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Raise Your Garden

Musings on the Seedier Side

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March 22, 2016 in Garden Problems

10 newbie gardening pitfalls and how to avoid them

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
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Master gardeners who think they know everything are vexing. That’s not me. It’s try and test. And then I do what works best. So I’ve learned a few things over the years and bet you have too. These are my tips for those of you just getting started out on your gardening journey. As you start to dream about summer splendor, try to be realistic so your garden doesn’t annoy you come August. I hope it’s a spectacular year for you and the harvest is bountiful! Just avoid these ten gardening pitfalls first. 
1.) Don’t bite off more than you can chew

I mean this quite literally. It’s easy to become entranced by those glossy catalogs sent to you by all the top garden companies. Shivering in your cold house, it’s tempting to order one of each plant or seed with summer in mind. But don’t. You’ll create a garden that is way to much work, and just like that New Year’s diet, you’ll end up fizzing out and quitting. The weeds of July and water requirements of August will leave you frustrated. Keep it simple and start out small. How about a 10-by-10 foot themed garden or just a few patio pots the first year? Besides, you can only eat so many vegetables. Sure, it’s nice to have some leftovers to share with family and friends, but when your zucchini baseball bats start getting rejected; you know you planted too much! 

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2.) Start with easy crops

The first year you start a garden is not the time to try pumpkins, watermelons or corn. They’re complicated. A long growing season and pests make them tough for beginners. Try crops that easily grow with little fuss like tomatoes, radishes, zucchini, cucumbers and lettuce. In particular, radishes and lettuce grow super fast so you’ll reap results sooner. This is especially true if you have young kids which in themselves are a ton of work! Don’t overexert yourself or your spouse. Stick to what’s doable and will yield quick gratification. Just an herb bed and a few cherry tomatoes plants are fine your first year. 

3.) Don’t spend too much money 

You’re officially a gardener. Now it’s time to buy those $250 rubber Hunter boots you’ve been craving. You got to have the right look. Can’t wear clogs! Those are so frumpy. Whip out that credit card because you’ll also want lots of high-end tools, fancy gloves, plant markers, sun hats; not to mention plants, dirt, exotic pots, fences and everything else under the sun.  Gardening can be an expensive hobby. But lots of us garden because 1) We want to know where our food is sourced from 2) We’re hoping to eat better and 3) We like saving money by growing organic instead of purchasing. Buy only what you absolutely need. Try to buy used when you can or upcycle. 

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4.) Seeds or seedings?

When you’re all gung-ho about your garden, it’s easy to commit to planting everything from seed. After all, you’re excited. But some crops, like tomatoes, just don’t yield themselves well started from seed. You have to have the lighting, timing and heating down to perfection or the seedlings die. Some plants like tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and melons are easier bought as seedlings or small plants for timing reasons. On the flip side, don’t get lured into spending more on plants that you should. Peas, beans, squash, leafy greens and carrots all love to be sowed directly in the ground from seed. Just make sure the timing is right and the beds carefully prepared.  

5.) The tools of the trade

With tools, you get what you pay for. Buy one quality tool, not four cheapies. Cheap tools break and don’t work well. It also takes longer to get the job done with the wrong tool. Tools are a long-term investment that you should get many years use from. Lots of tools are fun, but in my garden it’s usually my shovel, hoe, hand trowel and rake that I constantly reach for. If you’re tackling the landscaping then good hand pruners and hedge shears are essential. When looking for a shovel, aim for one that is sharp and pointed, and tall enough so that you’re not hunched over when using. I like a hoe with a good point on the end but it’s all about personal preference. Both should be somewhat lightweight. 

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6.) Don’t over-till

My brain always says tilling a ton is a good idea. Even many old-school gardeners think tilling is still the best practice. But the most recent research says this isn’t necessarily so. Can I get an amen? Less work sounds fantastic to me. Over-tilling to the point where the soil becomes powdery destroys the soil structure. It also drums up weeds and causes a manifestation of them to sprout. Skip this job altogether and plant in lumpy soil or hand-dig to till. 

7.) Spacing is vital

Many new gardeners plant tomatoes, melons and pumpkins way to close together not realizing how big they get. Conversely, herbs and lettuce get too much garden space. For some, planting in blocks and wide rows is better than planting in single rows with the standard foot path in between each row. If trying the block method, try planting peas, beans and lettuce in a 3 by 3 block. The first step when considering spacing is to carefully read the instructions on the seed packet or plant tag. Make sure you are fully aware of how big the plant will get by August and its spacial requirements.  

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8.) Don’t let pests infect your thinking

The first time I saw bugs swarming around my broccoli plants and the large holes they left, I panicked! I went out and bought a few pesticides to try to rectify the problem. But those chemicals are bad. The truth is, it’s better to eat veggies with a few bug bites in them than consume pesticides. Preventative measures are best. Try encouraging beneficial pests like insects, toads, ladybugs, spiders and birds and blocking others like deer and rabbits with fences. 

9.) Have a plan for watering

If you go too big, you’ll end up with a lot of manual watering work come those hot days of July and August. Is this really what you want to be doing every morning and night? Standing outside holding a hose? Boring. Some years, we get so little rain that watering almost everyday becomes essential. It’s tempting to install some sort of sprinkler system and flick a switch instead of manually watering by hand. But many plants prefer a more tailored approach to watering by receiving water directly and deeply at their base. How about striking a compromise between the sprinkler system and hand watering with a drip irrigation system? The base of the plant gets watered and you can still push the easy button. 

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10.) Mix flowers, herbs and vegetables

No longer do we have a separate flower garden, veggie garden and herb bed. Mix and match I say! Not only will a few flowers make your garden more aesthetically pleasing, but some like marigolds may actually help deter pests. Besides, a vegetable garden can look too monotone, flowers and herbs will add both depth and taste. This past summer, I saw a garden that had some cherry tomatoes mixed in the perennial beds and the effect was quite pleasing. It’s called companion planting and works well. 

What have you learned over the years? What are your best tips for our readers? 

76 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sherry McCarthy says

    September 8, 2021 at 11:42 am

    It never dawned on me to mix flowers and plants together! Duh! Makes sense and so pretty! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Audrey says

    September 8, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Nice set-up

    Reply
  3. Thomas Gibson says

    September 8, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    Thank you for the informative post. I wish I could have a garden. I live in a small apartment.

    Reply
  4. Vicki Davis says

    September 8, 2021 at 1:20 pm

    Just totally lovely❣️

    Reply
  5. Diane Warstler says

    September 8, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    Thanks so much for the very informative article.

    Reply
  6. paige chandler says

    September 8, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    i MAKE MANY MANY mistakes in my garden. Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  7. Chad Boyd says

    September 8, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    All great tips for ANY gardener.

    Reply
  8. Jill Hanson says

    September 8, 2021 at 8:02 pm

    So much good info I need those red boots.

    Reply
  9. Jennylyn Gross says

    September 8, 2021 at 8:22 pm

    Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  10. Janis C says

    September 8, 2021 at 9:47 pm

    I agree that sometimes it’s worth buying seedlings rather than starting from seeds. I’ve been learning that the hard way and wasting time and money along the way.

    Reply
  11. Sam says

    September 8, 2021 at 11:56 pm

    Good tips to keep in mind

    Reply
  12. Lily Kwan says

    September 9, 2021 at 12:40 am

    These tips are very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    September 9, 2021 at 2:59 am

    These are great tips for beginners; and, nice ones for seasoned gardeners too. Only in the last five years have I intermixed vegetable plants into some of my floral perennial beds AND vice-versa! It’s been a satisfying success. And, as I’ve been making my own compost for awhile, I find mixing it into our soil with a pitchfork to be quick and easy. My husband has been such a dear by using his grinder to keep my shovels/spades sharp. And, I love my sharp shooter for those occasions when I’ve needed to divide and/or relocate perennials and/or shrubs. Thanks for sharing your spot on tips!

    Reply
  14. Liz Kilcher says

    September 9, 2021 at 3:21 am

    thanks for great info!!!

    Reply
  15. Tamara says

    September 9, 2021 at 7:23 am

    Great tips! Thanks 😊

    Reply
  16. Tonya Revell says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:36 am

    Diatomaceous Earth is great for the pests.

    Reply
  17. Jodi W says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:40 am

    Thanks for sharing, they are great tips

    Reply
  18. Colleen Debs says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:42 am

    Thanks for the information.

    Reply
  19. Donna C says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:43 am

    Great tips for newbies!

    Reply
  20. Rena Walter says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:44 am

    I love the mixing of veggies and flowers, so pretty and useful.

    Reply
  21. Lesley F says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:53 am

    Great tips! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  22. Michele G says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Great info!! Thanks!

    Reply
  23. linda fulton says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:02 am

    thanks for the info

    Reply
  24. Dawn Mielke says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:29 am

    I learned years ago that flowers and veggie plant need each other. I read and learn because there is always something to discover that you didn’t know. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  25. Lauryn R says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:38 am

    These are great tips, thank you so much for sharing! Gardening can seem overwhelming when you’re new to it.

    Reply
  26. Theo B says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:40 am

    I like to grow tomatoes here in Florida, but lately the squirrels are gnawing on them. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  27. Katelyn Craun says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:47 am

    Informative! I so badly want a garden but I know that I don’t have the time now to devote to it. Full time job and 3 littles. 🙁 One day!

    Reply
  28. Angel+Mendez says

    September 9, 2021 at 12:57 pm

    Thank you for the info my next garden I will have plants and flowers mixed

    Reply
  29. Jean F says

    September 9, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    Be sure to plant vegetables that taste good to you. My cherry tomatoes this year don’t have the right flavor and I am disappointed.

    Reply
  30. donna porter says

    September 9, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Hubby and I love gardening and always love great tips! The beauty enhances your home with the perfectly kept flower garden. We also love veggie gardening because nothing better to serve to the family!

    Reply
  31. Sally Gearhart says

    September 9, 2021 at 3:14 pm

    My first year I made most of these mistakes especially the first tip. My hubby went out and bought 50+ tomato plants alone and I foolishly said that I can do it haha. I had a jungle of tomato plants and then the aphids and hornworms came, i had to call defeat with some of my crop. Last year i did a no-till garden & had great results.

    Reply
  32. heather says

    September 9, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    This was super informative thank you for sharing this one. I so need to save this post.

    Reply
  33. Tara Enright says

    September 9, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    My step dad plans all his gardening right before summer hits. He has everything set up and we have a spot to the left side of our backyard it’s very large, and he loves and enjoys it every year. We grow a lot of tomatoes & hot peppers and green peppers. We grew a watermelon before but not successful LOL.

    Reply
  34. paula burnham says

    September 9, 2021 at 8:52 pm

    I’ve learned a lot from your blogs keep it up

    Reply
  35. RICHARD SKUSE says

    September 9, 2021 at 9:30 pm

    LIKE TO WIN

    Reply
  36. Tracy M Hartley says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    I can grow anything from seed. Love tomatoes🙂

    Reply
  37. Erma Marsh says

    September 9, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    My husband plants his garden every spring and summer and loves to see the growth of each plant. I enjoy your blog, all the great tips and the beautiful pictures.

    Reply
  38. Laurie Nykaza says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Great information to help with gardening. The water situation here will make us cut back on gardening in the future for lack of water here.

    Reply
  39. Wendy says

    September 10, 2021 at 1:07 am

    I’m not a newbie, but there is always more to learn. I am just starting to mix herbs and tomatoes in with my flower beds. And if I can convince my new neighbor to cut down a half dead tree in their yard, I am going to try the block planting. I had something similar years ago before this tree grew up and blocked all my sun.

    Reply