Gardening...Oops!

Where did you go wrong?

Does your garden look a bit sad? Not all problems are caused by pests and disease.  Often there are simple factors to take into consideration. Has your veg gone to seed?

Incorrect watering and feeding for example, can cause problems.  Late frosts can damage newly sprouted foliage, and decimate bedding plants.  Wind can cause scorch marks on plants.  Damage can be caused by weed killers, so avoid spraying in windy conditions. If you do splash it on your plants simply wash it off with water. 

Sun can scorch shade-loving plants, causing brown circles on the leaves.  Sometimes plants are non-flowering for the first few years.  Wisteria, Magnolia and some Camellias for example, have to mature before they come into flower.  Poor pruning can also cause some trees and bushes to stop flowering.  Flowers can’t form if the shoots that should have bloomed have been cut off.  This often happens if plants have been cut back hard to reduce their size. 

Nutrient deficiency is another factor to take into consideration. Leaves can get yellow blotches, go brown, dry up and also die.

Every gardener learns by his or her mistakes. If one plant falters in one part of the garden, consider moving it to another place. A hoster placed in direct sunlight won't be a happy plant, pop him in the shadey corner, and watch him come back to life.