All of us as gardeners are going to make mistakes. They are normal, and gardening just like any skill or hobby is a learning journey that we never stop being students of. Here are 5 of the most common gardening mistakes that we can make and some solutions to these problems.

Over Watering or Underwatering

I have a post that you can read here that goes into a bit more depth about some of the things that you can look for to see if you are overwatering or underwatering your plants. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger into the soil — if the top two inches are dry, it’s probably time to water. Another helpful tip to maintaining a good water content for your plants is to us mulch, without it your water will evaporate much quicker and more weeds around you plants.

Ignoring Soil Quality

Soil quality is one of the make or break features that can affect the yield and overall survival of your plants. I will make a post in the near future talking about soil quality and what you can do to both test your soil and amend your soil to make it the best for you and your plants.

Not Understanding Sunlight Needs

Depending on the plants that you have, they require different amounts of sunlight to help them grow the best that they need to. I have a post that you can read here that goes into a little bit more detail on sunlight. Some need full sun while others only require a bit of shade. It is important to monitor the sun’s pattern over your garden as well as do the research to make sure that you have your plants in the right spot for the best production.

Starting Too Big

I’m sure all of us have had dreams of this big elaborate garden that spans across our horizon filled with all of the fresh veggies. But this could be the down fall if we start to big too fast. This could lead to burnout especially if you are taking on too many projects at one time and not focusing on quality instead of quantity. Take some time to really plan out your space as well as use small pieces to test out different things that you and your family might enjoy. Remember, start small, expand gradually.

Crowding Your Plants

It is very tempting to want to add a lot of seedlings to one pot or bed to get as many plants and fruits as possible from your space. However, doing this can lead to disease and can blow airflow to your plants. It is important to do some research on spacing guidelines and stick to them even if you think that your garden looks bare. Your plants will fill up that space

For now though, I hope you have an idea on some of the most common mistake that all of us can make. Take the time this week to understand your space, understand you plants, and most importantly understand yourself as a gardener. Your plants will love you for it!

And until next time, Plant with a Purpose! – BTR