Aug 22, 2018
Your plants, like your children, require the right conditions to grow up in if they are to blossom and flourish, and they also need a lot of tender loving, care and attention on your part. Lacking this they quickly wither away and die. But be careful - sometimes, being over-cared for can also be a reason for their demise.
Here are 6 common reasons your garden may be dying:
1. Under-watering
Water is the elixir of life as far as your garden is concerned. There is no surer way to kill your plants than to dehydrate them. And unfortunately, if the soil holding your plants is neglected long enough, it may not be able to be revived.
Sometimes soil can become so dehydrated and dry, that it is no longer capable of retaining any moisture. The best way to ensure your plants remain well watered and hydrated is to create a watering schedule – and stick to it! Make it part of your daily routine.
And remember to get someone to water your plants for you when you go away on holiday! Although you might be relaxing on some remote island, your plants are still at home growing away.
2. Over-watering
Spoiling your plants and caring for them too much could also be the reason your garden is nibbling or, in worst case scenario, dying. Over-watering your plants is another trap you don’t want to fall into.
You should always be monitoring the condition of your garden’s soil – if it feels and looks dry (light colored and thin), then water it asap. However, if it feels moist and has a rich, brown color, then you can probably stand to leave it a while.
Also take note that water requirements differ from plant to plant, so follow the specific instructions for your plant and you should be on your way to having beautiful, thriving plants.
3. Under-feeding
Your plants need food – the nutrients provided by fertilizer – as well as water, so remember not to starve your plants either.
If your plants look stunted in appearance, and have a lackluster sheen, then chances are they are under-nourished. Feed them some nutrients as soon as you can and your plants should recover and regain their vitality in a matter of days.
4. Not maintaining your garden
Your plants also need a good haircut now and then – not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because dead foliage and blooms need to be cleared away so that new life can grow in their place.
Therefore make sure you snip off those old, withered leaves and branches, so your plant can grow new ones in their place.
Cut off the dead leaves and branches as close to the stem of the plant as you can using shears that have been sterilized with rubbing alcohol or an antiseptic. This will ensure that you don't damage the parts of the plant that are still healthy and thriving. But when it comes to pruning dead blooms, make sure you cut off the whole flower stalk not just the bulb itself, because this will ensure that your plant doesn't spend unnecessary energy trying to grow new blooms on dead stems.
5. Overlooking insects
Keep an eye out for unwanted visitors in your garden, and in particular for holes in the leaves of the plants – that’s a sure sign that hungry insects are present.
Don’t let these cheeky free-loaders take advantage of all your hard work and make a feast out of your garden, protect your plants instead by employing the services of a good insect spray.
Many organic varieties are now available on the market if you don’t like the thought of exposing your plants to toxic chemicals. But don’t sweat it if you can’t find organic – non-organic sprays have long been the industry standard and will definitely help you rid your plants of insects without damaging them.
How to tell a good insect spray from a bad one? It depends on a few factors. First and foremost you need to figure out if you want to employ a fully-natural spray or if you don't mind using something a bit more synthetic. After that, it all comes down to the insects your plant is suffering from and which sprays will help you get rid of them.
Different ingredients will get rid of different pests, so make sure that the insect spray you chose has active ingredients that are meant for combating the pests your plant actually has. And checking what other people are saying about the product can also give you a good indication of a spray’s effectiveness.
6. Wrong environment
Lastly, remember that each plant has different light and temperature requirements, so be alert to the tell-tale signs that you are over-exposing your plants to heat or sunlight. The most common of these signs are plants taking on a wilting, brownish color.
Or alternatively, your plants might need more sunlight or warmer environment. For instance, if you observe that your plant’s stem appears to be craning towards the sun, then it probably needs more light.
Follow these simple steps for your greenery, and you should be on your way to maintaining a healthy garden in no time!
About the author: Ben Thorton is an avid gardener and editor-in-chief for T5Fixtures.com, a blog covering everything from gardening tips and advice to how to choose the best T5 grow lights or greenhouses for your needs. Check him out on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest by searching @T5Fixtures!