Five Gardening Mistakes

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

Much of gardening is learned by trial and error - that means, from mistakes. We have all been in that situation.

The good news is we can learn from other people's mistakes and our own.

Associated Press garden writer Jessica Damiano has this advice: "First, we need to admit we're not perfect."

Many years ago, Damiano planted some morning glory seeds near the front gate of her garden. The seeds are often called a "fast-grower" and "self-sower." She was sure the vine would immediately bloom with leaves and flowers.

But, the morning glory did its job too well. She now spends about a half hour every week during summer pulling up seedlings that grow as far as 15 meters away.

Damiano said that was not her only trial and error in gardening. One summer, she planted some mint in a garden bed instead of a container. But the mint jumped the garden bed and spread everywhere. By the third year, Damiano had to dig up the whole bed to remove it. She learned not to plant invasive plants.

Here is a list of Damiano's five common gardening mistakes with advice on how to avoid them.

Not testing soil

Having the right pH level, a measure of acidity, for the soil is important for gardening success. Tomatoes, for example, grow best in soil with a pH between 6.0-6.8. Blueberry plants, however, will likely turn yellow and produce little if the pH is higher than 5.5.

That is because nutrients are available to plants only at target pH levels, which are different for each kind of plant.

Test kits for pH are not costly and you should test the soil in each garden bed individually. The pH level is often not the same in different parts of the garden. A reading of 7.0 is considered neutral. A lower number means the soil is acidic and a higher number means it is a base.

It is best to select plants that do well in your garden conditions.

Watering correctly

Most garden plants require 2.5 to nearly four centimeters of water weekly. The water could come from rainfall or from your home.

Mold, mildew and bacterial diseases, however, could spread if too much water becomes trapped between plant parts. Too much water can spread these problems from infected leaves to healthy ones.

Make sure to direct water to roots, where it is needed. Avoid watering leaves, fruit and flowers.

Skipping compost

Compost, made of food or plant waste, is a gardener's best friend. It improves the drainage of heavy clay soil, increases the water-holding ability of sand and adds high-quality nutrients.

Add compost into new beds and borders, or add an amount equal to half the removed soil to individual planting holes.

Wrong plant, wrong place

A plant that needs "full sun" will likely disappoint if planted in an area without sunshine. The same is true the other way around. And do not put "drought-tolerant" plants, or plants that can survive long periods without water, in "poorly-draining, soggy soil."

Choose the plants that are right for your growing conditions. The result will be a better-looking, healthier garden that requires less care and less work.

Improper mulching

Mulch is material made out of old leaves, wood or compost. It can keep water and heat in the soil. It also suppresses unwanted plants, or weeds. So, it is an important part of every garden.

Mulching incorrectly, however, can kill your plants.

Always use mulch from natural materials such as tree bark, wood chips, straw or pine needles. They enrich the soil as they break down.

Add five to seven centimeters of mulch around plants several times a year. Keep the material about seven centimeters away from trunks and stems to avoid blocking air and preventing water from escaping, which would result in rot.

I'm Dan Friedell.

VOCABULARY

1. vine n. any climbing plant with long thin stems; one of these stems 藤本植物；攀缘植物

2. mint n. a plant with dark green leaves that have a fresh smell and taste and are added to food and drinks to give flavour, and used in cooking as a herb and to decorate food 薄荷。例如：mint-flavoured toothpaste薄荷味的牙膏

3. invasive adj. (especially of diseases within the body 尤指体内疾病) spreading very quickly and difficult to stop 侵入的；侵袭的

4. acidic adj. containing acid 酸性的。例如：acidic soil酸性土壤

5. compost n. a mixture of decayed plants, food, etc. that can be added to soil to help plants grow 混合肥料

6. soggy adj. wet and soft, usually in a way that is unpleasant 湿而软的；潮湿的；受潮的

7. mulch n. material, for example, decaying leaves, that you put around a plant to protect its base and its roots, to improve the quality of the soil or to stop weeds growing 覆盖物，护根（用以保护植物根基、改善土质或防止杂草生长）

8. rot n. the process or state of decaying and falling apart 腐烂；腐败变质。例如：The wood must not get damp as rot can quickly result. 木头不能受潮，否则很快就会烂掉。

QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements. 

1. Having the right pH level, a measure of acidity, for the soil is important for gardening success. 

2. Test kits for pH are costly and you should test the soil in each garden bed individually. 

3. Most garden plants require 2.5 to nearly 4 centimeters of water monthly. 

4. Make sure to don’t direct water to roots, and avoid watering leaves, fruit and flowers.

5. Compost could improve the drainage of heavy clay soil, decrease the water-holding ability of sand and add high-quality nutrients.

6. A plant that needs "full sun" will likely disappoint if planted in an area without sunshine. 

7. Mulch can keep water and heat in the soil and suppress unwanted plants, or weeds. 

KEY 

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.

(T) 1. Having the right pH level, a measure of acidity, for the soil is important for gardening success. 

(F) 2. Test kits for pH are costly and you should test the soil in each garden bed individually. （正确表达）Test kits for pH are not costly and you should test the soil in each garden bed individually. 

(F) 3. Most garden plants require 2.5 to nearly 4 centimeters of water monthly.（正确表达）Most garden plants require 2.5 to nearly 4 centimeters of water weekly. 

(F) 4. Make sure not to direct water to roots, and avoid watering leaves, fruit and flowers.（正确表达）Make sure to direct water to roots, and avoid watering leaves, fruit and flowers.

(F) 5. Compost could improve the drainage of heavy clay soil, decrease the water-holding ability of sand and add high-quality nutrients.（正确表达）Compost could improve the drainage of heavy clay soil, increase the water-holding ability of sand and add high-quality nutrients.

(T) 6. A plant that needs "full sun" will likely disappoint if planted in an area without sunshine. 

(T) 7. Mulch can keep water and heat in the soil and suppress unwanted plants, or weeds.