What mistakes should first-time gardeners avoid?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.New gardeners will frequently over-prune flowering shrubs in early spring and inadvertently cut the buds that would produce the blooms. I restored a client's lilac by educating her to wait until the blooms have faded to prune. Fresh manure is a second area where new gardeners can have a negative experience. Fresh manure has a high ammonia content that can burn the root system. New gardeners should use the manure for composting for six months before they apply it to their garden.
Over-Pruning Risks
- Cutting spring-blooming shrubs before flowering
- Removing more than 25% of growth per season
- Ignoring disease-prone cuts (use 70% alcohol)
Soil Missteps
- Skipping pH tests leads to nutrient lockout
- Applying raw manure burns roots
- Over-tilling destroys soil structure
Watering Blunders
- Sprinkling leaves instead of soaking roots
- Watering midday (60% evaporation loss)
- Ignoring soil moisture meters
Neglecting Soil pH causes disasters without warning. A client lost her beans after they turned yellow from a soil pH of 7.8; I added sulfur, and in a couple of weeks, we fixed it. The cost of soil test kits is much less than replacing dead plants. Another issue was watering the plants with the foliage dry, which caused disease. I have scrubbed powdery mildew off of zucchini all summer long.
Tool Hygiene
- Disinfect pruners between plants
- Sharpen blades to 20° angles
- Oil hinges with linseed oil
Water Wisdom
- Water at dawn to reduce evaporation
- Use soaker hoses for deep root access
- Check moisture 2 inches deep
Consistency trumps luck. A customer avoided disease in their garden after cleaning tools with alcohol each week. Another has a $10 pH test for tomato plants and cares for them at perfect levels. Start by addressing one little mistake each growing season. Your garden won't just survive the growing season; it will stand out amongst the gardens of much more experienced gardeners.
Read the full article: Spring Garden Preparation: 10 Expert Tasks for Success
