Many people learn gardening through horticulture or master gardening programs or through their parents during 4-H clubs. My mom always had us contribute to gardening tasks like trimming edges and weeding, but until you plan, design, dig out and plant a garden, there is much room for bad mistakes. Mine are ones that can be avoided, here’s the worst five I made:
Digging a Garden Out of a Grassy Area Without Altering the Soil
Grass is often planted on top of a gravel underlayer with a small amount of top soil. Years of compacted grass growth often destroys any top soil. Many grasses like creeping bent, don’t go away with ease. When I built my first garden I dug out of a grassy area, I planted two shrubs and some perennials, but the garden remained rocky and was soon overgrown with grass and weeds. Grass that gets into the roots of a perennial are very hard to removed.
Solution: Always add top soil, and amendments like chicken or steer manure, compost, and peat moss to an area dug from grass to increase the soil richness. Add a border made from cement, ceramic, plastic, or rocks to reduce the tendency for grass to get into the garden.
Planting a Plant that Spreads by Root Creep
Plants such as Cape Honeysuckle in Florida or Creeping Jenny in Washington that spread by root rhizome or creep can be painful to remove. Plants that send up shoots often take over any garden you’ve planted. Read “Plants to Avoid Planting in Your Garden” to learn more about them.
Solution: Remove the plant from your garden or avoid planting. If you still want them in your yard, cut off the bottom of a plastic bucket or storage container, dig down deep enough so the container fits, then fill in the soil around it. Plant the plants inside the container and keep prune to prevent any seed growth.
Planting a Tree to Close to the House
I only experienced this second hand, after someone else chose to plant the tree in the wrong spot. My mom chose to plant a big leaf maple in her front yard to provide shade-the roots eventually encroached into the sewage lines, often causing problems with the garbage disposal. Eventually, the roots will break up the sidewalk. My second home had a Western Red Cedar planted against the house. We quickly removed it since the roots would damage the foundation and the boughs get into the roof and potential damage windows during storms.
Solution: Guides like the Sunset Western Garden Guide and the Florida Plant Guides from the Master Gardeners have lists of trees that are good for patios and street side. Trees should be planted centered on the maximum width for the tree.
Installing a Chain Link Fence without A Cement Base
After spending many summers hand trimming grass beneath a fence and pulling it out of boards and chain links, I will never ever install a fence without installing cement underneath to keep it clear of grass.
Solution: when installing posts for a fence, put a three -six inch wide and deep barrier beneath the fence.
Planting Shrubs especially with Spikes Near a Common Use Area
Shrubs such as pyracantha, that look spectacular on a trellis because they flower in spring and hold berries for much of the year and attract wildlife, should not be planted next to a water outlet.
Solution: Plant plants at the middle of their width at least one foot from the side of a house (so you can prune, treat for disease and paint, from water or electric outlets and away from shared utility lines, even if buried. Use shrubs and plants with thorns in the middle of non thorny plants and keep them away from walkways. Shrubs with thorns can deter entry to windows, and doors if strategically planned since they hurt when touched without care.