Doing the right thing for your garden can be confusing. There are so many old wives tales, myths and general nuggets of misinformation out there that it can be difficult to know what’s right or wrong. In this blog, we’ll debunk the common gardening myths that could in fact be causing your garden more harm than good…
The idea that a stressed plant must need fertilising in order to perk it up is a classic misconception. This is not necessarily true. If a plant is overfed it may cause more stress and weaken it further, as it diverts its energy resources to take up the fertilisers. Too much can upset the chemical composition of the soil, disturbing the microbial balance within the delicate ecosystem. This will impact on the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients, oxygen and water and exchange beneficial products with the organisms that thrive in the soil. So before you reach for the plant food – consider other environmental factors first, such as:
Compaction: if the soil is compacted around the plant, this will reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the roots and prohibit the normal uptake of nutrients.
Temperatures: has the plant been exposed to too much heat?
Faulty planting: has the plant been planted recently and correctly? Check that it has been planted at the right depth. If the plant is too deep it can cause the roots to suffocate or rot. Longer term issues may result in the growth being stunted or lack of fruit and flowers. Too shallow and the roots are more susceptible to damage from grazing animals or drying out. Also they won’t be able to anchor themselves into the soil and establish properly.
Some newly planted plants will show some signs of what we call transplant shock. The signs to look for include wilting, dropping leaves (other than in autumn), reduced growth and tips of the plant dying off. This is simply a reaction to the plant being hoiked out of its nice, comfortable, regulated pot from the nursery and put into a different environment and expected to get on with it. It’s similar to you taking a long haul flight and landing in a foreign country with a different time zone, climate and culture. You will need a little time to adjust to the changes, but with the right encouragement you’ll be fine. The same goes for your plants.
Water levels: does the plant have access to sufficient water levels? Too much is as bad as too little, as you can read about in our blog on The Art of Watering. If watering isn’t done correctly it can change the salinity of the soil and cause all sorts of issues with the microbial population that keep the soil healthy. You can read all about the importance of healthy soil in our blog on The Importance of Soil Health.
Remember the misuse or overuse of any type of pesticide is harmful to the environment. It will reduce the biodiversity of a given area and increase the risk of longer term issues. Try a cultural pest control strategy as an alternative if one is available. For instance, select resistant plant varieties, one that suits the environment it’s going into and practise good garden hygiene. Or use biological methods, such as natural predators, parasites or pathogens to control problems. If a pesticide must be used, remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on dilution rate and usage. They are only a tool, not a miracle worker. They cannot correct mistakes made in maintenance, plant selection, location, or the incorrect installation of plants (right plant, right place).
This statement is only partly true. Yes, the width should be twice as wide, to give you wriggle and turning room to correctly and aesthetically place the tree. The depth must always be the same as the container, the tree’s collar level with the top of the soil contained in it. An inch lower and the tree will suffocate slowly and eventually die. This can take up to 15 years to happen.
If you want to improve the drainage of a clay soil, it is better to avoid adding sand. Adding a fair quantity will increase the drainage, but is likely to change the constitution of the soil, possibly affecting the plants that have got used to and established themselves in the clay. Adding good organic matter is a much better option; it is lighter and opens up the soil structure, adding accessible nutrients and allowing air and water in to improve the condition.
At Gardens by Keltie & Clark, we are experts in all things horticultural. Our team of garden designers and landscapers in the Cotswolds can advise on any questions you may have about your garden. If you would like some Cotswold gardening tips or landscape design tips, contact us to discuss your queries.
