Everyone loves fresh vegetables and fruits. Gardeners plant different crops, which need a certain approach and compliance with general rules. If you neglect them, you can’t count on a good harvest. Consider the most common mistakes made by beginner gardeners.
Dig the beds in the fall
At first glance, it seems that this is a necessary procedure. Give the soil rest, nourish with minerals, prepare ridges for snow, loosen the soil for greater moisture exchange, clear the area of weeds - digging brings many advantages and saves time in the future. But the procedure has a number of disadvantages:
- the soil is deprived of many living organisms;
- it is likely that weed seeds will survive and winter until spring;
- frequent digging of the soil weakens the earth, which negatively affects the yield;
- digging has an effect on the person himself (fatigue, back pain).
Digging up the soil or not depends on two factors: the climate and the type of soil on the site. In areas with a hot climate, digging is rarely necessary, since the soil is dry. But in cold and humid regions, digging is extremely desirable due to soil compaction under the influence of natural conditions.
Leave bare soil for wintering
Uncovered soil is destroyed. It freezes and loses minerals and living organisms. It is bacteria and other small soil animals that contribute to the growth of plants on earth. If the topsoil is frozen, then all trace elements will go down a layer below, and rooting will become difficult. The most effective way to avoid this problem is to mulch. Mulch protects the topsoil and prevents freezing. Mulch can be hay, fallen leaves, sawdust, straw.
Formative pruning of fruit trees and bushes is carried out.
To maintain the fruit tree harvest, it must be constantly processed - cut branches, forming the desired direction, and remove the sick and unnecessary. Formative pruning must be done in the first years of a tree's life. And then in subsequent years, rare anti-aging trimmings are required.
You need to understand that forming pruning is intended for decorative trees and shrubs. And you need to use it for fruit crops with caution and special attention, otherwise you will ruin the tree.
Shelter roses and hydrangeas too early
You need to cover the flowers with the onset of the first frosts. The best helper in this is the weather forecast. It must be remembered that each variety is different, and some flowers tolerate frost better than others. Therefore, when buying a particular variety, always remember its name so that with the onset of frost, you can find out all the information about it.
The best materials for shelter are: dry leaves, spruce branches, straw and sawdust. Burlap and film have a place to be, but due to lack of ventilation, the plant may not survive the winter.
Whitewash trees in spring
By whitewashing trees, you protect them from insects that live under the bark. Parasites like to settle in the cracks of the tree bark, and it can be problematic to destroy them. Not to mention the fact that they are carriers of many diseases. Fungal spores or pathogens can also get into the cracks of the unprotected tree bark.
Autumn whiteness prevents sunburn of trees in winter or early spring. White color reflects the sun's rays and protects the bark from overheating and destruction. Young varieties, bleached in the fall, are protected from rodents that love to eat soft bark all winter. The main gap is held in the fall, it is most important, since the most vulnerable trees become autumn and winter.
Spring whitewash is considered secondary. It is necessary to whitewash trees at a positive temperature, having previously patched all cracks and wounds on the trunk.
Damaged vegetables are left in the garden
Do not be lazy and leave spoiled vegetables in the beds. As a rule, initially spoiled vegetables are already susceptible to some kind of disease, so lying on the ground, they can infect the soil.
Also, many simply forget the vegetables in the garden, and over time they decompose. Decayed vegetable is by no means a fertilizer! It is affected by pests and diseases, so leaving it on the ridge, you leave pests to multiply in the garden. It is better to put all the spoiled fruits in a separate container and then use to prepare anaerobic compost.
Replacing the soil in the greenhouse
Using a greenhouse for a long time without replacing the soil in it reduces the fertility of the soil layer. But the replacement of the soil mixture is fraught with danger. Pathogenic bacteria enter the greenhouse, which multiply due to the greenhouse effect. Therefore, if the greenhouse is small, it is better to remove it before replacing the soil.
In large greenhouses, new land is treated with biological additives and allowed to rest. You can decontaminate the soil with chemicals or thermal heating.
