Gardening is a pleasurable and beneficial activity that can bring beauty, health and well-being to your home. However, to be successful in the art of growing plants, you need to avoid some common mistakes that can compromise your garden. In this text, we will present some of these mistakes and give tips on how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Planting in soil unsuitable for the type of plant
Each plant has a preference for a type of soil, which can be more clayey, sandy, calcareous, silty, humid or organic. The soil influences water retention, nutrient availability, distribution, aeration and pH, which are essential factors for plant development. Therefore, it is important to choose the right soil for each species, and prepare it correctly before planting.
To avoid this mistake, you should research the characteristics of the plants you want to grow and check if the soil in your garden is compatible with them. If not, you can make some amendments, such as mixing sand, clay, limestone, organic matter or other components, to improve the quality of the soil. You can also use pots or beds with different types of soil to accommodate plants that have specific needs.
Mistake 2: Not providing enough water or watching too much
Water is vital for plants, but the amount and frequency of watering must be appropriate for each species. Some plants like more humidity, some more secure, and some a balance between the two. Observing too much or too little can cause problems such as root rot, leaf wilting, flower and fruit drop, diseases and pests.
To avoid this mistake, you should note the water needs of the plants you grow and record them accordingly. A simple way to know if the plant needs water is to insert your finger into the soil, up to about 5 cm deep. If the soil is dry, it’s time to look. If it is moist but not soggy, watering is adequate. If you are delighted, you need to reduce watering. You must also take into account the climate, season, type of soil and size of the pot, which influence evaporation and water absorption.
Mistake 3: Not pruning plants correctly
Pruning is a technique for cutting parts of plants, which aims to control growth, stimulate impact and fruiting, eliminate diseased or damaged parts, and improve the shape and appearance of plants. Pruning must be done with care and selection, as a wrong cut can harm the health and beauty of the plants.
To avoid this mistake, you must know the type and time of pruning suitable for each species, and use specific, sharp tools that make clean and precise cuts. You should avoid pruning too much or too little, and follow the guidelines on how to prune each part of the plant, such as branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. You should also disinfect tools before and after each use to prevent the transmission of diseases between plants.
Mistake 4: Not providing adequate amount of sunlight
Sunlight is essential for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce energy and organic matter. Each plant has a different need for light, which can be full sun, partial shade or shade. Exposure to light can cause problems such as lack of vigor, slow growth, yellowing leaves, flower and fruit drop, and greater susceptibility to diseases and pests.
To avoid this mistake, you must choose plants according to the lighting in your garden and position them in the most suitable locations. If your garden is very sunny, choose plants that like full sun, such as roses, daisies and sunflowers. If your garden is very shady, opt for shade-loving plants, such as violets, begonias and bromeliads. If your garden has varied lighting, opt for plants that like semi-shade, such as orchids, hydrangeas and lilies.
Mistake 5: Do not use fertilizers or use too much
Fertilizers are substances that provide nutrients to plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients. Fertilizers can be organic, such as manure, humus, compost and ash, or chemical, such as NPK, urea and superphosphate. Fertilizers help improve soil quality and plant productivity, but should be used sparingly and sparingly.
To avoid this mistake, you must know the nutritional needs of the plants you grow, and choose the type and amount of fertilizer most suitable for them. You must follow instructions on how, when and where to apply fertilizer, and avoid excessive or unnecessary use. You should also prefer organic fertilizers, which are more natural, environmentally friendly and healthy, than chemical fertilizers, which can be toxic, harmful and harmful.
Mistake 6: Not protecting plants from pests and diseases
Plants are subject to attack by pests and diseases, which can cause serious damage and even death. Pests are organisms that feed on plants, such as insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails and rodents. Diseases are caused by pathogens, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa, that infect plants. Pests and diseases can affect the roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits of plants, causing symptoms such as spots, wilting, deformations, necrosis, rot and falling.
To avoid this mistake, you must adopt preventive and curative measures to protect plants from pests and diseases. Preventive measures include choosing resistant plants, keeping the soil and water clean, eliminating diseased or damaged plants, rotating crops, using plant cover, using biological control, among others. Curative measures include identifying and treating pests and diseases, using natural or chemical products, depending on the severity of the problem.
Mistake 7: Not carrying out regular garden maintenance
Regular garden maintenance is essential to keep plants healthy, beautiful and productive. Maintenance involves care such as watering, pruning, fertilizing, cleaning, controlling pests and diseases, among others. Maintenance must be carried out according to the needs of each plant and each season of the year, following a care calendar.
To avoid this mistake, you should take the time to take care of your garden, observing the plants and carrying out the necessary tasks. You must have suitable, good quality tools that make the work easier and do not damage the plants. You must pay attention to details, such as removing dry leaves, weeds, broken branches, withered flowers, rotten fruits, among others. You must have patience and perseverance, as gardening requires time and dedication.
