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6 Beginner Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

If you are new to the gardening world, you have a lot to learn. There are tons of different techniques, gardening products, and strategies to learn when you are just starting out. That being said, gardening isn’t as difficult as you might think. If you do a little bit of homework and can avoid taking things overboard, you are sure to find gardening success. Cal Blend Soils Inc. can provide you with the gardening products and landscaping products you need to create an amazing garden. We have been in business for decades and have picked up tons of tips and information over the years that we want to share with you! Keep reading on to learn about some of the most common mistakes beginner gardeners make.

1. Planting Things Close Together

If you are planting your first garden, you need to think about how close you are planting your plants to each other. Beginner gardeners have been known to try to fit as many plants as they can in their first garden. They think that more plants mean a better and more aesthetically pleasing garden. However, this is not a good idea. Plants need a certain amount of space to grow to their full potential. It will be more difficult for your plants to grow and thrive if they are planted too close to each other. You will also have a hard time caring for your plants if there isn’t any space between them.

2. Choosing the Wrong Location

Just because you want your garden to be in a certain place in your yard doesn’t mean that it’s the right decision. The location you choose will directly impact your chances of gardening success. You should think about whether or not the location receives the appropriate amount of sunlight for the plants you are going to be growing. Also, think about whether your garden will be able to provide you with a convenient water source. Imagine having to walk back and forth from your house with bucket after bucket of water every time your plants need to be watered. Finally, consider how convenient the space is for you, the gardener. You want to be able to easily access your garden and work in it without complications. If your garden is not in a convenient place, you will be less likely to notice any problems with your plants and face an uphill battle toward achieving gardening success.

3. Not Preparing Your Soil

Another beginner mistake that we see lots of gardeners make is not considering the quality of the soil in their garden. Beginners will avoid doing a soil test and plant their garden hoping for the best. The soil is absolutely essential to the success of any garden. It’s material that is made up of organic matter, minerals, and water that your plants need to grow. You need to learn about things like pH levels and determine whether or not the pH levels of your soil are right for a garden. Certain plants require certain soil conditions to flourish. You can always reach out to Cal Blend Soils Inc. for assistance with soil testing and gardening products that can help to improve the quality of your soil. You will need to stay on top of your soil throughout the time that you have a garden because the plants are always absorbing nutrients in the soil and changing the soil’s composition over time.

4. Too Much Watering

Sure, everyone knows that in order for plants to grow, they need water. However, you should ask yourself how much water your plants need to truly find gardening success. Many gardeners that are beginners will water their plants way too much, thinking that more water equals more plant growth. Soil that is consistently wet can actually provide you with problems like mold and fungus outbreaks for your plants. Also, if you water your plants every single day, you are not giving your plants the chance to grow a strong root system. You should aim to water your garden 1-3 times a week and adjust your watering habits based on the plant type and the amount of rain your garden receives.

5. Letting Pests Take Over

Beginner gardeners typically aren’t prepared to deal with pest control issues. It’s a problem that every gardener will face at some point during their gardening careers. To avoid having your garden taken over by pests, you should get into the habit of checking your plants every morning for pests like aphids and caterpillars. If you don’t, you might wake up one day and notice that you have pests all over your beloved garden. You can use natural pesticides to avoid pests that will derail your garden. Additionally, you can always reach out to the professionals at Cal Blend Soils Inc. to learn about the best ways to deal with gardening related issues.

6. Planting Too Many Varieties of Plants to Start Off

If you are planting your first garden, you might be interested in a huge variety of different plants and vegetables. That being said, you should try to keep things simple for your first garden. Focus on selecting 3-5 different types of plants for your first garden so that you can master the basics during your first year of gardening. You can always add additional varieties of plants later on down the road, but try to avoid going overboard with tons of different varieties during your first gardening project. Remember that every different plant type has certain qualities and necessities.

Gardening is a great way to improve the appearance of your yard and learn a valuable new skill. Don’t let these beginner mistakes sabotage your first garden. Choosing the right plants and the right gardening products will give you the best opportunity for gardening success. Cal Blend Soils Inc. can help you with all of your gardening needs and provide you with the products you need to get things going right from the very beginning.