Did you know?

Failure is the most common reason for quitting activities we just introduced into our lives.

Let‘s face it, gardening is a tough job. You should know what you‘re doing and even better – have an experience. Your success rate drops in reverse proportion to your knowledge. Quitting is common, especially if you are new in this area of expertise. And it can get quite overwhelming at the start when you are supposed to learn as much as you can. There is so much information out there, and so many possibilities. So, the best strategy for a beginner, is to set the rules of what not to do. Avoid these common mistakes and see your garden thrive.

Never go unprepared

Planting, composting, garden projects – whatever your next task is, don‘t approach it without thorough research. Good gardening requires knowing the little details, for they are essential for success. I’ve done the mistake not to prepare many times before. And let me tell you – failure is a great teacher. If you have the time to fail, that is. But if you try to be efficient from the start, every piece of information might be crucial. Research your plants before putting them in the soil:

- what conditions do they require;

- what amount of sunlight and water;

- what kind of soil;

- specifics about taking a proper care;

Those are good starting points. There are plants that don‘t require much of your attention, but others do. Make sure you know everything there is about a certain plant or a process. And if you are still not quite sure, leave it to professional gardeners.

Don‘t be unreasonable

This is one of the most important rules, especially if you just started gardening. Be realistic about the amount of effort you will be willing to put in a specific task. Gardening is a full-time leisure activity and not everything can be predicted. Don‘t go overboard with plants and projects you would not accomplish and take care of in the end. Also, make sure you are doing everything the proper way, not the lazy way. Start small, and if you have the time and will to continue, and do something else, do so. You will feel much more motivated by your success and not your failures. On the other hand, if you overwhelm yourself, it is more likely you would quit the whole thing, and never attempt gardening again.

Reduce the amount of chemicals you use

Many of us think of organic gardening the same way we think about diets – great effort but with low satisfaction rate about the end result. We think “Oh, why not spare my time and efforts and simply buy some chemicals to deal with everything”. There isn‘t a point of view wronger than that. Sure, we can reassure ourselves that it‘s not that bad, but the end result will still be there, no matter what we tell ourselves. Trust me, you want to use as many organic materials as you can. They are, first of all, money savers. You can use kitchen scraps and what not to accomplish your purposes. Second of all, it is much healthier. And isn‘t this the reason we are trying to grow our own food in the first place?

Be strict, don‘t leave your job for tomorrow… or the next day

You‘ve already researched what is needed to accomplish a certain task. Whether you want to plant something or you have a bigger project in mind, just stay on track. Keep a planner if you have to. Make sure that you‘ve done everything that needs to be done, step by step. Be constant about your efforts, and you will succeed. Don‘t make any excuses not to do a certain task. At least try not to put it far ahead in time. When we talk about plants, you know that they won‘t wait for you, they are living creatures. Water them accordingly, change the dirt if you have to, and keep them healthy and safe from various pests.

Share this Story