7 Common Gardening Mistakes You Might Be Making

Every spring, gardeners head out into their yards and do what they think is the best for their plants. They water, they weed, and they prune. But, what if I told you that you might actually be doing things that harm your garden? Many gardeners with the best intentions are guilty of it and are hurting their plants without even realizing it. So the question is, what gardening mistakes might you be making? Take a look below at this list of 7 Common Gardening Mistakes You Might Be Making so you can make the appropriate corrections and “get growing” again!

7 Common Gardening Mistakes You Might Be Making

1. Crowding your plants.
A full and lush looking yard and garden is great, but you have to let it happen naturally. To many times people crowd their plants in hopes of a full look, but in the end the plants snuff each other out. Instead, plant according to tag directions so plants have room to grow and stretch naturally.

2. Not watering deep enough. Most plants need on average 1-2 inches of water per week. It is important that you water deeply, so the roots can absorb as much as they can. When watering, don’t just brush the hose over the flower bed or just spray randomly. Instead, let the water focus on the base of the plant for a few seconds so it can really concentrate on the area and be absorbed.

3. Choosing plants not designed for your climate. Do you know your planting zone? You should! This will determine which sorts of plants can survive in your yard. Not all plants are created equal, and they may not last a growing season in your climate if they aren’t suited for your zone. For example, tropical varieties are not suited for zones with cooler temps. Always look at the zone on the planting tag and make sure it matches yours. Otherwise, you could be wasting time and money.

4. Not fertilizing or over fertilizing. Plants need food, and a slow release fertilizer can help with this. Many times people think the more they dump on the faster the plant will grow, but the truth is it will just burn it up. Same goes with under fertilizing, if you don’t do it enough, your plant could die. Instead, use a slow release liquid variety to make sure you plants get just enough.

5. Underestimating the critters. If you are planting produce, you are no doubt inviting critters to come visit. If you don’t plan on deterring them, you are wasting time and money. Instead, make a plan to include chicken wire or mesh nets in your garden to protect plants and keep critters away.

6. Skipping the mulch. Mulching may seem like too much work, but it can make a huge difference in your garden and landscaping! It helps keep weeds down, keeps plants cool, and keeps moisture in. Why wouldn’t you want to mulch? Invest in some quality mulch and see what a difference it makes. It might take time to mulch now, but it will save you so much time later.

7. Planting more than you can care for. Those 6 tomato plants seem so tiny when you first buy them, but don’t forget they will grow up to be big plants that produce dozens of pounds of produce. Do you have the time and energy for that kind of harvest? Don’t plant more than you can care for or the end result is a ton of wasted produce or a garden that you give up on mid season.

How many of these gardening mistakes are you guilty of? Before you start gardening this year, give these your consideration and make sure you plan accordingly so you don’t repeat them!