3 Common Gardening Mistakes to Avoid
I
t's finally spring, and time to get out in the yard and start planting. If you're a novice gardener, avoid making these three blunders and you'll be rewarded with a thriving garden and maybe even a lifelong hobby.
1. Starting too big It's easy to get enthusiastic when you read catalogs or visit the garden center. But if you plant a large garden the first time around, as the season progresses, you can easily become overwhelmed by how much care it takes to maintain. Better to start small so you don't become discouraged. Think about beginning with container gardening, either in baskets or a small raised bed. Check out Burpee for some of their great containers to get you started.
Unique Flower Arrangements
2. Over-or-under watering There's such a thing as too much water. If you give plants so much that they can't absorb it all, they'll be standing in water and can drown. On average, a garden needs about 1 inch of water a week. To test whether it's time to water, stick your finger into the soil. If it's dry, it's time.
3. Being reactive An easy error to make is being reactive instead of proactive. Your best bet is to plan ahead and make sure your plants have enough sunlight, adequate spacing, ample water, proper soil and monitor them on a regular basis. It's always worth the effort to prevent problems rather than have to solve them later on.
More from Good Housekeeping:
