Gardening can be a rewarding hobby, but it can also be hard to do well. The key is knowing how to not suck at gardening and avoiding some common mistakes that turn most people off the hobby altogether. Here are the top ten ways to make sure your garden is thriving:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Start with easy-to-grow plants for beginners. |
| Choose the right soil and fertilizer for your plants. |
| Water your plants regularly and deeply, but not too much. |
| Use the right tools for the job, and take care of them. |
| Practice good garden maintenance to keep your plants healthy. |
Don’t Over Water
This one is simple: don’t over water. It’s as easy as that. The amount of water you should use depends on what type of soil you have and what time of year it is, but there are a few general rules to follow:
If your plants are drooping and the leaves are wilting, they need more water. Likewise if there is evidence of root rot (dark brown or black parts) or fungi at the base of the plant, it probably needs more water too (if left untreated).
Gardening gloves are an essential accessory for any gardener looking to work outside without damaging their hands. Consider using water-resistant gloves made from materials like neoprene to keep your hands dry and avoid fungal infections from wet soil. Leather gloves also provide excellent protection and durability.
Don’t Buy Bonsai
Bonsai might seem like a good idea, because you can buy them for $10 and they look super cute. But these are usually treated as houseplants, and not as trees that will grow outside in your yard.
And if you do want to plant one in your yard, it’s going to be a lot of work. The process of gradually pruning the tree to keep it small is complicated I know because I tried this once when I was still learning about gardening.
Eventually, though, I realized that bonsai are just not right for me: They’re expensive (the trees themselves can cost hundreds of dollars), they’re difficult to grow (“bonsai” means “tray planting” in Japanese), and they don’t even have any flowers or food (like apples) unless you go out of your way to find some weird varieties online without knowing what they taste like first!
If all this sounds discouraging but you still want something small enough so that other people won’t think twice about moving into their own place next door instead of yours then why not try growing a dwarf fruit tree instead?
These kinds of trees only grow up 2-3 feet tall so even if there are many more neighbors around than usual then nobody will notice either way; plus there’ll be plenty enough space left over between each one where someone else could put theirs down too! You may also want consider purchasing some type
Certainly! Here’s a table based on the semantic of the point “Don’t Buy Bonsai”:
Reasons Why Bonsai Might Not Be Suitable for Your Garden
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Treated as houseplants | Bonsai are usually grown in small pots as indoor plants, which means they may not be hardy enough to survive outdoors in your garden. |
| Limited growth potential | Due to their small size, bonsai trees have limited growth potential and may not provide enough shade, privacy or other benefits that larger trees offer. |
| High maintenance | Bonsai require a lot of maintenance, including regular watering, pruning, and fertilizing. They can also be sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and light conditions. |
| Specialized skills required | Successfully growing and styling bonsai trees requires specialized skills, knowledge, and experience that may be difficult for most amateur gardeners to acquire. |
| Alternative options available | There are many other types of trees, shrubs, and plants that may be more suitable for your garden, climate, and location, which offer more benefits and less challenges than bonsai trees do. |
Don’t Buy Your Seeds From a Souvenir Shop
If you want to grow your own garden and don’t want to suck, then the first thing you need to do is find a good source for seeds.
Unfortunately, this will be harder than it sounds. The worst thing you can possibly do when buying seeds is buy them from any of the following sources:
- Souvenir shops (particularly in Hawaii)
- Supermarkets
- The internet (like eBay or Amazon)
Your friends/family members who claim they have “really good” seeds that they just want to give away because they aren’t interested in gardening anymore and are moving out of state anyway.
The last time I heard this excuse was when my mom said she didn’t need her tomato plants anymore because she was moving into an apartment where there wouldn’t be enough space for them. What a coincidence!
She also had two pounds of fresh tomatoes sitting on top of her kitchen counter at the time… Yeah right! No wonder why you’re moving now that all those tomatoes are ripe and ready to eat! Pretty convenient timing if you ask me…
Choosing the right soil for your container garden is crucial for giving your plants the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Look for high-quality potting soil that has good water retention and drainage, and is free of harmful chemicals or impurities. Check out this guide on container gardening soil recommendations to learn more about the different types of soil and what to look for.
Don’t Start Too Many Seeds
While you may be excited to start your seedlings, I’ve learned that it can be a waste of time and money if you have too many seeds.
If a seed sprouts, but doesn’t grow into a plant, it could be because of poor soil conditions or lack of sunlight. You might also find yourself with more plants than you have room for in your garden or planters.
However, sometimes we don’t know which seeds will make good plants until they actually sprout! This is where patience comes in handy if a seed didn’t grow when expected, try again later on down the line (or ask an expert!).
Sure, here’s a table based on the semantic of the point “Don’t Start Too Many Seeds”:
Reasons Why Starting Too Many Seeds Can Be a Mistake
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Waste of time and resources | Starting too many seeds can be a waste of time, space, and resources, as you may end up with more plants than you can use or care for. |
| Limited space for seedlings | Unless you have a large greenhouse or outdoor growing area, starting too many seeds can quickly lead to overcrowding and stunted growth of your seedlings. |
| Difficult to keep track of | Starting too many varieties of seeds can make it difficult to keep track of which plant is which, especially if they all look similar at the seedling stage. |
| Requires more maintenance | The more seedlings you have, the more watering, fertilizing, and other maintenance tasks you will need to perform to keep them healthy and growing. |
| Higher risk of disease and pests | Overcrowded and stressed seedlings are more susceptible to diseases and pests, which can quickly spread and affect all of your plants if you’re not careful. |
Don’t Buy Plants That Are in Flower
Flowering plants are a lot more finicky than non-flowering plants. They need more water, nutrients, and sunlight to thrive.
And if you fail to meet their needs? The results can be ugly: leaf damage, fungal disease growth (which can spread to other plants), and even death. So don’t buy flowering plants unless you’re ready for the extra maintenance!
It’s also worth noting that flowering plants won’t produce fruit or seeds unless they’re pollinated by bees or butterflies so if you want fruit from your flowery plantings, make sure there are enough pollinating insects around for them.
Keeping your lawn well-fed and healthy requires regular fertilization, but it can be challenging to know when and how to fertilize for best results. Consider using a slow-release fertilizer that will gradually feed your lawn over time and avoid the risk of over-fertilization. Check out this guide on how to fertilize your lawn yourself for more tips and advice.
Don’t Plant Out Before Frost Is Gone
It’s tempting to plant out your plants as soon as it starts to warm up. But you should wait until the last frost has passed, and even then, you might want to harden off your plants before you do so.
The reason for this is because frost can be damaging to plants it can kill them if they’re exposed for too long and planting out too early can lead to frost damage (especially in the fall).
To prevent this from happening, make sure that your soil is sufficiently warm when you’re planting out new seedlings or mature plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor elements over a period of time called “hardening off.”
Water Correctly!
How often you water your plants depends on a lot of factors: the plant, the type of soil, weather conditions and season. When in doubt, refer to a guide or ask someone who knows.
If you want to do it yourself, here are some general rules:
- Plants in containers need more frequent watering than those planted directly into the ground.
- Soil that drains quickly (such as sandy loam) will require more frequent watering than soil that retains water longer (such as clay).
- Hotter temperatures mean more frequent irrigation; cooler temperatures mean less irrigation is needed due to moisture retention by shade or mulch.
- Plant age also plays an important role; younger plants will need more frequent watering than mature ones because they have a larger root system with greater transpiration needs than established ones
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, having the right tools is essential for getting the job done efficiently and effectively. Some of the essential tools for gardening include a trowel, pruning shears, a hand cultivator, a rake, and a watering can. Check out this guide on gardening tools to learn more about what tools you need and how to use them.
Location, location, location
You should also pick a sunny spot. You will want to avoid frost pockets and areas with a lot of shade, as well as windy spots and hot or cold spots.
If you live in an area with short growing seasons, choose plants that are bred to grow well in your region.
If you have longer growing seasons, then it’s okay to experiment with less-hardy plants—you just have more time to make them look good before winter comes again!
The Proper Planting Depth Is Crucial
Once you have the right soil, you’re ready to plant your seeds. Planting depth is crucial for the health of your plant because it affects how much water they can absorb and how easily they can breathe. The proper depth depends on the type of plant, so check out this chart before you start planting:
- Seed Depth: ¼-½ inch
- Seedling Depth: ¼ inch deeper than seed depth
- Transplanting Depth (For Young Plants): Up to 1 inch
Planting too deep may cause overwatering or underwatering which can lead to root rot and other problems with your garden.
Gardening can be a fun and therapeutic hobby that provides a range of physical and mental health benefits. To get the most out of your gardening experience, consider planting a variety of colorful and fragrant flowers, using organic and natural fertilizers, and taking regular breaks to stretch and hydrate. Check out this guide on how to enjoy gardening for more tips and advice.
Choose Your Plants Wisely.
When you’re choosing plants to add to your garden, keep in mind that not all plants are created equal.
Here’s how to choose wisely:
Choose plants that are right for your climate. Some plants thrive in a hot environment, while others can’t handle being outside during the summer months. If you live in a colder climate, look for trees and shrubs that can survive colder temperatures.
Choose plants that will thrive in your soil. A lot of people don’t realize this, but some soils have nutrients while others don’t—and if you plant an unfortunate plant in a nutrient-poor area and give it nutrients through fertilizers or water, it’s not going to grow very well at all!
So before planting anything new into your garden, make sure there’s enough nutrition available by doing some research on what kind of soil you have around where these new additions will be planted (whether they’re fruit trees or flowers).
Potted Or Container Plants Need Extra Care
Potted or container plants need extra care. They’re a little more like pets than the flowers growing in your yard, and you should treat them as such.
You will probably have to water potted plants more often than those in the ground—they dry out faster because they can’t reach water through their roots.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about pesticides or pests, so it’s easier to maintain your potted plant than garden soil would be!
To determine when your plant needs watering:
Check if the topsoil feels dry by lightly pressing down on it with your fingers
If the topsoil feels damp but not wet (it shouldn’t feel soggy), then no need for water yet! If the soil is too dry and there are small cracks forming along its surface, then go ahead and give them some love with some H2O!
Don’t Over Water And Avoid Overwatering In Winter Time
Overwatering is often as bad as under watering your plants, especially if you live in a cold climate. This can cause root rot and fungus to invade your plants’ roots which will eventually lead to them dying.
If you don’t want to do any work or have any fun at all when you’re gardening, make sure not to overwater!
Water your plants less during the colder months of the year (the months that are colder than room temperature).
The soil won’t dry out as quickly because it’s colder outside so there’s no need for excess watering throughout the winter months.
Plants that need more water tend to be outdoor foliage types like roses and ferns; these areas might require more frequent watering during warmer seasons but should be reduced during cooler seasons so that they don’t get too much moisture build-up above the soil line which could lead
Conclusion
In conclusion, gardening is a rewarding experience. But it can also be stressful if you don’t know what you are doing.
There are so many plants and different varieties that it can be difficult to pick which ones will work best for you and your garden space.
This article has given some tips on how not to suck at gardening, so hopefully now you feel more confident about taking on this hobby! Good luck!
Sure, here’s how you can structure the Further reading and FAQs sections using markdown:
Further reading
Architectural Digest’s gardening tips – A comprehensive guide to gardening that covers everything from choosing the right plants for your climate to soil preparation and pest control.
Self’s guide to gardening – A helpful resource for beginners looking to start a garden, with tips on planting, watering, and harvesting.
Family Handyman’s bad gardening habits to drop – A list of common gardening mistakes to avoid, including overwatering, pruning at the wrong time, and ignoring weed control.
FAQs
What are the best plants for a beginner gardener?
There are many plants that are suitable for beginner gardeners, including herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro, as well as vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. Succulents and other low-maintenance plants are also great options for those who are new to gardening.
How often should I water my garden?
The frequency of watering depends on several factors, including the type of plants you have, the climate, and the soil conditions. In general, most plants benefit from regular, deep watering once or twice a week, rather than frequent shallow watering.
How do I deal with pests in my garden?
There are several ways to prevent and control pests in your garden, including using natural methods like companion planting, beneficial insects, and organic pesticides. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pest damage and take action quickly to prevent infestations from spreading.
What is the best time to prune my plants?
The best time to prune your plants depends on the type of plant and the season. In general, most plants should be pruned during the dormant season, which is typically in the fall or winter. However, some plants may benefit from pruning in the spring or summer to encourage new growth.
How can I make my garden more sustainable?
Some ways to make your garden more sustainable include using compost or organic fertilizers, using drip irrigation to conserve water, and planting native species that are well-adapted to your local climate. You can also incorporate recycling and upcycling into your gardening practices by using repurposed materials for garden beds, compost bins, and other features.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to help you with your home-maintenance needs. Whether it’s building a better yard or just trying to fix a garden—I can show you how.
