Oops! How to avoid common gardening mistakes in your Akron backyard

We all make mistakes — even the most experienced green thumbs fall prey to classic errors. It’s easy to do, and honestly, it’s ok! 

If we look at gardening as a big experiment, problems like ignoring soil quality, planting too close, and letting weeds run wild are not life or death situations (at least not ours). However, paying attention and keeping some rules in mind can save significant time and money and ultimately produce a lush, resilient garden.  

Know thy soil!

While visiting your friend’s garden you notice that her Fabulous Hydrangea, the one you both purchased two years back, is more than twice the size of yours and covered in huge healthy blooms! What? It appears that your Fab Hydrangea is not a slowpoke, but it and the plants surrounding it are victims of a failure-to-thrive situation. What on earth happened?  

The results of a soil test provide the answer — the soil in that bed is deficient in phosphorus. The time to test soils is BEFORE planting, so issues can be corrected and plants get off to a good start.  

A soil test will provide a detailed analysis of your soil’s pH, nutrient levels and organic matter, providing a clear picture of what amendments are needed. And, knowing the pH and other soil qualities will determine which plants can be successfully grown on that site.

A soil test should be the first order of business when planting a new bed. Learn more about interpreting soil tests here.

Wait, not so close

Snow in July? No … but what is that strange white stuff coating the Monarda? And there it is on the vegetables! Powdery mildew has infested the garden beds.  

Plants that are too closely planted compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. The poor airflow between these plants creates a cozy environment for diseases and pests— and vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers are especially at risk. 

It is tempting to plant tree and shrub borders densely for immediate impact, but what a shame to have to remove plants when they are at their best because they don’t have the space to thrive. Although trees and shrubs never stop growing, their growth slows down as they mature, and planning for that mature size means that the border or bed will be healthy and attractive for years to come.  

Follow the spacing instructions! Those guidelines on seed packets and plant tags aren’t just suggestions — they’re your ticket to long-term health, productivity, and beauty. Bonus: proper spacing makes it way easier to weed, water, and prune.

Don’t let weeds go to seed

Weeds happen! Some find pulling them therapeutic; others, not so much. But here’s the deal: weeds are troublemakers. Not only do they steal nutrients and water from your plants, but they can spread like wildfire.

Some weeds, like hairy bittercress, use a sneaky trick called ballochory, a ballistic seed dispersal system, to launch their seeds far and wide.  

Remove weed seed heads before they mature. Dispose of them in the compost (or the trash for invasive weeds) — seed heads left on the ground can mature and germinate. 

Perennial weeds deserve special attention. Do snip the seed heads, but, better still, remove the plants, including their roots, to stop the spread in its tracks. While some gardeners swear by pulling 100 weeds a day during the growing season, any effort helps keep the garden in check. 

Scientists have discovered that some broadleaf weed seeds can remain viable for 40+ years in the soil. Save yourself some grief — make sure your garden weeds are deadheaded.

So, put these keys on your gardening keychain: a good understanding of your soil and its needs, proper spacing for plant health and beauty and control of weeds by timely deadheading. 

You will unlock the door to a more sustainable and enjoyable gardening experience.