Some garden mistakes to avoid

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

•Planting Too Close Together
Many gardeners, especially when establishing a new garden, plant perennials, trees and shrubs too close together. At least when perennials are too crowded they can be dug up and moved, but moving trees and shrubs are not as easy. Make sure to read the tag on the plant for its estimated size (height and width). Measure according to the maximum width stated on the tag, including a little extra buffer room, before digging your hole(s). Yes, things may look a little sparse at first but after a few seasons things will fill in nicely.
•Planting Too Close to Obstacles
Again gardeners often underestimate the size that tiny tree or shrub is going to be in the future and plant them too close to the house, other out buildings, overhead wires or obstacles in their yard. Again refer to the tag for not only the width – how far away from the obstacle you need to place it, but the height too – away from the eaves or overhead wires. If in doubt, take a look in your neighborhood to see how big those white and blue spruce get, or the ashes or maples. Learn from the neighbour whose house you cannot see anymore, that planting that spruce in the middle of the yard will eventually take up your whole yard. This is also a lesson in choosing the right tree or shrub for the yard.
•Not Preparing the Garden Bed Properly Before Planting
I have lost count over the years of how many gardeners have told me that their garden isn’t growing well. When I probe a little further, I find out that they just tilled the grass over and planted. This is not the way to prep a garden space. First you must remove the sod, and if you have clay or sandy soils, remove at least 15 centimetres more of the soil. Then you top it up with a good quality triple mix or garden soil from a local supplier. The cost and labour at this point is well worth it in the long run. You need to have loose, nutrient-rich soil, with proper drainage to successfully grow vegetables and plants. Proper preparation also helps keep the weeds down as well.
•Buying Poor Quality Garden Tools
There is nothing wrong with buying a quality tool on sale or by chance at a discount store, but stocking up on garden tools at “dollar” type stores because they are inexpensive is not a bargain. Mechanics do not use cheap tools, nor do chefs use poor quality knives. There is no reason for a gardener to use inferior tools either. I have many garden tools but I always seem to use the same ones over and over. Yes, these are the top quality tools I purchased when my husband and I bought our first house in Fort Frances in 1994. Some of our tools like our hoes and cultivators and heavy duty shovels were actually bought used at garage sales and auctions in the District. I have had them for 20 years and someone else had them for at least that prior to me owning them. You see that good quality tools that are well taken care of, will last for decades. But most importantly, these tools make the job easier and more effective.
•Not Taking Proper Care of Your Garden Tools
You put the expense into good tools but you neglect to take care of them. This is why and when good quality tools let you down. There is nothing worse than a tool that has been left out in the elements and has become rusted and rotten, the handle checked and rough or as with pruners, rusted and jammed up. Taking the time to put your tools away after each use, ensuring that they are dry and clean and any moving parts are well lubricated, will provide you with years of use.
•Using Manures that are Not Well Rotted
Avoid using horse, cow or sheep manures unless you are sure they are completely rotted. Adding these when not fully composted to your garden is like sprinkling a can a wildflower seed over your garden. Manure that is packaged in bags that indicates it has been heat treated or irradiated is a better choice or well composted organic matter form your composter.
•Not Staying on Top of the Weeding Chores
Pull grass and dandelions as soon as they emerge, making sure you pull as much of the root as you can. Quack grass has buds on their roots that allows a new shoot of grass to grow where it was broken off. Pulling out as much of the root as possible reduces the chance of resprouting and weakens the food reserve of the root system. With persistence you will weaken the quack grass. Dandelions will regrow from their original root in the same way, so you must remove the deep root. A good form of control is to never let dandelions go to seed in your garden or lawn.
Hopefully by pointing out some of the common mistakes many gardeners make and helping you avoid those mistakes, will get you one step closer to a successful growing season and long term garden. Good Luck!