Splendor in the crabgrass: Mistakes beginning gardeners make
But suddenly I had hollyhocks, 6' tall in back, and no sweet alyssum at all. Of course I saw no zinnias, nor did I see any nasturtiums and cosmos. But I had oriental poppies coming up and blooming, and lupine. And a lot of nasty yarrow that kept popping up everywhere in the bed no matter how many times I pulled it up.
If I had done my homework, I wouldn't have been surprised at any of this, nor would I have so unfairly maligned the seed company.
First, I should have learned some good, basic facts about seed starting. One of the best guides to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about seeds is by Travis Saling.
Second, I failed to properly prepare the soil. I just scratched it up and planted, without first letting any ungerminated weed seeds show their ugly heads. I didn't amend the soil, or mulch. In fact, I left those little seeds both hungry and defenseless. The NSCU horticulture gopher gives some good hints on preparing and mulching.
Third, I failed to acquaint myself with the flowers I was planting. Since I had no idea, beyond the catalog description, what they were eventually going to look like, I had no idea whether the green things that sprouted each spring were friends or foes.
Fourth, I failed to realize that there is a difference between an annual, a biennial and a perennial. Biennials and perennials can rarely be expected to bloom the first year; annuals can't be expected to bloom the second year if you pick them for vases instead of letting them go to seed to make new plants.
Finally, I failed to realize that plants do go to seed. I didn't care for the yarrow in that wildflower mix--as a cut flower it tended to leave little white flakes all over my tabletops. So I left it to its own devices, and in my absence it scattered its progeny all over the yard. They are still popping up, 14 years later.
And, 14 years later, I know the how to prepare a planting bed properly, and what to expect from an annual versus a perennial versus a biennial. Even better, with every passing season I recognize more and more weeds as they emerge, without having to head for a plant encyclopedia. Most importantly, I have learned never to take on a gardening project without doing a
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