The Seven Deadly Sins Of Gardening

The Seven Deadly Sins of Gardening

1. Overwatering: Drowning in Good Intentions

I see it all the time: plants being loved to death with too much water. You've probably done it yourself—I know I have. You're out there with the hose, thinking you're being kind. But instead, you're suffocating roots and inviting a parade of rot, mold, and fungus.

A general rule? Most plants prefer a deep soak followed by a chance to dry out. Stick your finger in the soil. If it feels moist two inches down, step away from the watering can.

“Overwatering accounts for nearly 80% of plant deaths in home gardens.”

2. Ignoring Soil Health: Treating Dirt Like Dirt

If you're planting without thinking about your soil, you're like someone baking a cake without checking if they have flour. Plants need soil that drains well, has nutrients, and supports life beneath the surface.

I once planted tomatoes in a patch of pure clay. They struggled, turned yellow, and gave up on me. Add compost. Test your soil. Work with it, not against it, and your plants will reward you.

3. Planting Without a Plan: Chaos in the Garden

I’ve been guilty of this one after a few too many impulse buys at the garden center. You come home with armfuls of plants and start sticking them wherever you find space, never considering light requirements, spacing, or companion planting.

Take the time to map things out. Which plants need full sun? Who grows tall and will cast shade? Who hates their neighbors? A little planning saves a lot of frustration.

4. Over-Fertilizing: More Isn’t More

If a little fertilizer is good, a lot must be better, right? Wrong. Plants are delicate, and too much fertilizer can scorch roots, promote weak, leggy growth, or throw off their balance.

Back when I started, I tried doubling the dose on my peppers, hoping for bigger yields. Instead, I got floppy plants and exactly zero peppers. Follow package instructions, and when in doubt, less is more.

5. Neglecting Native Plants: Fighting Mother Nature

Trying to grow plants that don’t belong in your area is like keeping a polar bear in the desert. They’ll struggle, demand constant care, and frankly, make you look like an amateur.

Native plants, on the other hand, know the drill. They thrive in your climate, attract pollinators, and practically grow themselves. Stop swimming upstream.

6. Pruning Poorly: Butchering Instead of Sculpting

Pruning terrifies some gardeners, and for good reason—there’s a fine line between art and destruction. Cut too much, too soon, or at the wrong time, and you’ll stress your plants or ruin their growth habit.

My roses once looked like victims of a chainsaw massacre after I overdid it in winter. Research your plants and use sharp, clean tools. And remember: less is more until you know what you’re doing.

7. Impatience: The Gardener’s Achilles Heel

We all want instant results, but gardens don’t work that way. I once ripped up a bed of carrots after a month, convinced they weren’t growing. Turns out, they just needed more time.

Trust the process. Plants and soil are on their own schedule. Slow down, observe, and let nature do its thing.

“A garden requires patience—the kind that teaches you to celebrate progress, even if it’s invisible for a while.”

Keeping these sins in check takes practice, but every mistake is a lesson. In gardening, no failure is wasted. The earth is forgiving; just show up, get your hands dirty, and try again.

1. Overcrowding your plants in the garden and the plots.
2. Planting in an area that’s too shaded or not receiving enough sunlight.
3. Over-fertilizing or using chemicals for your plants.
4. Planting in whatever soil is available; not taking into consideration what type of soil the plant actually demands.
5. Simply forgetting to water your plants adequately. Different plants require different amounts of water!
6. Planting during the wrong season.
7. Forgetting to harvest!