5 Major Gardening Mistakes to Avoid that Can Harm Your Plants

Gardening as a hobby is gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the UK, where almost 87% of the population owns at least a garden. This hobby became even more popular after COVID-19 when over 7 million people started gardening as a leisure activity or a job. Being a plant parent, it is important for you to learn the common gardening mistakes to avoid beforehand and prevent greater loss like stunted growth, leaves spots, decay, malformed stems, etc.

What are the Common Mistakes As a Gardener?

Common gardening mistakes, especially for first-time gardeners, include insufficient or excess water, inadequate sunlight, ignoring pest attacks, and not understanding the specific plant needs. These can greatly affect the growth of plants, so it’s important to know the wrongdoings in depth.

Inadequate Nutrients Supply

Food is one of the most important needs of the plants to survive. If you have expertly prepared the soil, watered the plant, and done everything on point, but the plant has stopped growing- malnourishment might be the case.

Nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium are some of the important nutrients that are needed, especially for vegetables and fruits to grow, have green leaves, and flourish.

Remember! If it’s winter, chances are plants have gone dormant and might start growing again in the spring season.

Diagnose the Cause to Treat

If the plant shows stunted growth, yellow leaves, and poor fruit formation, it is a clear sign that the amount or nature of fertilisers you provide isn’t sufficient. Plants may also drop their leaves when in panic mode.

Apply the required fertiliser rich in nutrients and get ready to see them growing and thriving.

Excess or Less Water

Be a caring parent and learn the water needs of different plant species to avoid committing any gardening blunder. Cucumbers and beans are always thirsty, while experts recommend that zucchini or okra be grown even without any notable water.

Balance is the key here because underwatering the plants during extremely hot and dry conditions can harm them, and so does excessive water. High-stalk plants usually need more water to enrich plants from roots to tips. Notice the phases of the plant from germination to maturation, as the water needs might vary.

Diagnose the Cause to Resolve

An underwater plant shows yellow to brown coloured dry leaves that might fall off every now and then. An overwatered plant shows droopy yellow leaves instead of crisp ones. The other indication can be wet soil, which indicates excess water.

Soil Borne Pest Infestation

Soil-borne pests are hidden threats that can severely impact plant health. These pests, which live underground, can go unnoticed until the damage is significant. Even if you are providing the right nutrients and water, pests like nematodes or grubs can feed on plant roots, leading to stunted growth and poor development.

Diagnose the Cause to Treat

If your plant displays symptoms like wilting, sticky honeydew patches, yellowing leaves, or slowed growth despite proper care, it’s time to find the best pest control near you.

You can also use organic pest control methods like predator introduction to manage the condition. The biggest gardening mistake you can make is to let the pests go untreated. An uncontrolled pest infestation can reach the roots, making nutrient uptake difficult or nearly impossible.

Did You Know?

You can burn almost 20,000 calories in a year by doing a little gardening daily.

Insufficient Lighting

Plants need light for photosynthesis so the intensity and the quantity reaching them decides how much to grow. Insufficient sunlight, which is a common concern, especially in the UK, can result in stunted plant growth. Know the needs of your plant species and remember that even shade-loving plants also require a few sun rays.

Diagnose the Cause to Treat

If your plant is stretching toward windows or growing in an uneven, lanky manner, insufficient lighting is likely the issue. Plants may also lose their rich green colour and appear pale.

Make sure that your plants receive enough natural light, or consider supplementing with artificial sources, especially during winter months or in darker spaces.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind, have a big impact on the growth of the plants in your home garden. If temperatures fluctuate too much or are extreme, plants can suffer from shock, which may slow or stop their growth. Winds in open spaces can also damage plants by causing physical harm or drying them out.

Diagnose the Cause to Treat

Look for signs such as wilting, scorched leaves, or slow growth during extreme weather. If plants are exposed to too much heat, they may dry out faster. Similarly, frost or cold snaps can lead to damage or even death.

Avoid this gardening mistake and protect your plants by maintaining a stable environment, ensuring proper hydration, and shielding them from harsh winds.

Conclusion

Almost £7.6 billion is spent on garden goods, plants, and flowers in the UK, so to avoid making gardening an economic burden, the commonly mentioned mistakes that can lead to stunted plant growth should be avoided. Explore your specie’s needs carefully, learn the maintenance of each plant, and make them thrive under required water, light, nutrients, and without any infestations.