Beginner Gardener: 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Error 1: watering too much or too little

Many beginner gardeners think that watering every day is necessarily beneficial. It’s understandable: we want to do well, imagining that more water equals better health for the young plant. However, excess water can cause as much damage as a lack of it.

Why is this a problem?

Overwatering can suffocate the roots. Indeed, roots need oxygen, and constantly waterlogged soil prevents them from breathing. This also encourages diseases, such as root rot. Conversely, a lack of water weakens the young plant, slows its growth and can cause it to wither. Finding the right balance is therefore essential.

How to avoid this?

• Observe your soil: before watering, touch the earth. Is it still moist? Dry on the surface but damp underneath? This single observation will give you a first indication.
• Adjust watering to the young plant and the season: not all plants have the same needs. A cactus won’t be nearly as thirsty as a hydrangea, for example. Similarly, in summer, evaporation is faster than in winter, and water requirements vary depending on the weather. Research the specific needs of each young plant and adjust your actions accordingly.
• Use your finger as a “moisture tester”: it’s a very simple trick, but incredibly effective: push your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If it comes out dry, water. If it’s still moist, wait a bit. With practice, you’ll develop a good “feeling” for knowing when your plants truly need water.

Too much or not enough? Watering is a matter of getting the balance right.

Error 2: Choosing the wrong young plants for your environment

When starting out in gardening, it’s very common to choose a plant simply because it’s pretty or fashionable. You spot it in the garden centre, it looks in perfect health, and you buy it without really asking any questions. However, not all plants have the same requirements: some love scorching sun, others prefer cool conditions, some tolerate cold well, others not at all.

Why is this a problem?

A plant that’s poorly suited to its environment won’t thrive, even with proper care. It may quickly show signs of weakness, catch diseases, or simply not survive. So it’s not necessarily due to lack of attention on your part, but rather a question of compatibility between the plant and your growing conditions.

How to avoid this?

• Get to know your environment

• • Which region do you live in? Is the climate rather cold, mild, humid or dry?

  • Is your garden or balcony in full sun, shade, or partial shade?

  • What type of soil do you have? Sandy, clay, chalky, well-drained?

• Observe light exposure: note how many hours of direct light your space receives daily. A plant needing 6 hours of sunlight won’t last long in a shady corner.
• Choose plants suited to your situation: based on your observations, opt for plants that will thrive in your conditions. You’ll find many resources (online, in garden centres or books) to learn which species suit your climate, soil type and available sunlight. Our site’s Plantfit, plant right!, app can help you choose the right plant for your garden.

As Beth Chatto, the famous British gardener, used to say: “Right plant, right place.”
This is a fundamental gardening principle. By following it, you’ll maximise your chances of successful planting, with more vigorous, beautiful and easier-to-maintain plants.

Oleanders are magnificent when in flower, but can’t be grown everywhere in France in open ground.

Error 3: Planting too close together

When starting out in gardening, there’s often a temptation to fill the space as much as possible. We plant densely, with plants close together, so that the garden or planters immediately look well-stocked. It’s a natural impulse, but it’s not always a good long-term strategy.

Why is this a problem?

Plants placed too close together will compete with each other. They’ll vie for light, water and soil nutrients. The result? They grow less vigorously. Moreover, overcrowding prevents proper air circulation between foliage, creating a humid environment ideal for diseases like powdery mildew or mould. Not to mention increased pest risks.

How to avoid this?

• Follow recommended spacing: plant labels or cultivation guides often indicate planting distances. This isn’t trivial – these recommendations account for the plant’s natural growth. Even if young plants seem small and widely spaced initially, give them room to grow!
• Consider mature plant size: before planting, research each plant’s ultimate height and spread. This prevents having to move plants later or dealing with overcrowding. A little patience initially leads to a balanced, harmonious and healthy garden over time.

Error 4: neglecting the soil

It is often mistakenly thought that the soil is merely a neutral support in which we plant. However, the opposite is true: the soil is a living ecosystem. It nourishes, supports, and protects plants. Neglecting it is like trying to grow a plant without providing the right foundations.

Why is this a problem?

Poor, overly compacted, or poorly drained soil can lead to growth issues, deficiencies, and encourage the appearance of diseases. Roots struggle to develop, water stagnates or drains poorly, and plants become more vulnerable. Even a robust plant may struggle to thrive in unsuitable soil.

How to avoid this?

• Amend the soil regularly: to keep the soil fertile, it needs nourishment. Regularly add compost, potting mix, or organic amendments. These additions not only improve the soil’s richness but also its structure, aeration, and water retention.
• Learn to recognise your soil’s nature: before planting, take the time to test your soil’s texture. Is it light and sandy? Heavy and clayey? Fine and sticky? Each soil type has its advantages and constraints. By understanding your soil, you can adapt your planting choices and amendments. For an accurate assessment, nothing beats a professional soil analysis.
• Consider mulching: mulching (spreading natural materials like straw, dead leaves, grass clippings, or shredded branches over the soil) is an excellent ally: it protects the soil from the sun, reduces evaporation, suppresses weed growth, and, as it decomposes, naturally enriches the soil.

A comprehensive soil analysis will save you a lot of trouble.

Error 5: Forgetting basic maintenance

Once planting is done, it’s tempting to think that the hardest part is behind you and that the plant will now take care of itself. This is sometimes true for certain very hardy species, but in the vast majority of cases, a minimum of regular maintenance is essential.

Why is this a problem?

Without maintenance, plants can quickly become exhausted. Some continue to produce flowers or fruits without interruption, which weakens them if they’re not given a little help. Others spread too much, invade space or become unsightly. In addition, dead or damaged leaves that accumulate can encourage the appearance of diseases or parasitic organisms. A little regular maintenance can prevent many problems.

How to avoid this?

Learn a few simple techniques

You don’t need to become a pruning expert to maintain your plants well. A few basic techniques are enough:

• Light pruning to restore a beautiful shape to the plant and stimulate its growth.

• Pinching young shoots (i.e. cutting the tips of stems with your fingers) to encourage branching and achieve a denser habit.

• Removing faded flowers (known as “deadheading”) to encourage the plant to produce new flowers, rather than wasting energy forming seeds.

Observe your plants regularly

The gardener’s best tool is observation. By spending a few minutes each week looking at your plants, you’ll quickly spot signs of weakness, the beginnings of insect invasion or the need for pruning. This gentle routine allows you to intervene at the right time, without stress or major work.

Error 6: wanting to go too fast

When starting out in gardening, enthusiasm is often high. And that’s a good thing! But this momentum can sometimes lead to wanting to do too many things at once: creating a vegetable patch, planting hedges, installing a flower bed, trying out sowing, looking after houseplants… The result is that you quickly find yourself overwhelmed.

Why is this a problem?

Taking on multiple projects at once can lead to fatigue, frustration or discouragement. Things don’t always go as planned in the garden, and faced with an overload of work or successive failures, motivation can quickly wane. Gardening should remain a pleasure, not a source of stress.

How to avoid this?

• Start small and simple: it’s better to successfully manage a small container garden or a modest vegetable patch than to spread yourself too thin across ten poorly managed projects. By focusing on your top priorities, you take the time to learn and adapt.
• Learn as you go: gardening is an activity where you learn a great deal through experience. Each season brings its own discoveries. Don’t try to master everything at once: observe, test, adjust. This is how you’ll develop a true relationship with your plants.
• Enjoy each step: rather than aiming for immediate results, savour the process. Preparing the soil, watching a seed germinate, pruning a plant at the right time… each action has its value. It’s these simple moments that make gardening so rewarding.

Start small! It’s better to have a few vegetables growing than an entire vegetable patch that’s a complete failure.

Error 7: Not learning from your mistakes

Making mistakes in the garden is completely normal. It’s even an essential part of the learning process. No gardener, however experienced, has ever got everything right first time. Some young plants die, others don’t flower, some shoots appear in unlikely places… and that’s absolutely fine.

The important thing is to observe, experiment, and above all, not to get discouraged. Gardening isn’t an exact science, it’s an adventure full of trials, surprises, occasional failures… but mostly simple joys and satisfaction. Each season brings a new chance to do better, try something different, or simply enjoy the living world around you.

Remember that every young plant has something to teach you. It will speak to you in its own way, if you take the time to listen. So stay curious, be kind… and have fun!