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Here's a helping hand for the beginner gardener to ensure success for next year. Now that fall is right around the corner, most new gardeners realize what they did right, what they did wrong, and what they want to change in their gardens. Here are twenty-eight mistakes that gardeners often make:
1. Not planting in the proper soil based on
a plant needs - Proper pH - Alkaline/acid soil
2. Buying “pretty” plants instead of practical
ones - Check plant tags for proper
conditions
3. Starting seeds outside too early - Start
4. Watering in the evening when the sun goes
down - Causes mold and mildew
5. Over-watering - Causes root rot
6. Under-watering – Roots will dry out and the plant will die, especially if newly planted
7. Too much fertilizer - Will cause fertilizer burn in plants results in brown leaves
or death
8. No fertilizer at all – Fertilizer gives plants an extra boost, especially your annuals
9. Planting sun-loving plants in shade - Plants will not bloom
10. Planting shade-loving plants in sun - Plants will burn
11. Planting bulbs upside down - Bulbs may not come up the first year, but eventually,
they will.
12. Pruning flowering trees and shrubs at the wrong time - Cutting off blooms for next
year
13. Not weeding before weed seeds disperse - Weed seeds hibernate and then bloom
the next year
14. Not loosening the roots of a new plant before planting - Roots will bound and die
15. Not deadheading for a second bloom - Get the most out of your garden
16. Dispose of leaves, grass clippings, and pine needles - These are an excellent
17. Planting too close to each other - Doesn’t allow extra space for growth
18. Mowing grass clippings into the garden beds - With a good rain, grass will sprout in
the beds
19. Not digging a hole deep enough and wide enough for plant growth - Should be 2-4
times the size of the rootball so roots can spread.
20. Not staking tall plants - Wind and plant’s own weight will bend and break the stems
21. Harvesting vegetables - Picking ttoo soon or too late - They may be large, but they
will also be tough
22. Not keeping up with trimming bushes and hedges – They will grow leggy
23. Not inspecting your plants and their under leaves for garden pests
24. Buying more perennials without dividing the plants you already have
25. Not watering plants in pots - They dry out much quicker than plants in the ground
26. Buying two or three smaller plants - If you buy one large pot of the perennial,
you can divide it, get more plants, and save money
27. Not cutting some of those awesome flowers to bring inside and enjoy!
And finally, gardeners don’t stop to smell the roses sometimes!
Click herefor : PHILADELPHIA AREA GARDENING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS - MARCH
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