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Making mistakes in the garden is a time-honored tradition. A few flowers are bound to die from neglect or bad weather. Sometimes we push the boundaries of what is possible, losing a row of hostas to the deer or a camellia to subzero temperatures. Experimentation is part of the process.
Big landscaping projects have a lot more at stake. When you spend thousands installing new garden beds and replanting your yard with trees, shrubs, and perennials, you want to protect that investment. Unfortunately, many plants die from poor soil preparation, planting, and care. Before you know it, every other arborvitae along your driveway is dead.
So before you pick up a shovel, read this list of the most expensive landscaping mistakes you can make—and our best tips on how to avoid them.
Forgetting About Drainage
Homeowners often forget to tackle drainage problems before planting trees and shrubs, but most plants can’t tolerate standing water or constant moisture. After several heavy rains, they turn yellow, wilt, and die from root rot. Stormwater can also wash away gravel and mulch, leaving you with a mess to clean up after every rain.
Before you plant anything, investigate where water flows on your property. Do heavy rains turn the back of your property into a marsh? Does a drain pipe route stormwater to your fenceline? Fix these drainage problems by rerouting the water or installing berms to raise garden beds. If neither is an option, choose plants that like moisture and won’t succumb to root rot.
Choosing the Wrong Plants for Your Site
Maybe you love the look of an English cottage garden and want to plant the same in your yard. Unfortunately, you live in a different country with a completely different climate. You may have unique challenges in your landscape, like poor, sandy soil or heavy clay. Much of the South experiences hot, humid summers and prolonged periods of drought. No matter how hard you fight the elements, your new perennials could still end up dead.
Choosing trees, shrubs, and flowers based on pretty photos is a recipe for disaster. Research which plants do well in your climate instead of making impulse buys at the garden center. The local extension office should have a list of plants recommended for your region. You can also walk around your neighborhood, nearby parks, and public gardens to see what is thriving.
Improper Planting
You plant a gorgeous weeping cherry in your garden and water it regularly. Somehow, your prized tree still ends up half-dead after a few months. This unexpected decline could be a result of how you planted your tree or shrub.
Many landscape plants are rootbound when you bring them home. Circling roots must be freed or cut from the rootball so the plant’s growth isn’t restricted. It’s also a good idea to gently loosen the rootball with your fingers before planting. Then, dig your planting hole two to three times wider than the nursery pot to make it easy for the tree’s roots to grow into the surrounding soil.
Trees can rot or suffocate when you plant them too deeply or bury the trunk in mulch. In most cases, the root flare at the base of the trunk should be level with the soil line. If you need to plant your tree higher to improve drainage, slope the soil so the roots are covered and don’t dry out. Finally, don’t fertilize your plants while they are overcoming transplant shock. A thin layer of compost is all that trees need when you plant them. Mulch around your trees and shrubs to conserve moisture, but pull the mulch a couple of inches away from stems and trunks.
Neglecting to Water
Neglecting to water plants is one of the most common and preventable landscaping mistakes. Many people hand-water new trees and shrubs for the first few weeks, then slack off. Life gets busy, or they just assume the trees are ready to handle any type of weather. The plants look gorgeous in spring, but by fall, many are dead.
New landscape plantings must be watered regularly for the first year while the roots are getting established. In the second year, many trees and shrubs require supplemental watering once a week during dry weather. If this sounds like a lot of work, choose drought-tolerant plants or install drip irrigation around your garden beds. You don’t have to get fancy or spend a lot of money. A simple soaker hose will usually do the job.
Planting Right Next to Your House
Planting a tree next to your house invites disaster, yet people do it all the time. Builders seem to be as guilty of this as homeowners. That birch or holly looks very appealing at the front entry until it begins causing problems. Branches that touch your home provide easy access for pests and trap moisture against the siding. Large shade trees can drop branches on your roof or, worse, fall on the house. Constant pruning can prevent problems, but you’ll end up with ugly, lopsided bushes. Your insurance company could also require you to remove trees.
Proper spacing in the landscape will prevent future problems. Small ornamental trees should be planted 10 to 15 feet from your house, while large trees should be 20 feet from your home at a minimum. Most shrubs can be planted 4 or 5 feet from your foundation. A rule of thumb is to calculate half the mature width of each shrub, then add another 12 inches of clearance.
If you want to plant something closer to your house, choose compact shrubs that don’t grow more than 3 or 4 feet wide. Keep these guidelines in mind when planting along your driveway or fence as well.
Failing to Comparison Shop
You can lose hundreds of dollars by failing to comparison shop for your landscaping project. Don’t rely on the big box store for hardscaping materials like mulch or gravel—buying them by the bag gets very expensive. Save money by ordering bulk deliveries from a landscaping supply store.
If you have a long list of plants to buy, it’s definitely worth comparing prices at several garden centers in your area. If timing isn’t essential, hold out for sales later in the season. With a little planning and forethought, you can avoid expensive mistakes and enjoy your beautiful garden for years to come.
Read the original article on Southern Living
