Most new gardeners think that more is better when usually, just the opposite is true. Take the time to learn exactly what the water needs of your plant are and count to ten before turning on the hose. If you are watering anything daily you are probably watering too much.
Piling soil on top of your lawn or new flower beds WILL NOT kill weeds. They will thrive and flourish in the rich new soil. Be diligent in pulling and digging the area and amend the soil. The time spent building a good weed free soil base before planting will make the future tending of the bed much easier and satisfying.
More is not always better and often it is worse. Take the time to learn the nutrient needs of your plants and the differences in various kinds and levels of fertilizer. If you feed your tomatoes nothing but fish emulsion, you will have lovely big, green plants. But, no tomatoes. If you feed your roses lots of nitrogen rich fertilizer, you will have lots of lovely rose leaves. But, nary a rose.
Moving? Remember, when you might have planted in Illinois isn't the time to plant in Florida or vice versa. June may be the peak gardening season in New York, but it isn't in southern California. Again, local gardeners, your county AG agent and local nurseries are a good source of information.
Often plants are listed in catalogs as ‘readily reseeding’, ‘vigorous’, ‘having a spreading habit’ or ‘being extremely hardy’. This often may mean the plant can become invasive and spread well beyond your intended area. Catalogs are wonderful resources for finding special plants. But some just go too far with their colorful descriptions, implying that a plant is trouble-free, carefree, practically perfect in every way.
New gardeners would do well to avoid the "I just gotta have it!" syndrome. Purchasing plants that require a growing environment that you cannot possibly provide is not only costly but frustrating. Going to a nursery is much like going to the grocery store. Make a list and stick to it!
Those new to gardening often feel that "the only good bug is a dead bug." Not true! A healthy garden will always have a population of insect life - good and bad. The key is balance. Remember, the garden isn't your house, it is theirs and most of the insects in the flower bed and vegetable garden are the good guys. They may nibble on the occasional leaf or bud but they more than earn their keep by eating up the bad guys as well as providing pollination services. Believe it or not, less than 5% of the various insects, beetles, spiders, worms and caterpillars are true pests so bombing the garden with pesticides often does far more harm than good.
Overcrowding your plants won’t do them any favors. Plants must have room to breathe and need good air circulation. They also need light to reach them and planting too densely blocks the plants’ ability to reach its full potential. Overcrowding stresses plants and makes them more prone to disease.
Whether by hook, crook or hand those weeds have to come out! Getting them out before they go to seed can make a world of difference. You can do much to limit their existence (ground covers and mulching) but there is no free lunch. All gardens need some maintenance.
It is almost impossible to grow rhubarb in Texas, cactus outdoors in North Dakota, cranberries in Arizona or Vidalia onions in Michigan. Since the plant has to grow where it is planted or die, you improve its chances dramatically by growing what is native to your area. Checking with a local nursery or supplier, using a seed catalog company from your region, and talking to other local gardeners can save you lots of heartache and backaches.
