Gardening Problems
A Quick Guide to Gardening Problems
Almost all gardening problems come from pests or diseases. So, if you are just starting out as a gardener, you will want to familiarize yourself with the most common problems that your particular types of plants are known to develop.
The best thing you can do is buy your seeds and plants from a well-known source where they are guaranteed to be pest and disease resistant. That will give your plants a good start and protect them from some diseases. However, no plant is completely disease resistant and depending on where you live, there will be different kinds of pests that will feed on your plants no matter how many precautions you take.
A healthy, strong plant is the most apt to survive gardening problems. That means it should be getting plenty of light, water and nutrients. The soil should not be overly wet or overly dry. Keep your plants as free as possible from weeds. In many places, this is not an easy task. In small home gardens, it usually means hoeing and picking weeds by hand. Weeds can strangle plants, competing for the same nutrients and water.
Insect pests are another problem. If certain insects get out of control, they can wipe out an entire garden in no time. So it is important to be vigilant for insects by checking the plants regularly. There are many methods for getting rid of insects, from organic controls to pesticides. Make sure you learn to identify which insects you have, because many insects are beneficial to gardens.
The sooner you recognize the signs of disease and insect damage, the sooner you can begin to treat your plants. Check your plants as often as possible for such indicators as yellowing leaves, dry leaves that fall to the ground, leaves that curl along the edges or look spotted, holes in the leaves, black spots, chewed stems or leaves, leaves that look like they are coated with a white substance or that are sticky. All of these are signs that your plants are sick and in need of immediate help.
Gardening problems from disease can be prevented in several different ways, such as by not over or under watering, not planting too close together, yearly crop rotation, keeping the area clean, and not spreading the disease from one plant to the next by washing your hands in-between. You need not only remove diseased plants and parts of plants, you need to take them far away and dispose of them.
Make sure that you are meeting the needs of particular plants by placing sun-loving plants in the sun and shade-loving plants in the shade. If a plant needs well-drained soil, and yours is wet, you are just asking for a disease like root rot to take hold. Research which insects might be attracted to your plants, and plan out how to deal with them before they become a problem. With gardening problems, whether disease of insect, prevention is the best method of dealing with whatever might come up.