6 Gardening Habits That Are Hurting Your Plants, According to Horticulturists

There are many gardening habits you should break this year because they are harming your plants. Some of these practices stress or eventually kill your beloved plants—and in some cases, you don’t even know these practices are bad.

This is why we’ve reached out to horticulturists to find out what common gardening habits you should break and why.

Planting in the Heat of the Day

Planting during the baking midday sun is one of the worst gardening habits to fall into.

“When you transplant during peak heat hours, you’re asking your plants to handle two major stressors simultaneously, transplant shock and heat stress,” says plant expert Debbie Neese.

Instead of planting during high heat, Neese recommends scheduling your planting sessions for early morning or late afternoon, when temperatures are cooler. This way, your plants will be able to establish and take root without battling extreme conditions from the get-go.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Digging Holes Too Big for Your Plant

Bigger isn’t always better. Case in point, digging holes for new garden plants shouldn’t be much larger than the plant’s root ball.

“Many gardeners believe that deeper is better, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” says Neese.

When you plant too deep, you’re essentially burying your plant alive, she says, constraining oxygen flow to the roots and potentially causing crown rot.

Instead, dig your hole to the same height as the plant in its container, minus half an inch for proper drainage. Then backfill the hole with loose, amended soil rather than compacted earth to keep roots healthy and happy.

Using Too Much Fertilizer

Of course you want your plants to grow and thrive, but overfeeding them fertilizer can have repercussions.

“Over-fertilizing can burn roots, promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers or fruit, and even make plants more susceptible to pests and diseases,” says Neese.

As an alternative, you should follow fertilizer package directions carefully, understand fertilizer numbers, and remember that slow-release fertilizers are often more forgiving than quick-release options. Your plants will reward you with steady, healthy growth rather than the boom-and-bust cycle that comes with fertilizer overload.

Push Pause on the Annual Planting Rush

Sometimes enthusiasm for spring planting can lead to planting annuals too early in the season. Neese recommends leaning into springtime planting instead of leaping in headfirst.

“That beautiful flat of impatiens might look tempting in March, but one unexpected frost can wipe out your entire investment overnight,” she warns.

So, always wait until after the last frost in your area before planting annuals. At the same time, you don’t want to wait too long to plant spring bulbs.

Stop Over and Under Watering

It seems like a no-brainer to avoid, but it’s very easy to over- or underwater garden plants.

“One of the top concerns for beginner gardeners is making sure their plants are getting enough water,” says landscaping expert Ward Dilmore.

As a result, many home gardeners overwater. Overwatering (and underwatering, for that matter) is one of the top killers for plants, so understanding when to water outdoor plants and getting a good watering schedule set up is key to ensuring your plants thrive.

Overwatering can also encourage plant disease and fungi that can quickly kill plants, making this bad gardening habit a potentially deadly one. 

Don’t Plant Invasive Species

Low maintenance plants that thrive is the gold standard when it comes to qualities gardeners are looking for in plants. However, many beginner gardeners will unintentionally choose common invasive plants that they see thriving in their landscape, says Dilmore.

These plants can take over a garden and push out native plants pollinators and other beneficial insects and animals rely on. Be sure to do your research on plants that are considered invasive in your area and choose local native plants, which are lower maintenance and easy to grow plants that will thrive in your garden anyway.