7 Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

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Published: February 10, 2011
By: Oliver Marks
3Comments

Even veteran gardeners make rookie mistakes, like giving plants too much water and too little space. Here are common garden blunders. Consider yourself warned.

Effort: High 2-4 hrs/wk (growing season)
Investment: Low $250 to $500 (pro design help)

Mistake #6: Over-watering

An automatic irrigation system is a luxury that keeps your landscape hydrated throughout the growing season with almost no effort. Unfortunately, auto-watering can bring disease, root rot, and a premature death to plants; it also wastes water.

Many gardeners set watering timers for 15 to 20 minutes each morning, which wets the surface but doesn’t soak deeply to nourish roots of large trees and shrubs.

Try this instead: Water for 40 to 60 minutes only two to three times a week. Check with the company that maintains your irrigation system for local recommendations. A deeper soak also helps lawns develop deeper root systems.

Next: Mistake #7: Budget blunders

Oliver Marks

A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. He’s currently restoring his second fixer-upper with a mix of big hired projects and small do-it-himself jobs.

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Beautiful tree! Thanks for the planting tips, Mariette.
Posted by HouseLogic on August 01, 2012

Just showing you how our 'Drake' elm, Ulmus parvifolia has grown since its planting day on March 13, 2012 and today, July 31 of 2012. This method of preparing the hole properly does work and you get an instant reward as is seen from both photos! Mariette´s Back to Basics
Posted by Mariette on July 31, 2012

On point #4: Neglecting the root of it all I'd like to add THE most crucial mistake often made. When planting a rose, shrub, tree or whatever, you buy some good potting soil, spent mushroom compost or cow manure (available at Home Depot). Set that aside and dig a DEEP and WIDE hole. Just anticipate the growth of that new garden member. In that hole you thoroughly mix the potting soil, spent mushroom compost or cow manure and the original soil. Now put water in that hole, SOAK it before planting. This way you make watering easier and your new living garden member can easily penetrate this perfect and nutritious soil for extending and growing its roots. This is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING and quite often overlooked! Most plants and trees are put into a hole and have to sit almost on their 'knees' as there is no space to go into. The original soil is too dense, too hard and often not rich enough. Fertilizing is no solution if this very basic thing is being overlooked! Mariette's Back to Basics
Posted by Mariette on July 31, 2012

Print Checklist

Remodel with green materials:

They’re lush, green, and all-American. They’re also water-hogging, time-sucking nuisances. In fact, some are saying ‘no’ to turf. Should we get rid of our lawns?

What are lawn alternatives?

Turf grasses

Ground cover

Fake grass

And, yes, lawn paint!