Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC Florist

The 6 Most Common Flower Gardening Mistakes And How To Fix Them

Anyone who takes up gardening will tell you that it's one of the most wonderful pursuits in their lives!

After all, is there anything better than putting your hands in the soil and seeing life grow right in your back yard?

But if your beloved buds aren't blossoming into lush blooms, then you could be neglecting a few crucial factors that are key to growing a full, amazing garden.

Don't worry; even the most skillful gardeners slip up in ways they don't even notice.

Let's explore six of the most common mistakes people make in flower gardening. But we won't stop at the issues. We'll look into six easy fixes you can do to remedy them!

Interested in a formal course? Want to get authorized as a gardening specialist? Look into organizations offering classes in gardening and floristry, like:

• National Gardening Organization

• American Floral Endowment

• American Horticultural Society

Out-of-season planting

Many flower lovers take the importance of seasons for granted. For instance, it's easy to get giddy planting spring flowers early as soon as winter starts to clear.

But if you don't have a greenhouse, there's a good chance they'll be left open to frost from spring thaw. This could damage-- or worse, even kill-- those sensitive buds.

On the other hand, planting spring flowers too late leaves them open to rising heat. This could hinder their growth and keep them from flowering.

How to fix it

Follow a flower calendar that corresponds to your area. Stick to it and plant flowers at the advised times.

Don't hesitate to ask fellow gardeners about the right time to plant certain blooms in your area. You can also contact your local extension service for questions about weather issues and gardening tips.

Too much or too little watering

Most gardeners love to water their plants. It's a regular ritual that helps you feel connected to your plants. It also provides the chance for you to check if they have any issues or diseases.

But your act of love could be damaging to them! Over-watering your plants keeps them from having the capacity to access oxygen, which in basic terms means they're drowning. It also causes root rot, stunted growth, and other health problems.

Under-watering can also be a huge problem! Certain blooms need water that go down deep into the roots. Signs of under-watering include slow growth, and shedding leaves or flowers.

How to fix it

Look up the particular watering needs of each plant you have. Blooms like yarrows, lavenders, lantanas, and russian sages don't need a lot of water. By comparison, cannas, elephant's ears, callas, and turtleheads, totally love wet feet.

To make things easier for you, group the plants with the same needs together. This also decreases your chances of over- or under-watering your plants.

If you only have a modest garden or a few plants, hand watering is undoubtedly the way to go. But if you have plants that need a lot of water, an irrigation system can be a huge help for deep watering! This would promote better growth with a lot less hassle for you.

Not paying enough attention to soil issues

Every gardener's motto should be: take care of your soil! It's the foundation for any plant's health and growth, so it also calls for a lot of treatment and care.

When soil is rough and subpar in quality, it can have major consequences on how well your flowers grow. Another factor to look into is whether the soil in your garden is well-suited for the kind of flowers you want to grow.

How to fix it

Testing your soil is the very first step. Soil tests will give you vital info on its pH level and nutritional composition. It helps you detect nutrient deficiencies. It also lets you find out whether your soil is compatible with the flower types of your choice.

You can do this by consulting with your trusted nursery or sending it out to a lab. There are also home kits for soil testing.

The next step is to get your soil healthier. One of the easiest ways to do this is by composting!

Compost is organic material that builds healthy soil by enhancing its texture and packing it with nutrients.

You can buy compost, but it's very easy to make at home! Compost is typically made up of leaves, trimmings, manure, hay, straw, and other organic matter. Take note of the correct composting strategies and soil-to-compost ratios for particular buds.

Planting in the wrong place

Much like in real estate, "location, location, location" is the trick to flower gardening! Your flowers' growth, health, and vitality depend a lot on where you put them.

Providing too much or too little sunlight can bring about pest infestations, heat damage, health problems, and other undesirable effects.

Another problem is falling in love with an out-of-state plant and purchasing it, only to discover that it just won't thrive in your hometown's environment!

How to fix it

If you're unsure about the amount of light your plant needs, visit your local nursery and see where it's placed. Sun-loving plants could be in much brighter areas than those that prefer shade.

Find out the amount of light your plant needs and, ideally, how much light your home is facing. It can help you put your plants in the best possible area where they'll get the correct amount of light they need.

As appealing as it is, try to refrain from buying plants that aren't within your location. Seek advice from local gardening professionals about the flowers that grow best in your local area. You can also check out your local botanical gardens for inspiration on what other plants you can grow.

Wrong pruning techniques

Pruning is among the most important things your blooming buds need. They keep flowers free from dead or diseased wood and encourage them to bloom healthily and beautifully.

But this specific gardening task can be tricky. This is why some gardeners often take on the wrong techniques!

The first is pruning too much. Some flowering plants develop flowers on old branches or have dormant buds that bloom much later. Cutting all old branches off won't allow them to bloom well.

Next is pruning too early. Flowering plants that blossom late in their growing season should be pruned when they go into dormancy. If you prune too early, they may produce new shoots that are susceptible to frost damage.

Last on the list is not pruning enough. It's essential to prune dead branches. They suck up all the energy from your plant, which can impact its health and bloom production.

How to fix it

Study the blooming pattern of your plant and create a pruning schedule based on what you study. If you have various flowering plants or shrubs, this schedule will very likely vary according to their specific needs.

Take time to find out about and apply the proper pruning techniques for each plant you have!

Giving up easily

There may be days when you'll wonder if it's time to nip your gardening dreams in the bud. When you keep seeing lifeless or wilting flowers in your browning backyard, it can get pretty frustrating.

How to fix it

Remember what attracts you to gardening to begin with. Whether it's the physical activity, the quiet time, the stress relief, or all the above, there's a reason you keep doing it. Starting from scratch comes with the process that gives you those great experiences.

Keep trying and keep studying! It doesn't always go right, but when it does, it'll be worth it! With persistence, dedication, and care, you can enjoy the garden of your dreams over time.

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