Gardening errors you make which might be killing your crops – and how you can keep away from

The most common gardening mistakes include leaving weeds for too long, under and over watering and ignoring fallen leaves.

A survey of 2,000 gardening adults revealed the top 20 blunders, which include planting in areas with insufficient sunlight, forgetting to water hanging baskets and incorrect pruning. Other common errors include planting at the wrong time of the year, neglecting soil pH balance and under-fertilising.

Only a mere 13% claim they are knowledgeable or even an expert when it comes to gardening, while nearly half, 48%, feel they only have basic (or no) awareness. However, a whopping 64% would like to have more knowledge about their green space.

The research was commissioned by STIHL, who has partnered with head gardener and award-winning writer and broadcaster Jane Moore, who said: “We all make mistakes from time to time, even seasoned gardeners that’s how we learn.

“Hitting that sweet spot so you don’t over or under water is tricky, but for plants in the ground, any excess water will just drain away naturally, so don’t worry about watering too much. Most plants need watering for far longer than you might expect; trees and shrubs, especially, will need some extra watering, even two or three years after planting.”

“Mowing too soon, too short or too hard is a classic mistake and it can take a while for a lawn to recover. Take the top off the grass, with the mower set high for that first cut, then lower the height of the cut gradually each time you mow until it’s the desired height having a mower which is easy to adjust is a must-have.”

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The study revealed that men are more confident in avoiding gardening blunders, with 19% claiming to have expertise in the field, compared to just 9% of women. However, 22% of males are guilty of mowing the lawn too short, compared to 12% of females.

Interestingly, 43% of women are likely to under or over water plants, compared to 34% of men. Furthermore, 34% of all those surveyed have grand plans for their garden despite feeling too inexperienced to execute them.

The respondents, surveyed via OnePoll, cited poor weather (32%), lack of funds (31%) and limited knowledge (30%) as barriers to maximising their outdoor space. Many feel they lack the necessary tools to become a proficient gardener, including a soil tester or pH meter (19%) and long-reach hedge trimmer (18%). Others expressed a desire to own a shredder (16%), pressure washer (14%) and leaf blower (13%).

However, there were positive aspects gained from gardening, including an appreciation for nature (52%) and physical fitness benefits (34%). Paul Hicks, product manager at STIHL, commented: “It’s great to see people want to improve their gardening skills and knowledge.

“As well as lacking confidence in knowing what to do, people also lack the tools they need to effectively get a job done. We hope Jane’s tips and advice helps decrease the number of mishaps made, be it under or over watering, or incorrectly pruning, planting or trimming.”

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Jane also shared her advice on hedge trimming: “Knowing the right time to cut and using the correct tool is essential to do a good job. Shears are perfect for regular trims of your box topiary in summer, but you need a powered hedge trimmer for your beech hedge in autumn.

“Clearing weeds and leaves quickly is important too, leaving them for too long means they can flower, set seed, and scatter that seed all over the garden in no time at all. And a lovely green lawn can very quickly turn yellow and develop bare patches if fallen leaves are left to lie on it for even a short time. A few moments with a blower or rake can help keep the lawn in good condition.”

TOP 20 MOST COMMON GARDENING MISTAKES:

1. Leaving weeds too long.
2. Underwatering.
3. Overwatering.
4. Spacing plants too closely.
5. Ignoring fallen leaves on the lawn.
6. Planting in areas with insufficient sunlight.
7. Pruning incorrectly or at the wrong time.
8. Forgetting to water hanging baskets.
9. Neglecting to stake tall plants.
10. Forgetting to clean and maintain gardening tools.
11. Planting at the wrong time of year.
12. Ignoring signs of plant diseases.
13. Not edging lawn correctly.
14. Mowing too short.
15. Neglecting soil pH balance.
16. Trimming a hedge badly.
17. Under-fertilizing.
18. Avoid planting in areas with excessive sunlight.
19. Refrain from using the incorrect type of soil.
20. Don’t plant too close to buildings.

JANE MOORE’S TOP TIPS TO AVOID GARDENING MISTAKES.

1. Read the label Always follow the plant label’s guidance when it comes to positioning them and adhere to its recommendations.
2. Sharpen and clean tools – Whether it’s a pair of secateurs or a hedge trimmer, always ensure they’re clean, sharpened and well-oiled before use, regardless of the tool.
3. Preparation is key Prior to planting, loosen the soil, add organic matter, and plant firmly and at the correct depth.
4. Water new plants – All plants whether in pots or in the ground require thorough watering throughout the summer months.
5. Invest in quality tools Whether battery, petrol powered or hand operated, they’ll be easier to use, provide a better finish, and last as long as you maintain them.

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