“Transforming the Garden: How to Shed Unwanted Habits for Good | Pioneer News – Pmg-ky1.com”

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“7 Bad Habits in the Garden You Should Stop Doing Immediately In 2024”

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We all have bad habits, some more annoying than others. Unfortunately, many of the worst bad habits in the garden have become so commonplace that gardeners see them as the norm.

One of the biggest offenses we commit as gardeners is over-mulching. Even though research has shown that burying plant roots under a foot of hardwood mulch isn’t a good idea, many people still do it. This prevents oxygen from reaching the root system and creates a hydrophobic layer that repels water instead of moderating soil moisture. So, if you want to keep your plants healthy, you should keep your mulch layer to only 2-3 inches and opt for a larger texture mulch like pine bark nuggets or pine straw which allows for better oxygen and water penetration.

Another garden offense we often see is planting woody plants too deep. If you take a look around, you’ll likely find that 75% of all trees and shrubs in a landscape are planted too deep. Unfortunately, once the tree or shrub has been in the ground for several years, there’s not much you can do. However, you can pull away any loose soil that may be around the base and be careful not to over mulch it. You’ll know the plant is planted too deep when there’s no flare at the base of the trunk and it looks like a telephone pole sticking out of the ground. If you’re planting this year, look out for this. Shake away excess soil to find the natural flare and allow for some settling once it’s in the ground.

Spring fertilization is another habit that’s continuing, even though it shouldn’t. Not only is it a waste of money with no real benefits to your lawn, but all the highly soluble stuff you use get washed into the storm drains and ultimately end up in our creeks, streams, and lakes, leading to water pollution. Instead of fertilizing your lawn in the spring, opt for some good management practices like regular mowing at a height of 2.5-3 inches and you may not have to fertilize at all.

Let’s kick our bad gardening habits this year and strive for the best garden yet!