Once upon a time, I loved the idea of growing a bed of beautiful flowers in the yard, despite knowing little about gardening and having only a history of since-passed succulents to my name. So I went to the store, picked out some pretty blooms, and began arranging them in the space.
Fast forward only a matter of weeks, though, and my flowers weren’t looking too lively. Especially if you’re newer to flower gardening, it can be hard to know where you’re going wrong, but it’s really important to do your research before planting anything to prevent flower gardening mistakes from spoiling your spirits.
I've learned a lot since those early days, but I still sometimes have to remind myself. So, I asked experts in gardening and floristry to share the most common flower gardening mistakes people make that result in ruined blooms, as well as why each is so fatal. If you don’t do any of these things when planting your flowers, they’ll be in far safer hands.
1. Holding Unrealistic Expectations
If you haven’t had a flower garden before or you’re planting new varieties you have little or no prior experience in, it’s important to pause and take a moment to decide whether you’ll be in over your head. This is exactly what I did: I was so excited by the vision of a gorgeous garden that I didn’t stop to remind myself that I had never really tended to flowers before aside from store-bought bouquets.
Tonya Barnett, a flower-growing expert and the owner of TONYAwiththeflowers, says this is a very common mistake people make: ‘Starting a new garden can be an exciting process, but while it may be tempting to grow several different types of flowers all at once, it’s probably best for new growers to start small. This will help as you learn to care for your crop.’
Marigolds, petunias, and sweet peas are a few beginner-friendly summer flowers that each only require minimal care. Why not try a flower seed collection to get you started? This Mountain Valley Flower Garden Seed Collection from Amazon contains 12 lovely varieties to plant.
2. Ignoring Climate Needs
Plants are much like people in the way that we all have our preferences. For some flowers, full sun is the recipe for thriving, but others may prefer cooler temperatures and shade. If you don’t pay attention to the conditions each flower needs to be healthy, two main issues can occur: you could be planting flowers that simply can’t survive in your USDA hardiness zone, or you’ll end up with patchy flowerbeds where some plants can survive but others can’t.
Lindsey Chastain, a homesteader and avid gardener at The Waddle and Cluck, says, ‘One of the biggest mistakes I made when first planting flowers in my garden was ignoring my hardiness zone. It’s easy to just order what looks amazing, but not every plant will thrive in your area.’
A great piece of advice Lindsey shared is to try to purchase plants in your immediate local area. ‘If a plant is for sale in your local area, chances are it’s meant for your zone,’ she says.
3. Not Preparing the Soil
Soil can be complicated. It comes in different textures, varying levels of acidity, and an assortment of densities. Even a more seasoned gardener will struggle to get their flowers to grow if they haven’t considered whether the blooms they wish to keep are a good match for their soil type.
Ondrea Kidd, Lead Floral Designer and Founder of Sowing Joy Farm in Post Falls, ID, believes soil is one of the most important things to figure out before planting flowers. ‘It’s a must to ask yourself what kind of soil a plant needs. For instance, many Mediterranean plants such as lavender and rosemary want drier, free-draining soil in full sun, while others, such as hydrangeas, need moist soil in partial shade.’
You can test out the acidity and moisture level of your soil, as well as the light level of that area of your yard, using a device like this 4-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter from Amazon. Once you have this information, you can use it to ensure the flowers you choose share the same environmental needs as the environment you can provide.
4. Being Too Attentive – or Not Attentive Enough
Neglecting your plants or killing them with too much kindness are both common flower gardening mistakes, just as bad as one another. One will lead to your flowers fading over time due to a lack of care and harmful natural causes, and the other will leave your plants suffocated in unneeded surplus, like too much water or fertilizer.
According to Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the number one “kindness” people give too much of to their flowers is water. ‘Overwatering will lead to stressing your flowers, exacerbating diseases and root rot, which all ultimately reduce flower production.’
The top two forms of neglect met by flowers, as noted by Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass, are no better: forgetting to weed the surrounding soil and never deadheading your blooms.
‘Weeds grow fast, especially during the summer, and it’s easy to fall behind. But when weeds take hold, they compete with your flowers for water and nutrients, leaving your plants more likely to become deprived,’ says Laura.
‘As for deadheading, a lot of people forget to deadhead their flowers and leave droopy plants among their crop. A quick look around for deadheading every few days will make a world of difference, as once old flowerheads are removed, new, healthy blooms are encouraged. Your flowerbeds will also look fresher.’
5. Overcrowding
If you have a smaller flowerbed, it may be tempting to cram in as many flowers as possible to make the most out of the space. However, this can wind up being detrimental to what you’re planting, so less really can be more.
‘Crowding plants is another mistake I made,’ says Lindsey. ‘When flowers are too close together, some might not get enough sun or nutrients. Air circulation between them will also be bad, which can lead to mold or mildew. You might feel your flowerbed looks sparse at first, but it’s well worth it in the end to give your plants extra space to grow into.’
The recommended spacing for different flowers is usually provided on seed packets and plant tags.
6. Not Understanding the Flowers You Planted
Some flowers bloom in summer, whereas others peek their heads out in autumn, spring, or even winter. If you’re wondering why your flowers don’t seem to be growing, it’s possible you made the flower gardening mistake of purchasing varieties that aren’t scheduled to bloom when you thought they would. This can lead to patchy garden beds where a few flowers are on display on their own, as the others planted around them aren’t in season yet.
‘A lot of disappointment in gardening comes from not knowing what to expect, but something no new gardener expects is for their flowers to simply not bloom,’ says Laura. ‘Some perennials don’t bloom in their first year. Others bloom later than people realize. That doesn’t mean something is wrong, it just means more time is needed for your flowers to blossom or you might prefer to grow something else.’
