13 Misleading Garden Tips That Are Costing You Time and Money

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Gardening is supposed to be a relaxing escape, a way to connect with nature and enjoy what you’ve grown. The truth is the internet is not short on advice but not all of it is as practical sounding as it appears. Some tips take you down a rabbit hole of wasted dollars and hard earned hours.

If you’ve been following all the ‘right’ tips and your garden still isn’t thriving, it’s time to change your strategy. Here are some common gardening myths that are just that, myths that may sound convincing but are draining your resources and your patience. Let’s dig in!

Watering Every Day

a person watering plants with a watering can — Photo Credit: Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels

One of the most common gardening mistakes is overwatering. Even if it seems that daily soaks keep your plants happy, too much water can kill the roots and cause rot. Most plants prefer a deep watering about once or twice a week. A horticulturist put it this way: “You don’t need to fill the bathtub for a sponge bath!”

Coffee Grounds for Everything

They are often hailed as a miracle soil amendment, but coffee grounds can be a double edged sword. They’re also great at donating nitrogen, but high levels of acidity can damage plants, especially if they are applied in large quantities. First, it’s best to compost coffee grounds to neutralize their pH.

Planting Too Close Together

Plants that are crowded together seem efficient, but they compete for sunlight, water and nutrients. It can also invite diseases since it doesn’t have good airflow. The point is proper spacing, as the saying goes, “Sometimes, giving space is the kindest thing you can do,” and plants need space to thrive.

Using Epsom Salt Everywhere

Epsom salt is frequently marketed as a cure all for plant problems, but it’s not a one size fits all solution. While unnecessary use of magnesium sulfate can harm the soil’s balance, it can definitely help magnesium deficient plants. The best way to find out if your garden really needs it is to take a soil test.

Relying on Fertilizer Alone

Fertilizer is a multivitamin, useful but not a substitute for a balanced diet. A healthy garden starts with healthy soil, and no amount of fertilizer can save compacted or nutrient poor soil. The best way to build soil health is to add organic matter like compost.

Planting Trees in Small Holes

It may make sense to just dig a hole larger than the root ball but then there’s not a lot of room for the roots to spread and take hold. The Saddle Hills County says planting in a wide, shallow hole encourages roots to grow outward, helping the tree to anchor itself better and absorb nutrients better.

Mulching Right Against Stems

Mulch is great for conserving moisture and keeping weeds at bay but piling it right up against plant stems invites rot and pests. Don’t let mulch touch stems and trunks, or you’ve just created a breeding ground for trouble.

Improving Drainage With Gravel

Add Noise-Making Gravel Walkways — Image Credit: Polymanu via pixabay

Many gardeners think that gravel on the bottom of your pots will provide better drainage, but science says otherwise. This practice can even trap water above the gravel layer and cause waterlogged roots, according to a Washington State University study. Use high quality potting soil and make sure your pots have holes for drainage.

Cutting Grass Too Short

Freshly Cut Grass — Image Credit: Counselling via pixabay

Scalping your lawn to save time between mowing is bad for your grass and encourages weeds to take over. According to experts, you should keep your grass at least 2 to 3 inches tall so that it promotes a healthy root system and shades out weed seeds.

Using a Tarp for Weed Control

While you may think you’re being clever by laying a tarp or plastic sheet over weeds, you’re also suffocating the soil, killing beneficial organisms, and creating drainage problems. Natural mulch or ground covers are the way to go for long term weed control.

The Belief That Bigger Plants Are Always Better

Lucky Plants to Fill Your Home with Positive Energy — Image by Mokkie via Wikimedia Commons

Bigger isn’t always better when buying plants. Root binding can stunt growth when oversized plants have outgrown their pots. Healthy, proportionate plants that are not wilting or discolored are what you are looking for.

Spraying Soap for Pests

While homemade soap sprays are a great DIY way to get rid of pests, they can hurt your plants if your concentration is too high. The protective layer is removed by soap, leaving leaves subject to sunburn and other problems. If you have to use soap, make sure you dilute it well, and test it on a small surface too.

Treating Soil Without Testing

Without testing your soil, blindly adding lime, sulfur or other amendments can actually be harmful. Luckily, soil tests are widely available and pretty inexpensive, and can provide you with exactly the information you need to improve your garden’s health.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.