My garden is an experiment. 
I'd almost say accidental experiment. Like, I accidentally forget to water my new bougainvillea, accidentally plant my ninebarks too close, and "accidentally" plant my beloved hydrangeas, in full sun.
But really, there's a explanation to my self-proclaimed madness: I'm a little bit lazy (thus the lack of watering), I succumb to instant gratification for privacy sake (sorry ninebarks), and dammit, I wanted hydrangeas on the south side of my house and I was going to have 'em.
Despite my stubbornness, there are teachable moments in my garden. In the interest of seeing gardens flourish everywhere, I'm sharing my most embarrassing mistakes so you don't have to suffer as I do.
Mistake #1 Holeless Containers
Member that lil bit up there ^^^ where I said I'm a lazy waterer. I like to make my plants work for their water, send their little roots out into the soil searching for their water source. Thus, I let plants wilt in the landscape and never punched holes in my containers. For a few years, I was a complete genius.
Until we had a really wet spring. And my beautiful flowers died. Lesson learned. Punch holes in your container bottoms to allow access water to escape, salvaging the livelihood of your plants.
Also, an old "trick" that won't die: Placing pebbles at base of your container doesn't work. Don't do it. Not only will it make your container heavier than hell, it won't keep the excess water from rising, flooding your plants' roots.
Mistake #2 Transplanting in the Middle of Summer
Like I said, I experiment. And if I want to move a plant, I better do it when I have the motivation, or it will never happen. So, sometimes my motivation kicks in July, as it did a last year when I thought it was a good time to transplant my peonies. I didn't necessarily care if the plant didn't bloom the following year, I just needed to make sure there was enough room for other plants. The problem was, the transplanted peony was in a berm, far from the house, thus far from the water source -- and you all know how I like to water. It was not a wise move, pun intended.
Pro Tip: If you absolutely HAVE to move that plant and it's not during the cool season, consider cutting the foliage back to 4-6 inches to allow the plant to concentrate on the roots. And water. You'll need to water regularly until rooted.
Pro Tip #2: Sometimes Google is your best friend. A quick search sent me to Better Homes and Gardens' website (naturally) for tips on successfully transplanting peonies. Read 'em here >>>. And while I was there, this article was helpful, too >>>
Mistake #3 Planting More Than You Can Handle
Admittingly so, I'm obsessed with plants. While this makes me somewhat good at my job, it also lends to a not-so-big-and-bad garden. Every spring I get all giddy, like a school girl, imagining the possibilities of how my garden might look with each and every plant that catches my eye.
Well, that's a trap. Cause come July, I'm cursing myself for creating an environment dependant on watering up to three times a week. That's too much watering, especially for an Iowa garden.
Pro Tip: Only plant what you KNOW you can water successfully throughout the whole season -- without cutting into your "just chillin" time.
Mistake #4 Planting For Instant Gratification
This mistake kind of goes with mistake #3 up ^^^ there.
When you pack 'em in there, the soil dries out quicker, thus you're watering your plants more...and more....and MORE! Maybe even every other day! I'm not a patient person, but I'm pleading for you to be one. If only to conserve water.
Pro Tip: Read the plant descriptions, get an understanding of how large a plant will grow in a season, and plant accordingly. Or, use a big ass container, and don't worry about it.
OR - consider using Suntory Flowers' awesome container garden designing app. Here's the link >>>. Let it do the work you don't have time for.
Just as this ridiculous story starts, treat your garden as an experiment. It's kind of like when I experiment in the kitchen. Sometimes the casserole turns out scrumptious, can't get enough of it. Sometimes the family barely chokes it down. And sometimes, the smoke detector goes off. Often, I'm experimenting the next night, with a new recipe in hopes they'll try a bite, or two.
Do this with your garden. This year, as pictured above, I experimented with our new JoeJoe anigozanthos (which I love, by the way) as well as designing an orange and pink palette. Love that combo, too.
What's been your biggest and baddest mistake you've made gardening -- or food wise?
