Five Mistakes Made By Rookie Gardeners

While even the most seasoned of gardeners are prone to the odd mishap, common mistakes made by budding green thumbs often include the following misfortunes. 

Thanks to science, we know that gardening is good for us. There’s a certain kind of magic associated with quite literally reaping what you sow, and knowing that your direct actions help plants come to life. While other surprising health benefits associated with gardening include cardiovascular health, improving self esteem, reducing stress and anxiety, providing a bonding family activity, boosting Vitamin D levels and access to healthy food, it should come as no surprise that the number of people who identify as hobby gardeners are on the rise. 

However, beginner gardeners can easily get disheartened when things don’t go according to plan. While losing plants is an inevitable part of garden renewal and building experience, if it keeps happening on a regular basis, it’s enough to put anyone off gardening forever. When it comes to learning what not to do, here are a few of the more common mistakes that gardeners make in the early days of exploring their new found passion.

Common Errors Made By Beginner Gardeners

While even the most seasoned of gardeners are not immune from making mistakes, there are generally a few mishaps made by newbies that are deemed to be more common than others. However, the good news is that a little knowledge can go a long way in the world of plants, particularly if you know what to avoid in advance. 

Avoiding The Use Of Mulch – Whether we’re talking about a flower bed or a veggie patch, mulching has long been regarded as possessing almost magical properties for gardeners everywhere. Although it can be a messy process, mulching is the definition of reaping what you sow, with just a handful of benefits including water retention, boosting soil quality and providing a layer of protection against weeds and pests. Even the most seasoned gardeners make mistakes. Plants and the climate can be fickle at times so don’t give up!

Planting At The Wrong Time – To get the best results from your garden, timing is everything. Although sunflowers may be your thing and something you’ve long dreamed about growing yourself, planting a sun loving variety such as this in the middle of winter is only setting yourself up for failure. To avoid weather related disappointment, research seasonal planting guides in advance before you head to your nearest nursery and go on a shopping frenzy. 

Squeezing Too Many Plants In – To give your garden or veggie patch it’s best shot at success, try to avoid the temptation of over planting in an area or designated garden bed. Even the tallest of trees all start from one tiny seed, so to avoid the risk of overcrowding, be sure to read the size estimates that are published on a plant’s label before you place them into the soil. This is particularly relevant for many natives, as the shrubs often grow wider than they do taller. 

Not Factoring In Sunlight – Plants can be fickle creatures when it comes to the amount of shade and sunlight that they require in order to thrive. Planting the wrong varieties in your garden can be a bit like trying to shove a square through a round hole, so at some point, be realistic about the types of species that can grow in the area that you have to work with. Don’t fight your garden’s conditions – just accept what it is and choose plants accordingly.

Ignoring Soil Health – Rookie and seasoned gardeners alike can often underestimate the role of soil health in pots, garden beds and even lawns. From aerating turf, understanding pH levels and even ensuring that soil has access to organic matter influence how your plants are able to fend off pests, cope with weather changes, and even access the vital nutrients that they need in order to grow and form healthy root structures. 

If you’re in the early days of exploring your gardening hobby and are looking to keep your plants healthy and requiring little to no maintenance, aim to embrace forward thinking and proactive measures instead of reactive ones, especially when it comes to things like watering, weeding, fertilising and tackling pests. As such, one of the most effective means to do so is to ensure that the soil in your garden is at its best. 

Optimise Your Garden Soil The Natural Way 

Do your plants – and yourself – a favour, and give them a head start by optimising your soil prior to planting. By adding a natural plant food like Biotic Booster, this will help your garden to: 

• Provide essential nutrients and microbes 
• Act as a liquid fertiliser to unlock your soil’s potential 
• Drought proof your plants and lower water consumption
• Increase and speed up the germination process
• Assist in protecting your plants from pests and diseases 
• Provide a natural solution that’s safe to use around your herbs, fruit and veggies

If you’re ready to take the leap into improving the health of your plants while minimising the use of chemical based fertilisers, then it may be time to try plant food and plant probiotics. Our Ultimate Garden Health Pack includes our Biotic Booster, FP-60 Probiotic Spray, RE-250 Soil Energiser plant food and plant probiotics. In each concentrated bottle, millions of natural bacterias are waiting to find a new home in your garden.

Here at Bioweed, we specialise in environmentally friendly gardening products, including herbicides, plant food and plant probiotics, and natural alternatives to traditional gardening solutions. Should you have any questions about how to improve the sustainability of your garden, get in touch with us today.