Are you thinking of getting into gardening? Gardening is a great way to relax and enjoy the beauty of your property as well as create your own food! However, gardening can be a very difficult and frustrating task, especially when you have never done it before. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid when trying your hand at gardening.
1. Planting without Research
When you decide to create a new garden, one of the important things to do
before getting started is making sure to do research on any plant material
that you purchase and plan to grow in your home garden. The best way to
ensure the plants survive and grow is to read about them and see what
exactly they need to grow the biggest and fullest. Some plants will require
more sun or water than others. Some plants will require acid soil to bloom
beautiful colours while others will completely wither and die in the same
conditions. By doing your research, you give your garden the best chance at
surviving and being successful.
2. Improper Garden Placement
Before you go out and dig up your lawn to create a new garden bed, spend
sometime in your yard. To have a successful garden, you must know what
conditions you’re going to put your garden in. Just because you want your
garden next to your patio or shed, doesn’t mean that’s the best place for it.
Find out what part of your yard receives the most sun because that’s going to
be the best place to grow fruits and vegetables. Most fruits and vegetables
require 8 hours of direct sunlight. Another thing to consider is how easy it is
to get water to your garden. If it’s in a hard-to-reach area for the hose, you’re
less likely to water it.
3. Improper Soil Preparation
Once you find the perfect location for your new garden bed, make sure you
check the soil quality before digging it up. First, a simple visual test will tell
you if the soil has too much clay or rock content. If it passes, you can, then, do
a soil test. A soil test will tell you what kind of soil you’re working with and
exactly what you can do to improve the soil quality. You can get soil tests
done at any garden center or near by university. It is always best to gather a
few soil samples to help determine the best location.
4. Watering your Garden too Much
Over watering will definitely kill your garden. Water is one of the most
essential ingredients to a successful garden. Some plants require much more
water than others but drowning your garden in water is not good for any
plant. By watering a lot, you are not helping your plants grow any faster or
stronger. You’re actually doing quite the opposite. Having constantly wet soil
invites mould and fungus to grow. It makes the plants more susceptible to
disease and doesn’t encourage deep root growth. If water is so readily
available at the soil surface, it doesn’t encourage roots to grow big and deep
in search of a water source. It’s good to water your garden 1-3 times a week
depending on how much rain falls as well as to do so in evening as the sun
goes down. Watering in the heat of the midday can magnify the sun and burn
the leaves on the plants.
5. Using too Much Fertilizer and at the Wrong Times
Fertilizer is very important for any garden to grow to its full potential.
Adding the right amount of fertilizer at the right time of the season can do
wonders for your garden. However, adding it at the wrong time and too much
can also kill your garden. This goes back to point number 1. Doing your
research on the plants that you put in the garden will tell you exactly how to
take care of them and exactly what kind of soil conditions they need and
when.
If you can avoid these 5 beginners mistakes from the get go, you will be on your way to having a successful and lush garden!
