Gardening enthusiasts will agree when I say that it’s pretty easy to get carried away with your gardening plans, especially if you are a novice who has just ventured into this beautiful hobby. It is essential to be a bit stingy with your garden ideas in the initial stages. Once you have succeeded in setting a neat and manageable garden, you could move on to being more creative with what you want to do.
A perfect gardener is a myth! Every gardener makes mistakes…
… Irrespective of being an amateur or a professional. Mistakes are good! They teach us what must be done and what should never be! A good gardener always learns from their gardening blunders. It doesn’t matter if you have made tiny errors or embarrassing horrors, as long as you’re willing to take a positive advantage from the experience!
Here is a list of common gardening mistakes all of us have been guilty of making, at least once in our gardening endeavours:
Understanding just ‘How much is too much?’
Spring is every gardener’s favorite time of the year. I bet all gardeners get extra creative with their plans during this season. We sometimes get so carried away with the overwhelming charm of spring, that we fail to realize that summer awaits, and, will arrive no matter what!
Gardening isn’t a one day job. Once a seed is sown, you have to maintain it throughout. The best to start with is by keeping it simple and small. You could start with minimum beds/rows. This way you can give more attention to every single plant. Same goes for your plant selection method. Instead of impulsively purchasing almost all species of ornamental plants you ever wanted to grow, it is better to start on a lower scale. Get yourself one or two kinds of plants that you feel most confident about.
Another word of advice- it is best to not start out with growing your plants in containers/pots. Pots/containers can do more harm to your precious plants than you would have thought! The limited space availability hampers the growth of the plant’s roots. This might become a bigger problem, especially during the hotter season, when your potted plant could get water-stressed. A well-laid ground bed will not only guarantee good nourishment but also help keep the roots cool. You could get a good ‘bag bed’ for your plants as well. These are a great alternative to the conventional beds.
Certain plants are well-suited to be grown in pots and containers as well. Depending upon your choice of plant, you could decide which step to implement.
Know the weather in your part of the country!
What works in Iowa might not necessarily work in Florida! It is best to know if your area’s climate is suitable for adequate growth and maintenance of your choice of plants before visiting your nearest nursery.
Make friends with soil!
The soil will be your plant’s source of nourishment; it is important to be aware of the right methods of preparing it for gardening. Getting started with compost piles is a great way to ensure that soil is never a mystery to you! Organic compounds in composts work wonders for your plant’s growth. Mulches are just as great! They not only provide nutrients to the soil but also regulate soil temperature and prevent weeds from hampering plant growth. Fertilizers are an important source of nutrient for your soil. Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Potassium are crucial for a plant’s healthy growth. Just be careful not to overdo the fertilization process for your soil, though!
Lastly, while planting your future prized possessions, do be careful to grow them at comfortable distances, giving each one adequate access to soil, sunlight and space. Gardening is, undoubtedly, an art! The more you practise the right methods, the closer you get to achieving that coveted perfection!
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