Before you start gardening you should be aware that throughout your gardening career you will make mistakes all the time, but this should not disappoint you as you learn best about your own mistakes.
Today we have decided to present you a guide to the 10 most common mistakes you may encounter when practicing gardening. Keep reading.
Overwatering
Often, overwatering can be just as bad as forgetting to water your plants completely. When you water your plants, remember to water the roots and not the leaves. Seedlings need plenty of water once they are planted, but after they have roots of their own, they will suck up the moisture from the soil.
The roots of most plants hate sitting in water. Like every other plant tissue, roots need to breathe. They literally drown if all the air pockets in the soil are filled with water all the time. Even when the topsoil looks dry, the lower layers could be soaking wet.
Plants versus weeds
When it comes to weeding, pay extra attention so that you don’t accidentally pull out your plants. With time, you will be able to identify and pick out the weeds that shouldn’t be there.
Not preparing the beds
Most of us have made this mistake, some out of ignorance, and others due to sheer laziness. When the little seeds and seedling go into the damp earth in spring, it seems the tiny planting holes we make with our fingers or a small hand shovel are room enough for them. But the soil soon dries out and becomes rock hard. If the roots of the young plants cannot penetrate into the soil, you’ll end up with stunted plants.
Digging and double digging the garden beds and adding in plenty of compost and leaf mold makes the soil loose enough for good root run. And this backbreaking work has to be done before you plant things. Making raised beds is another option if you don’t want to dig deep.
Short grass
Avoid cutting your grass too short. If your lawnmower has a setting, choose the middle one to keep your grass looking healthy.
Planting sun lovers in shade
We all know plants have this unique ability to make food in their leaves with just sunlight, water, and air. But sometimes we plant a tomato variety guaranteed to be a prolific bearer close to a tree. We may be overjoyed at the luxurious growth, only to be disappointed by the low yield. The poor plant was making a lot of leaves to maximize food production, but it just wasn’t enough.
There are some woodland plants that have evolved to survive in shady spots, but if you plant sun-loving plants there, they just will not thrive. Tomatoes and most other veggies do best in areas where they can get uninterrupted sun throughout the day. If you mainly have a shady garden, you cannot hope to grow a lot of vegetables other than some greens. Clear out an area for your vegetable patch.
Give plants space
It can be easy to pack your plants into one small space, but they need plenty of room to grow and stretch their roots. Check to see how much space they need before you place them in the ground.
Planting out of season
It is hard to believe seasons have such a hold on plants. Many of us probably have planted seeds or cuttings at the wrong time of the year and watch them put out a bit of growth in the beginning and then quit. Seasons are not much of an issue in tropical areas as long as the young plants are given plenty of water. But it is quite another story up north.
Planting out tender seedling too early in spring leaves them at the mercy of late frosts. Delay a bit, and you may miss the chance to get vigorous growth and yield before the rising temperatures play spoilsport. Cool-season veggies and summer flowers have to be planted at their respective times.
Beware of end-of-season bargain offers by mail-order companies. By the time the order reaches you, it might be too late to plant them. Some seeds are viable for only a short period, so preserving them for the next season may not be a good idea. Follow the gardening calendar of your area and listen to the advice of local gardeners for the best results.
Pests
It’s worth getting clued-up on which pests are likely to strike and when. Slugs, for example, love warm post-rain conditions, so make sure you keep your plants safe by opting for an eco-friendly deter.
Planting invasive plants
Almost every gardener has fallen in love with a beautiful plant on his/her travels and has brought it home, not realizing they are considered noxious weeds in that area. Just because you don’t see certain plants in your locality, it doesn’t mean they are not invasive. Probably years of eradication measures and campaigning or strict rules have managed to keep them out, and you could have just undone all that.
Whether you gather seeds or plants from the wild or get planting materials from a distant friend or relative, or order them online, check beforehand if they are invasive in your area or not. Once established, it is hard work, or nearly impossible, to root them out.
Scaring away pollinators with pesticides
Being too handy with pesticides is a big mistake overzealous gardener makes. We are not talking about contaminating the earth here, although it is a great concern. If you find too few vegetables and fruits after meticulously watering and fertilizing your plants and keeping off pests and weeds with frequent spraying, you could have scared off the pollinators.
It is hard to watch pests chomping away on your well-tended veggies, but remember that all the critters visiting your vegetable patch are not your enemies. You need insect pollinators to ensure a good crop.