Seven Challenges You Face as a Gardener and How to Overcome Them

by Marie Rodriguez

Gardening can be difficult, whether working with limited space, not having much sunlight, or even having trouble with weeds, pests, and drought. Whether you wish to enjoy all the benefits of homegrown fruits and vegetables at the end of each season or see every plant and flower grow beautifully, here are seven common problems and solutions.

Seven Challenges You Face as a Gardener and How to Overcome Them 3

1. Lack of Sunlight

It would be best to have sunlight for photosynthesis—the process by which plants convert light into energy. Live in an area that receives little natural sunlight during certain seasons of the year or certain times of the day. Artificial lighting might be necessary if you want your garden to flourish throughout all four seasons. With proper setup, indoor gardens can provide ample light for healthy growth indoors.

2. Too Much Moisture in the Soil

One challenge that gardeners face is an overabundance of moistSmokeheir soil. Moisture can be good for plants as it helps them grow. However, excessive moisture makes it difficult for plants to develop root systems that enable them to take in soil, water, and sunlight nutrients. As you’re pruning your plants or caring for those already in place, look for signs of moisture issues like mold, fungus, or other discoloration on stems or leaves.

3. Poor Drainage

Poor drainage is often the main reason your soil has too much moisture. Everyone knows that plants need water, but plants can die if you don’t have excellent drainage in your soil. It is best first to use raised beds or containers with good drainage. If not, consider installing an overflow drain at least six inches deep. Such gutters allow excess water to leave while retaining enough moisture for healthy plant growth.

4. Soil Compaction

Soil compaction is a minor pesky issue that always seems to rear its ugly head when you do your best work. But what is soil compaction? Compacted soil means there are no more air pockets in between soil particles. The lack of air makes water unable to soak into your ground, making watering inefficient and unnecessary. So, you might ask yourself, how do I avoid it? The answer is simple: Earthworms can eat their way through compacted soil! You can also use an aerator for larger areas.

5. Moles, Gophers, and Voles

Gardening can be surprisingly challenging, and the biggest problem is critters—moles, gophers, voles, etc. They’ll dig up your plants to get at insects hiding in the roots, or they’ll have a tasty snack in your most beautiful bulbs. If you don’t have problems with these predators in your garden yet, chances are you will soon enough. Castor oils are the main remedies to get rid of them. Put the oil in their burrows mixed with dish soap.

6. Weeds Taking Over

If you’re starting in gardening, weeds can be daunting. Weeds can be annoying and hard to remove, but you must remove them before laying down your gravel or wood chips. But don’t give up! Please eliminate them with persistence, good gardening practices, and knowledge of different weed types. Before long, you won’t know how you ever lived without your garden.

You can remove weeds by hand, but a long-handled shovel will make weeding a quick area work. Aim for their roots and pull firmly to get all those pesky weeds out of your way. Once those pesky weeds are gone, spread some mulch over your entire garden path area. Mulch can keep weeds at bay while also softening any walking areas.

7. Slow Tree Growth 

Certain trees require a long time to grow. If you’re looking for a fast-growing tree, avoid these plants: Japanese snowbell, Serbian spruce, paperbark maple, and purple lily magnolia. These slow growers will take years longer than others before they reach maturity. You might be doing something wrong if you chose a normal-growing tree but can still not achieve your desired height in six months or less. There are tree care services that can help you out with any problems concerning your trees. They provide many services like pruning, training, removal, and replacing dying plants. There is no harm in asking for a helping hand!

As you can see, gardening can be a bit of a challenge at times. But with these tips, you’ll learn how to overcome these challenges so your garden constantly grows into something beautiful. So get out there and enjoy growing your plants!

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