3 Clever Ways Smart Gardeners Stop Plants Dying

It’s common to think that successful gardeners have green thumbs – they’re just lucky with plants. But I’m going to reveal the three techniques smart gardeners use every year that practically guarantee bigger, better crops…

1. Create Sensational Soil

If I had to pick just one skill that makes the most difference, it would be learning how to create fabulous soil. It doesn’t matter what you’re starting with – whether dust-like sandy soil, wet-and-claggy clay, or something in-between – you can build great soil with a little patience and love.

The first thing to do is to pick up a handful of soil and squeeze it. Sandy soil has larger particle sizes, which water drains through really well – though sometimes too well, because nutrients can leach out along with it. Clay, on the other hand, is made up of tiny, densely-packed particles that enable it to hold onto water for a long time, which can make it hard for plant roots to thrive. The solution for both, and indeed any soil, is to add plenty of organic matter, such as compost, well-matured manure or aged leaves.

Over time, this will break up the compacted structure of clay, creating air pockets that enhance drainage and make it easier for roots to push through. This same organic matter will help to improve sandy soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients by helping to bind it together. Even ‘perfect’ loamy soil, which has a good balance of sand, silt and clay, will benefit from extra organic matter.

Basically, when it comes to great soil, it’s simply a matter of whacking on the organic matter! I like to add mine in early winter. Here’s a particularly useful tip that saves a lot of time and effort: you don’t need to dig organic matter in. Instead, lay it directly onto the soil surface to a depth of about an inch (3cm). Earthworms will drag this down and can essentially do the digging for you!

Improving soil is not just a winter job. Adding organic matter during the growing season is also worthwhile because it helps keep moisture locked into the soil when the weather’s hot, and protects plant roots against extreme temperature fluctuations. Over time, it will decompose and as it gradually becomes incorporated it will enrich the soil with essential nutrients, supporting healthier growth.

Even if your soil is very poor, it’s not a lost cause. Over time, regular additions of compost, manure or leaves, applied whenever you get the chance, can dramatically improve it. But if you want instant results, consider filling and planting up raised beds to create areas of ideal growing medium.

2. Guarantee Healthy Seedlings

Once your soil is well-fed, the next key to success is to raise strong seedlings. It all starts with acquiring high-quality seeds from a reputable supplier, and sowing them at the right time. If you’re unsure about the best time to start seeds, check out our Garden Planner app, which creates a personalised schedule of when to sow and plant for your local area as you add plants to your plan.

I rarely buy seed-starting mixes as they are a bit pricey; instead, I just sieve or screen multi-purpose potting mix to sow into. Unless you’re sowing directly outside of course, don’t use garden soil, which may carry the risk of diseases when used for filling pots and trays. Purpose-sold potting mixes are sterile and ensure germinating seeds have access to adequate oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, which are crucial for germination and early root development.

Meet Seedlings’ Basic Needs

Seedlings need consistent light, moisture and warmth to thrive. In winter, natural sunlight is not strong enough for most seedlings, especially those of warm-season vegetables – which is where my next tip comes in. You’ll grow much stronger seedlings if you use grow lights to provide an optimal range of 12-16 hours of light per day. Position the lights close to the seedlings, but not near enough to cause overheating.

Keep the potting mix or soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, because excess water can cause root rot and damping off. Ideal temperatures for most seedlings range from around 60-75ºF (15-24ºC). Using a seedling heat mat can help maintain consistent warmth during the germination stage, making germination both faster, and better.

Encourage Stronger Growth

Once seedlings sprout, ensure good airflow around them to prevent mould and fungal diseases. I achieve this in the greenhouse by leaving windows and doors open on milder days.

Seedlings naturally become stronger over time, especially with the gentle rustle and tussle of wind. But in an enclosed environment there is, of course, no wind, so you could use small fan on a low setting. Alternatively, I simply run my hand gently over the top of the seedlings occasionally to mimic that resistance from the wind and encourage stronger stems and better-anchored roots.

As seedlings grow you’ll need to thin out the weakest to avoid overcrowding, leaving the strongest seedlings behind to flourish. Before transplanting outdoors, harden off indoor-raised seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for around seven to ten days. This step gives them time acclimatise to wind, sunlight and temperature changes so they’re well adapted by the time they’re transplanted outdoors permanently.

3. Give Plants the Best Chance to Thrive

With those healthy, standing-to-attention seedlings ready to roll, how can we grow them on into truly thriving plants that will give us the biggest and best harvests?

Avoid Overcrowding

Spacing is so important to avoid overcrowding, which would reduce airflow and increase the risk of pests and diseases. Follow recommended planting distances to make sure each plant receives sufficient sunlight, water, and nutrients without competing with its neighbours. It’s all too easy to push the boundaries too far in our enthusiasm to cram more plants in! Our Garden Planner makes this simple – as you add plants to your plan, it automatically spaces them and calculates how many you can fit into each bed.

Protect Seedlings From Birds

Early in spring, small seedlings make the perfect snack for hungry birds like pigeons. It’s often worth covering young plants with netting or mesh until they’re big and strong enough to fend for themselves. Plus, keep a few extra plants back when planting in case the first ones get eaten!

Water Consistently

Most vegetables need consistent moisture to support steady growth and, in time, effortless fruit, pod, bulb or leaf production. Water deeply, aiming for around 1-2 inches (3-5cm) of water per week, depending on weather conditions and how big your plants are. Mulching around the base of plants will help to retain moisture, reduce evaporation, and regulate soil temperature.

Feed Hungry Plants

Properly prepared soil, lavished with plenty of organic matter, shouldn’t really need any additional fertilisers or soil amendments, but there’s no harm in incorporating natural, organic fertilisers like blood, fish and bonemeal, chicken manure, or a plant-based alternative when required. Additional feeds will help to support particularly hungry plants like tomatoes, squash or cabbages for optimal growth.

Watch Out for Pests and Diseases

Prevention is much better than a cure when it comes to pests and diseases. I prefer to use natural preventative pest control methods, such as growing companion plants like calendula and sweet alyssum to attract ladybirds and other beneficial insects.

Inspect vegetables regularly for signs of pests or diseases, and remove affected plant material promptly to stop problems spreading.

Crop rotation is another effective strategy that will help prevent soil-borne pests and diseases. Specific pests and diseases often target plants from the same crop family, so by rotating them to a new spot in your garden each season, you can reduce the risk of problems being transferred to the next crop. And, believe me, this will really help ensure healthier, more resilient plants! The Garden Planner can help with that by warning you of where crops from the same family grew in previous years, so you can choose a different location for the current growing season.

Whether you’re busy planning your first garden, or your 100th, I invite you to try out the Garden Planner. Our 7 day trial is completely free, there’s no need to input any payment details, and you can print off your plan and planting schedule to keep forever if you want to. Happy planning!