Top 10 Mistakes Newbie Gardeners Should Watch Out For
 Written by Michael Curry - The Perfect Building Guide
Spring is finally here, and for new gardeners enthusiasm runs high. Here are the top 10 mistakes newbie gardeners should watch out for:
 Not Planning Before Hitting the Garden Centres
New gardeners often head to the garden centre and pick up everything and anything that takes their
fancy without considering whether there is a suitable place for them in their garden. To avoid a hodgepodge effect, plan out your garden before you spend a cent. Then, only buy plants that fit in with your scheme.
Not Preparing the Soil
Getting and keeping good soil is one of the major challenges all gardeners face. Poor soil conditions are a major reason plants don’t do well and usually the one thing that new gardeners overlook. Plants generally like “loamy” soil that is rich in organic material and doesn’t drain too quickly. Be sure to improve your soil before setting out your plants.
Using Poor Quality Tools
You usually get what you pay for. Buy the best tools you can afford. There is nothing more frustrating
than having cheap tools that bend, twist and break. In the long run it’s less expensive to buy quality tools. You’ll have your tools for a lifetime instead of just a season.
Putting Plants in the Wrong Location
Figure out what your growing conditions are and take note of the light conditions you are dealing with at different times of the day. Is it sunny or shady some of the day or all of the day? Then purchase plants that are right for those conditions. Be sure to read the labels that tell you a plant’s growing preferences.
Overcrowding Shrubs and Trees
Remember that new shrubs and trees are immature when first purchased and grow very large in a matter of a few short years, often overtaking your landscape. Be sure to find out how much space a tree or shrub needs to mature, and allow enough room for growth.
Not Planting in Groups
A garden planted with one of this and one of that looks spotty and without focus. Most experts agree
that planting in odd-numbered groupings of three or more looks best and creates the most impact.
Buying Poor Quality Plants
New gardeners often don’t have the experience to recognize poor quality in plants. While plants can arrive at a retailer in good condition, if not properly cared for they quickly begin to become stressed.
It’s best to buy from a reputable garden centre with knowledgeable staff to help you select healthy,
robust nursery stock.
Planting Too Deep
A very common error is planting too deep. For container grown plants, set the plant into the soil at the same level it grew in the pot.
Inappropriate Watering
New gardeners are often unsure about how much water their plants need. It all depends on the
weather. A weekly rainfall of about 2.5 cm (one inch) is ideal. You can measure the rainfall by putting a rain gauge in your garden. If it is less than an inch, then you should water. However, avoid frequent shallow waterings. This encourages roots to stay near the surface instead of reaching deep into the
soil for moisture. Plants that have deep roots are better able to withstand periods of drought. When you water, the moisture should penetrate the top five to six inches of soil. Water your garden early in the morning and early in the evening.
Not Keeping the Weeds Down
Weeding is a gardener’s scourge and the most disagreeable of garden tasks. But, to get a good return on your investment in time and money, you have to eliminate the weeds. Mulch is a gardener’s best friend and is by far your best defence against weeds. Once you have finished planting, spread a mulch
of some type (for example, wood chips) between your plants.
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