6 Common Beginner Gardening Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Let your guard down and grow your garden up! In a 2021 survey, 80% of Americans said that they grew their own vegetables.
Gardening is becoming easier and more effective. Yet beginner gardening mistakes are still quite common. If you want to grow incredible plants in your backyard, you must familiarize yourself with them.
What should your plants have access to? When and where should you plant your vegetables? How can you weed your garden without hurting yourself?
Answer these questions, and you can have a vibrant garden in less time than you think. Here are six common gardening mistakes.
1. Selecting the Wrong Spots for Your Plants
Choosing a garden location is one of the most important things you can do when gardening. Your plants need to have access to several hours of sunlight every day and soil that is rich in nutrients.
Take a look at where your garden will go and see how much sunlight you get throughout the day. Order garden soil testing so you can see what nutrients you have in the soil. If the ground has a lot of water or rocks, you can place soil in metal raised garden beds and move your plants into the sunlight.
2. Picking the Wrong Plants
Some plants may not be compatible with your soil or climate. You should do your research and see what plants for gardens your neighbors have. Focus on growing three or four plants at first and then grow your garden out as you gain experience.
3. Not Preparing Your Soil
Even if your soil is moist and rich in nutrients, you should add some compost to it. You can add worm castings or fertilizer to encourage your plants to grow taller as well. Mix these ingredients together with a garden fork so you don’t damage the soil.
4. Planting at the Wrong Times
A spring or fall freeze can kill your plants, even if the freeze lasts one day. Try to plant your crops during the late spring or early summer. Wait until the late summer or early fall to harvest your crops, especially if you are growing vegetables.
5. Miswatering
Each plant requires a certain amount of water. Figure out how much water your plant needs and give them an exact amount.
You can adopt a garden watering routine so you remember when to water your plants, but keep your eye out for signs that your plants are thirsty. They need more water if their leaves are limping or brown.
6. Leaving the Weeds in Your Garden
Weeding is labor-intensive, but even small weeds can take water and nutrients out of the soil. Use an action hoe with a looped blade so you can scoop up the weeds without bending over. You can also smother the weeds by piling mulch on top of them.
Avoiding Beginner Gardening Mistakes
Beginner gardening mistakes are as common as gardens themselves. You need to research the plants you can grow in your soil and run tests to see what nutrients you have. You then need to prepare your soil and wait for the right time to plant.
Once your plants are in the ground, you must give them the precise amount of water they need. Remove weeds using action hoes and mulch instead of using your hands.
After you avoid mistakes, you can start learning about the best gardening practices. Read more gardening guides for beginners by following our coverage.
