Ways You May Be Hurting Your Landscape
Unfortunately, if you don’t have a professional assisting you with your landscape, you may have developed some harmful landscaping habits. Do not fret, it happens to all of us and we all have to start somewhere, right? Here are some common landscaping mistakes we’ve identified and advice on what to do instead —
01. over-bearing landscaping
This is one of the most common mistakes when gardening and we understand why. Many believe the fastest way to see your garden grow is by adding an abundance of soil and water (sounds effective, right?), when in reality, that will either suffocate your plants, prevent them from having space to spread their roots, or it can drown them. In addition, planting deep and overwatering can result in root rot.
TRY THIS: To avoid planting too deep, take a look at the container it came in and plant it in your new pot as deep as the height of its original container. We also highly recommend researching care instructions for your plants as they vary and need adjustments throughout the year.
02. not researching before planting
Even though we want to say we read our plant’s care instructions, let’s be real, we don’t. But now, our plant is suffering from not receiving its proper needs! Not all plants were created equal. The key factors to consider are sun exposure and the plants that are growing around them; some plants need more space to stretch and your new plant may be a nuisance.
TRY THIS: This is pretty simple, but it goes a long way. Check your plant’s care labels! You can also do some extra research if you notice reoccurring problems. Take it plant by plant; plant care varies!
03. overlooking your pet
Hoping our pets will respect the garden is unfortunately wishful thinking--for some pets more than others. Different factors must be considered for different pets. Some like to dig, some like to eat the plants (which is dangerous given some plants may be harmful or poisonous!). Whatever the issue is, awareness is the first step that will influence the kind of plants you choose to have in your landscape.
TRY THIS: Check out our past blog about pet-friendly gardening to learn some more tips and tricks to better integrate your furry baby and your beloved landscape!
04. Improper Pruning
This one may be the trickiest ones to get down and also the same reason it’s a common mistake. Unfortunately, in the end, it’s sometimes better to stay away from pruning if it’s done incorrectly. It’s important to know that pruning is not killing! Pruning is a normal cycle that’s needed for most plant’s lives to remain healthy. It may look scary, but trust us, they’re used to it!
TRY THIS: Doing some research about your plant and its pruning process is a simple and easy way to get on the right track. Ask your local nursery too, they should be able to provide well-informed answers.
05. Lack of Maintenance
It’s easy for our landscape to spiral out of control. We feel like we take our eyes off of it for one day and boom! Weeds everywhere! It can be extremely disheartening and overwhelming.
TRY THIS: There are two options to explore here: you can reevaluate your space and decide if the plants you have fit your lifestyle. We have a blog post about low maintenance plants for an easy garden that you may want to consider reading if you still want an attractive garden, minus the work. The second solution is to simply create a maintenance plan. We would suggest writing out a log to keep track of when you were last active outside. Even adding reminders on your phone is a way to create healthy habits of checking on your landscape more often than not.
