Do you love taking care of your plants, but your garden doesn’t look like you hoped? It may be one of these 5 common gardening mistakes.
According to one IFOP survey, 72% of French people associate gardening with a source of pleasure. It is true that maintaining your garden and seeing it bloom throughout the seasons is rewarding, even if it requires work, especially during specific periods such as spring.
However, it is an activity that requires patience. Growing your garden, whether ornamental plants, flowers or vegetables, takes months. As such, if you are in a hurry, or if you make certain mistakes, it is likely that you will miss your season, and that you will have to wait a few months, or even a year, before seeing the results. Rest assured, some gardening mistakes are common. By knowing them, you will be less likely to do them. So here are the top 5 gardening mistakes that can cost your garden dearly.
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Placing plants too close together
According to Sara Bendrick, landscaper and spokesperson for Stihl USA, planting varieties too close together can negatively impact their growth. “Many standard shrubs grow between three and five feet in height and width, but we plant them too close together or at the side of the path, requiring them to be pruned and maintained more regularly. she explains.
If you are introducing a new plant to your garden, check the label to see how wide and tall the plant will grow. Space it from the others taking this measurement into account. For this, do not hesitate to use a meter.
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Planting too many different varieties
When we start our garden, we are often enthusiastic. See too enthusiastic. We find ourselves buying “everything and anything” to offer maximum diversity. Bendrick says this is a mistake. “Planting too many different types of plants can be aesthetically pleasing, but often results in chaos and mess,” she explains.
Instead, she advises opting for five to ten plants depending on the size of your garden: “They stand out better when grouped together, and give your garden a cleaner, more natural look.”
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Choose plants that are already grown
Opting for already grown plants and trees, although it saves time, is not the best decision in the long term. The expert explains that “Fast-growing plants often pose more problems, because they have more frequent needs”
If you have to choose, opt for plants that have slow, steady growth. This is the sign of a quality plant, and which will require less maintenance than a variety which grows quickly, but which will require much more attention (maintenance, changing pots, watering, etc.)
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Overwatering or Underwatering
The right amount of water is crucial for the development of any plant, says Marvin Magusara, co-founder of Retaining Wall Supplies.
“Underwatering can stress plants. Make sure your plants need water, check the humidity of the soil before watering. The general rule is to water less frequently, but deeply,” he says.
Using too many pesticides
Even if no one likes harmful pests in your gardenoverusing pesticides to make them go away can cause other problems in the long term.
“Excessive use of chemicals can harm beneficial insects; just like impacting plant and soil health. Instead, use organic and natural alternatives” concludes the expert.