6 Ways You’ve Gone Wrong With Your Garden

I am guilty of doing all of these things wrong in my garden lol! To be fair I’ve only had three REAL vegetable gardens in my life and really only two of them counted (the first one was a disaster until I built myself raised beds and got some control over the situation.) There really are only so many garden “how-tos” you can read though until there is nothing but experience that can teach you how to do properly in your location. I am proud to say, though I am still making terrible mistakes, I am learning!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

Whether you’re new to gardening or have been “green-fingered” for a few years, you’ll likely have had many successes with your gardening skills. But, you may also have made some mistakes along the way.

Have you ever wondered why some gardening mistakes seem to happen repeatedly, despite your best efforts to do things right? The following are some ways you might’ve gone wrong with your garden and some tips on how to resolve the issues:

1. You Haven’t Tackled Your Weed Problems

There’s no getting away from the fact that weeds have a habit of growing in random areas of your lawn. The biggest issue with weeds is that if you don’t tackle the problem correctly and keep removing any sporadic growth, it’ll take over your garden.

That’s why it makes sense to opt for proper weed treatments and keep removing any small outbreaks of weed when you first see them.

2. Grass Looks Patchy on Your Lawn

It’s easy to blame poor quality soil, environmental factors, or even covering the lawn with stuff for patchy areas of grass. The truth is, patchy grass doesn’t look particularly attractive and can let down an otherwise immaculate garden.

You’ll need to spread new grass seeds (using the same variety of grass, of course) to tackle those areas. Otherwise, you should hire a lawn mowing company to treat your lawn and keep it cultivated.

3. You Aren’t Attracting Pollinators

It’s no secret that some plants are self-pollinating. However, others do require pollination, and if they don’t get pollinated, they won’t produce seeds and fruits. With that in mind, you need plants that attract winged workers like bees, wasps, and butterflies to spread pollen.

Examples of the types of things to plant include lavender, herbs, catmint, and thyme. The bonus, of course, is that you can also use those herbs with your cooking!

4. You Put Sun-Loving Plants in the Shade

You’ll likely have some shaded areas of your garden that seldom attract much sunlight. Are you finding that certain plants you place in those areas don’t grow very well? If so, it’s probably because they aren’t getting enough sunlight.

Before you invest in any plants for your garden, you should research the best places for them to grow and plan your gardening accordingly.

5. Your Plants Don’t Survive Winter

You may have grown some plants and shrubs during the warmer months of the year successfully. However, when it becomes colder during winter, they fail to flower and grow during the following summer season.

Why? The answer is simple: you haven’t grown plants that can handle the harshness of winter in your area.

6. You’ve Grown a Long Row of the Same Plant

Growing the same type of plant in a row might give your garden a more decorative look and afford you more privacy from your neighbors. But, what happens if pests or diseases attack that particular type of plant?

In worse-case scenarios, pests and diseases could end up wiping out your once beautiful row of plants! That’s why it makes sense to grow the same type of plants in small clusters rather than long rows.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)