Stop Doing These 10 Things If You Want A Better Garden
Working towards the garden of your dreams can be super rewarding. But it’s easier than you think to make little mistakes that hold your garden back. Often, we think we’re helping give our garden what it needs without realizing that we’re actually getting in nature’s way. If your garden feels stuck or you feel like your hard work isn’t doing any good, it might be time to rethink your approach. These ten common gardening habits can actually do more harm than good, and by stopping them, you can create a healthier, more productive garden that works with nature, not against it.
Stop Fussing With Your Soil Every Season
Frequent tilling, digging, or turning of the soil might seem like a good way to refresh your garden beds, but it can actually damage the structure of your soil and the microscopic life that keeps it healthy. Overworking the soil disrupts helpful fungi, bacteria, and earthworm tunnels that improve aeration and water retention. Instead of digging deep every spring, try the no-dig method of gardening. Layer compost or mulch on top of the soil and let all the good organic matter slowly work its way down. This supports long-term soil health, reduces erosion, and helps your plants establish stronger roots without constantly being disturbed.
Stop Watering Everything The Same
Not all plants have the same water needs, and using the same watering routine across your entire garden can lead to overwatering some plants and underwatering others. That’s not good for any of them! Plus, shallow, frequent watering leads to weak root systems and fungal issues. Instead, take time to understand the watering needs of the different plants in your garden and group plants in garden beds together by their water needs when possible. For example, most vegetables prefer deep, infrequent watering that reaches the roots, while herbs like rosemary or thyme thrive in drier soil. To figure out how much water your plants actually need for healthy growth, pay attention to plant behavior and soil moisture.
Stop Planting Things Just Because They're Pretty
It’s tempting to choose plants based on their appearance alone, especially at garden centers where everything looks healthy and vibrant. But just because a plant looks pretty, that doesn’t mean that it's going to grow well in your particular climate, soil, or sun conditions. Some ornamental plants might require more care than you can provide, while others may struggle in your region or attract pests. Instead, try to focus on plants that are native or well-adapted to your area. These plants tend to be more resilient, require less water and fertilizer, and support local pollinators. The way your garden looks will never not matter, but choosing more local plants will cut down on the work you need to do to keep it looking great.
Stop Fighting Every Weed
It might sound weird, but not all weeds are your enemy. While it’s important to control aggressive or invasive species, obsessively removing every stray sprout can actually disrupt the balance of your garden. Some weeds improve soil health, provide ground cover that helps prevent erosion, or even support helpful insects. Clover, for example, fixes nitrogen in the soil, and dandelions can break up compacted ground. Learn to identify which plants are harmful and which are harmless, or even helpful. A more tolerant approach saves time, protects biodiversity, and often creates a more balanced and better garden overall.
Stop Overfeeding Your Plants
More fertilizer doesn’t always lead to better growth. In fact, over-fertilization can damage roots, cause weak, leggy growth, and lead to nutrient runoff that harms nearby waterways. In particular, chemical fertilizers can disrupt soil biology in a harmful way over time. If your plants look stressed, it might be due to poor soil structure, not a lack of nutrients. Instead of relying heavily on fertilizers, focus on building healthy soil with compost, leaf mold, and mulch. Organic matter helps improve soil fertility naturally and slowly releases nutrients over time, supporting long-term plant health with less risk of overdoing it.
Stop Expecting Instant Results
It’s hard, but we gardeners have to stop expecting plants to stick to our timelines. Seeds take time to germinate, perennials may not bloom in their first year, and soil improvements often take months to show results. Impatience can lead to unnecessary digging, replanting, or giving up on strategies that were actually working because you couldn’t see the results yet. Instead of panicking if something isn’t working, give your garden time to mature. Observe, don’t interfere. Many of the improvements we’re looking for in our gardens; stronger root systems, natural pest control, increased pollination; take a season or two to actually show up. Long-term thinking leads to better results. Gardening is about consistency and patience, it’s not a race.
Stop Ignoring The (Good) Bugs
Not all bugs are pests, and spraying at the first sign of a chewed leaf can do more harm than good. Broad-spectrum insecticides kill helpful insects along with the harmful ones, disrupting the natural balance of your garden. For example, predators like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps keep pest populations in check. A few holes in your kale leaves might be worth it if the damage stays minor and keeps the good bugs around your garden. It’s also worth learning which insects are allies and which are threats. A diverse garden with plenty of habitat (like flowers and mulch) often manages pests more effectively than harsh chemicals ever could.
Stop Planting In Tight Rows
Orderly rows might look tidy, but they aren’t always the most efficient or natural way to grow. When plants are spaced too uniformly or too far apart, soil dries out faster and weeds will show up to fill in the gaps. Companion planting, which just means growing different compatible plants close together, mimics how plants grow naturally and offers real benefits. Companion planting works because taller plants can shade smaller ones, strong-scented herbs can keep pests out, and ground cover can help the soil hold moisture better. Interplanting also attracts a wider range of helpful insects. so it's worth reconsidering your garden layout.
Stop Throwing Away All Your Garden Scraps
Kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, coffee grounds, and fallen leaves are valuable garden resources that most people just toss in the trash. Composting these materials doesn’t just cut down on waste, but also creates rich, fertile organic matter that feeds your soil for free. You don’t need a fancy compost bin, just start a pile in a free corner of your yard. Even cold composting (without turning) will produce good results over time. Compost improves soil structure, adds nutrients, and boosts the biological activity underground. It’s one of the simplest, most effective things you can do for a healthier, more productive garden. So stop throwing out all those good scraps, and start putting them to use in your garden!
Stop Comparing Your Garden To Someone Else's
Every garden is unique. What thrives in your neighbor’s yard might struggle in yours, and that’s okay. Soil, sunlight, elevation, and microclimates can vary dramatically, even from backyard to backyard. Social media can make it feel like you need to chase a polished, picture-perfect landscape, but gardening is a process that’s not about perfection. Focus on understanding your space, your plants, and your own gardening goals. Maybe you want vegetables, flowers for pollinators, or even just a shady retreat. Progress may be slow, but it’s yours. Let go of perfection and focus on what works for you and your land.
Sometimes, More Is Less
In gardening, more isn’t always better. Less digging, less spraying, and less comparison often leads to more life, more balance, and more joy. Nature knows how to take care of itself if we allow it the space and time that it needs. When we let go of outdated habits and start observing, and learning, our garden will tell us what it wants. It's healthier, more productive, and more satisfying. Not just for the plants, but for us too. A better garden starts with better choices, and sometimes those choices are about not doing what we’ve always done.