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

Anyone who takes up gardening will tell you that it is among the most fulfilling pursuits in their lives!

After all, is there anything better than placing your hands in the soil and watching life flourish right in your yard?

But if your cherished buds aren't growing into lush blooms, then you could be disregarding a few crucial factors that are needed to growing a full, stunning garden.

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

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

Interested in a formal course? Want to get certified as a gardening expert? Look into institutions 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 example, it's easy to get giddy planting spring flowers early as soon as winter begins to clear.

But if you don't have a greenhouse, there's a great chance they'll get exposed to frost from spring thaw. This could wreak havoc on-- or worse, even kill-- those tender buds.

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

How to fix it

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

Don't hesitate to ask fellow gardeners about the correct 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 practice that helps you feel connected to your plants. It also offers the opportunity for you to inspect if they have any issues or diseases.

But your act of love can be harmful to them! Over-watering your plants keeps them from being able to access oxygen, which in basic terms means they're drowning. It also leads to root rot, stunted growth, and other health issues.

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

How to fix it

Look up the particular watering needs of every single plant you have. Blossoms like yarrows, lavenders, lantanas, and russian sages don't need a ton of water. By contrast, cannas, elephant's ears, callas, and turtleheads, definitely love wet feet.

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

If you only have a tiny garden or a few plants, hand watering is most definitely the way to go. But if you have plants that need a lot of water, an irrigation system may be a huge help for watering deeper! This would encourage better growth with less trouble for you.

Not paying enough attention to soil issues

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

When soil is rough and low in quality, it can have serious consequences on how successfully your flowers bloom. Another factor to look into is whether the soil in your garden is well-suited for the variety of blooms you want to grow.

How to fix it

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

You can do this by getting in touch with your local nursery or sending it over 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 composting!

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

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

Planting in the wrong place

Just like in real estate, "location, location, location" is key to flower gardening! Your flowers' growth, health, and bloom depend a lot on where you plant them.

Giving them too much or too little sunlight can cause pest infestations, heat damage, health problems, and other unpleasant effects.

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

How to fix it

If you're unsure about how much light your plant needs, go to your nearby nursery and see where it's positioned. Sun-loving plants might be in much brighter spots than those that prefer shade.

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

As tempting as it is, try to avoid buying plants that aren't within your location. Get in touch with local gardening pros about the flowers that grow best in your location. You can also look around your local botanical gardens for inspiration on what other plants you can grow.

Wrong pruning techniques

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

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

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

Next is pruning too early. Flowering plants that bloom late in their growing season should be clipped 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 important to prune dead branches. They take 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 find out. If you have several flowering plants or shrubs, this timetable will likely vary according to their specific needs.

Take time to learn more about and apply the correct pruning techniques for every plant you have!

Giving up easily

There may be moments when you'll consider 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 quite disheartening.

How to fix it

Remember what entices you to gardening in the first place. Whether it's the exercise, the quiet time, the stress release, or all the above, there's a reason you keep doing it. Starting from scratch comes with the process that gives you those positive experiences.

Keep trying and keep learning! 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.