buds. A better rule is to prune after a plant flowers."

How about that old saw saying you should securely stake a tree after planting it? That's a "yes, but," according to the International Society of Arboriculture. Although it is sometimes necessary to stake trees to keep them upright and allow establishment, there are some harmful effects related to staking, the society says on its Web site. Trees that haven't been staked actually develop more extensive root systems and better trunk taper than staked trees. Allowing a small amount of movement can help root and trunk development. Also, staking materials generally should be removed after about a year to avoid "girdling" the tree, the society says.

Using banana peels to add color to rose bushes? Actually, that one offers as much good science as horse sense. Bananas are a strong source of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and trace amounts of zinc, copper and manganese, among other things, so you would be passing some of those minerals along by slipping a few sliced banana peels under your rose bushes.

How about planting by lunar cycles? Some people swear by it, saying the moon impacts the movement of moisture in soil and plants, or helps bulk up root and leaf growth in vegetables.