the 7 most common mistakes

Do your plants turn yellow very quickly? Can't avoid pests? We take stock with Marie Saalburg, landscaper, who shares with us her tips for properly maintaining her potted outdoor plants.

With the current health situation, the French have (re) started gardening! According to a survey conducted by the site "Promise of Flowers" of 10,000 people, 85% of them said that gardening was central to their activities during the two lockdowns. And this is not surprising because gardening has many benefits! Like all manual activities, gardening is calming. Like meditation, gardening allows you to take your mind off things and take time to relax.

Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to have a green thumb! So to help you get started, we asked a Parisian landscaper, Marie Saalburg, to tell us the mistakes to avoid if you want to keep your plants alive, but also her tips for having beautiful plants blooming there. where they are.

Mistake # 1: overwatering them (or not enough)

Often times, a lack of water or, on the contrary, overwatering plants can cause your plants to die prematurely!

His tip: "You have to know the nature of the plants you choose. Sunny rock garden plants, for example, like dry and stony grounds. We're not going to water them in the same way as plants in the undergrowth, which prefer shade and coolness. "

A received idea, but false: " Do not water plants with tap water". Marie Saalburg tells us that except for strongly chlorinated water, tap water is not harmful to plants. You can also collect rainwater.

Read also: 10 plants for the bathroom

Mistake # 2: ignoring the environment

According to the landscaper, choosing the right location for her plants is one of the determining factors for their well-being and their development. Before setting up your plants, it is therefore very important to take the environment into account!

His tip: "When installing plants at home, you have to take stock of the environment, so know your balcony well", she explains. It is essential to take into account the orientation, the exposure (sun or shade), the presence of winds … For example, in a windy situation, care should be taken to choose plants resistant to spray, such as sea plants. sea ​​side.

Mistake n ° 3: not fertilizing your plants

The landscaper says that " potted plants need fertilizer, intended to nourish them. Because inevitably, in a small container, plants quickly draw the nutrients offered by the substrate, the nutrient base of plants.Discolored leaves, yellowing or a vegetative plant are signs of a lack of fertilization.

His tip: "In winter, plants are at rest, but in spring or fall they need an energy boost to stimulate growth or flowering. Fertilizers, chemical or organic, with rapid or slower diffusion, can be adapted to a particular plant. We must therefore learn, experiment, observe, and correct ”, says Marie Saalburg. It is an art !

Mistake # 4: choosing an unsuitable pot

If the leaves turn yellow and drop, if the roots try to escape through the drainage hole, it is a sign that the plants are in need of space. So now is the time to repot them! So the roots will find the necessary place.

His tip: To avoid suffocating your plants, it is better to consider a pot that is too large than too small. She tells us that "For a shrub, for example, it will certainly not last long in a small pot, you have to give it space" .

Mistake # 5: not dealing with pests

Parasites weaken plants. Symptoms can start with warping and turning yellow leaves, until plant disease reaches a point of no return.

His tip: According to the landscaper, "You have to monitor the health of your plants, observe them to identify possible problems and remedy them. If aphids are thriving, place nasturtiums on your nearby patio. It is a plant that attracts aphids. You can then more easily get rid of the parasites by pulling out the nasturtiums ”. You can also put ladybird larvae available in garden centers.

Mistake # 6: not protecting them from freezing in winter

While some plants are frost resistant, others are less robust. This is the case with certain Mediterranean plants, such as oleander, mimosa, or even the olive tree. We must therefore take care of them and pamper them well in winter, to prevent them from dying.

His tip: There are two options for protecting your cold-sensitive outdoor plants: you can bring them inside the house, or lay a wintering veil to cover the plant. She also adds that it is necessary"Avoid watering during frost, as this can damage the plant, and may also cause the pot to burst"!

Mistakes n ° 7: not pruning your plants

Like the importance of regularly cutting your hair, pruning your plants helps keep trees and shrubs healthy, regenerate them, and control their shape and bulk.

His tip: According to Marie Saalburg,"Shrubs that grow in pots must be cut shorter than those that grow in the ground, because in containers, they have less soil available". Pruning is appropriate for each type of plant, summer flowering shrubs will be pruned in spring while spring flowering ones will be pruned in summer, so do not prune them all in the same season.

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Video by Clemence Chevallet