Urban gardening simplifies the gardening experience by enabling you to grow your own fruits and vegetables regardless of where you call home. Perhaps you have a container garden on your patio or a community garden on your apartment building’s rooftop. Although the process sounds easier, gardening is gardening and there are still pitfalls to watch out for. Here are the three gardening mistakes to avoid:
1. Ignoring planting charts – It’s great that you are excited about your urban garden, but it is important to remember your planting season and check your hardiness zone. Planting schedules vary by state, and ignoring it could leave you with wilted vegetables or plants that simply won’t grow. Be strategic with your planting to grow healthy plants and maximize your harvest.
2. Not enough space – One of the biggest benefits of an urban garden is that it doesn’t require much space. However, overloading your plot could affect the health of your plants, making them susceptible to disease that will be easily spread to the rest of your garden due to the close quarters. Proper spacing ensures a healthy yield and will save you a big headache later on. When planting, focus on quality rather than quantity.
3. Forgetting to water – Unlike a traditional garden where you can set up a watering system using sprinklers or use the hose, an urban garden usually requires watering by hand using a watering can. The beginning of the day is often busy with various tasks, and by the end of the day you are likely tired and ready to rest. It is easy to forget to water your plants. The key is to be consistent. Set up a watering schedule and stick to it. Make it part of your routine just like brushing your teeth. If necessary, post reminders in your home or set an alarm on your phone. Your garden will thank you.
Urban gardening is an exciting new experience, but to keep the fun and harvest going all year long, make sure you don’t make these common gardening mistakes.