Top 5 Gardening Mistakes: Lessons Learned Over 11 Years

[@gimmeagorilla]

I am 69 now, and have gone through many transitions, including a divorce. Right now my garden is small and in containers. I’m just proud of myself for actually getting a garden going this year! Life is full of many twist and turns - you have such a great attitude! Love your videos!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you, I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying the videos. Thanks also for your kind words and encouragement. Good for you for getting your containers planted! Everything we make the effort to grow is a satisfying accomplishment.

[@loveless3578]

Girl, I feel you! I am moving in three weeks as well and it is so overwhelming. Especially after throwing all the love you can into your garden and yard, just to say goodbye to it. Change is hard but you've got this!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Wow, sorry you’re going through the moving stress as well at the moment - overwhelming is an understatement! But you’re right, we’ve got this! 🙌 We’ll be settling in soon.

[@NatureRocks.]

Girl you are not only your mama's daughter but Reed Timmer's sister giving up is never an option!! 😂 but seriously I'm glad you are hanging in there and that you are helping so many of us that want to have an awesome healthy garden! You got this! NSG🌱💪🏼

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much. Yes, never give up!! And NSG! 🌱💪 Thank you for the encouragement. 💚

[@NatureRocks.]

@@CortneyGrowsFood you're welcome 🙂

[@TracyBetts12]

Have you ever watched early videos from the channel "Good Simple Living?" They are in a totally different climate, though. But, their videos are very relaxing and fun, and have helped me through a lot of hard times. Keep up the good work. I know how hard it is to go through a divorce with 3 kids for me, and having to start all over. You are doing great mom!!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you for your comforting encouragement, and for the channel recommendation. I haven’t watched it but I’ll check it out right away - it sounds like just what I could use right now! 🤗

[@wd8545]

❤ Love your content , keep up the excellent work .

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you, I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying it. ❤️

[@8731GC]

💯👍

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

🙌🤗

[@LD__]

👏👏👏

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

🙌🌱

[@TracyBetts12]

Thanks again for your helpful content!!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you for watching. ❤️

[@WhiteDogTrailCompany]

Excellent video Courtney! I'm excited to follow you in your next garden! I have a question not related to this video but one that I've had to deal with lately. I have some raised beds that are pretty high (about 20") to try and keep rabbits out. I don't have issues with the rabbits (yet) but I have had smaller rodents burrow up from underneath and destroy some of my crops. They've basically chomped the base of the plants and killed them. I read about using peppermint or cayenne pepper to keep pests out. I did sprinkle cayenne pepper around the raised beds and in the edges of the raised beds which seems to be working for at least the last few days. Curious what you have done to keep pests out of your gardens. I know you have affiliate links so if there is something you recommend, I'd be happy to buy through your links. :)

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you for watching! I know the best way to keep them from burrowing under and up is to line the bottom of the raised bed with wire mesh before you fill it. I know, this doesn't help if you've already filled your beds. If you get desperate, I've found that covering your plants with insect cloth or bird netting helps. It's a pain, but I've gotten so frustrated that it's become worth the trouble of installing it and lifting it to access the beds. Bird netting is difficult to handle because it tangles, but the good thing is pollinators can still get through that. It's a more permanent option than having to sprinkle things around the plants every time it rains and won't chase off beneficial bugs, either.

[@levinsylverstone6347]

Thank you dear sister, may all wonderful things follow you like a shadow and fill your life with beauty, harmony and peace. I wish all the success in all endeavors now and always

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement.

[@leehoeppner1199]

Thanks for sharing both your garden & personal experience. Sometimes the best part of gardening is the excitement of starting again. Happy gardening. Lee, UK.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much for watching. I agree, it helps to make an effort to focus on the excitement of moving on and starting again. Happy gardening to you as well!

[@jackiemarsh2470]

Hi Cortney!! So Glad You Posted, i Love Your Tips and Honesty!! Ive Tried Many of Your Tips, and They have Been Such a Blessing to me!! Thank You So Much, and have a Beautiful Day and Week Sweet Friend!!❤

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Hi! Thanks so much, I’m glad they’ve been helpful to you. 🤗 I hope you have a great week! 💚

[@jackiemarsh2470]

​@CortneyGrwsFood 💚🍅

[@cindyeasterling6917]

I'm so sorry about the challenges you're going through, but I know you will prevail. You've taught me a lot about raised bed gardening. I even grew corn in a 4x8 raised bed and had great success! Here in south central Mississippi, the jungle takes over if you blink! I have found that good quality weed barrier fabric works best here. It's even under the raised beds and the plants don't seem to mind. Looking forward to your new gardening adventures! ❤

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you!! Taking it day by day. I'm so glad to hear you had success with corn in your 4x8!! Yay!!! So satisfying. 🙌 Thanks for the weed barrier tip...I am keeping that in mind as a plan if my mulching doesn't work. I'm excited to try out the free mulch-drop service in the area, too. We'll see how it goes. 🤞

[@monicahicks4337]

🙏 The Lord be with you and your family. A kind word makes love grow. Persistence keeps the garden adventure flourishing.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much, and you as well. ❤️🤗

[@PLD244]

Great advice Cortney!! God Bless you and your family! I will be watching you in your new garden.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much, and you as well. Can’t wait to get the new garden going! 🌱

[@LyleJr]

Great content as always. #neverstopgardening

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you! NSG! 🌱

[@ronalddavis5905]

Cortney you hang in there, don't give up on the dream and things will work out. I live in Gladwin, Michigan and this year so far I've not had to water one time because of all the rain, last year from the first week in June till the middle of July it never rained once. Loved the video and thanks for posting.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much. Similar weather situation here, bone dry until the past week and now it’s been raining every day! Awesome that you’re in Gladwin - I lived a little SW from there outside of Grand Rapids. I get homesick often. I miss Lake Michigan. Anyway, hope you have a great remainder of your summer!

[@ronalddavis5905]

@@CortneyGrowsFood Thank you.

[@stephaniegee227]

Good luck on the new garden!!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much! 🤗

[@bearzhere]

Best of Luck on your move and fresh start!

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you!! 🤗

[@LSpenc]

Cortney - Another great video. I know you will have another great garden at your new property. Can't wait to see it. Have you ever tried weed fabric for garden beds? The greenhouse by me uses it. Some people like it and some do not. I have been wanting to try it but haven't as I usually use hay as a mulch to keep the weeds down. As always great tips that will help. Thanks for all you do.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much!! And thank you for leaving this tip. I'll have weed fabric in mind if my mulching plan for the paths doesn't work. I'm going to try to keep the cost down by using the free mulch drop-off service in our area. I've never used it before myself, but I've heard good things! I'm glad to hear hay works for you. I noticed lots of leaves dropped around the area of our new place....I got excited because leaf litter will be a great free mulch for the tops of the beds. I'll be asking the neighbors if they mind me cleaning up their yards. 😊

[@LSpenc]

@@CortneyGrowsFood Anything free is better than paying for it especially with the costs of things now. I would definitely do the leaf litter first. I'm sure the neighbors will love you for cleaning their yards up. Have a good one. 🙂

[@rasserfrasser]

This won't help with weeds, but I've learned that sunflowers grow exceptionally well in clay soil. If you've got that kind of terrain under the top soil, it's a good bet. I've also watched videos say they're great to have, they're also really cool to look at while I make other mistakes. The biggest plant I have in the garden now is a flower. The thing could practically play point guard.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. Plant enough of them and maybe they’ll choke out the weeds. I will try anything that does well in clay soil. 😁

[@rasserfrasser]

@@CortneyGrowsFood They might. I believe they take up a lot of nitrogen. I actually threw a number of seeds in the fire pit and a number of them are growing (and not many weeds if at all) but sunflowers growing in everything might be demanding. Not sure, best of luck though. :)

[@jacquest]

This is some valuable notes and things to keep in mind. As I'm also going through health issues and hoping to recover and find a place to create an aesthetic food garden, a sort of oasis with many features. Well done to you for what you've created, the way you take responsibility for your kids. It's great values your teaching them. And thanks so much for sharing all of this this with us.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much for your kind compliments. I do hope my kids will have lots of good memories growing up in the garden! I know they love the food. 😊 Best wishes as you look for your healing garden space. Your vision of a therapeutic oasis sounds amazing. Don't give up, you'll get there! Thank you for watching my videos, and I'm glad they've been helpful.

[@jacquest]

@@CortneyGrowsFood they sure will remember it. 😊Thank you for taking the time to reply everyone.

[@anthonytheunissen7454]

Hi Courtney hope to here from you great video. I feel for you what you are going threw. You are strong and you are going to start a new journey. ❤ 🙏🤗 Anthony from South Africa Western Cape

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much for the encouragement!! Looking forward to getting this new garden started and sharing all that I learn. 🤗❤️

[@heikkijaakkoremes8690]

🥦🍓🍎🌻💕

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

💚🌱🙌

[@BackyardRevivalGarden]

Oh my, I never heard of someone intentionally planting bermuda grass. Mulch helps, but I also just don't consider a weed a weed until its competing with something. One thing I plan to do for bermuda in my ground garden is to install a rhyzome barrier on the perimeter. My biggest mistake has been the light available in my location.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

I know, right?! If I had known about Bermuda grass, I’d have done everything to avoid it like the plague. It is a plague. 🤣😭 I agree about weeds, I look the other way unless they’re causing trouble but they literally take over a space so fast here. I don’t think I’ll have as much light at my new location as I’ve had at the current one. Definitely a challenge but one that’s often out of our control if we don’t have a brighter spot available! We do our best. 💪🌱

[@BackyardRevivalGarden]

@@CortneyGrowsFood Indeed, as long as we get outside, something good is going on :)

[@itraylor]

Great information, thank you for sharing these invaluable experiences so others can mitigate the same "happy accidents" ha-ha! How many raised beds do you think you can manage yourself given other responsibilities?

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thank you!! In the new space I think I'm starting out with three 4x8, one 2x8, and really utilizing grow bags. I have ten 10-gallon ones that are great for a lot of things. Even if you start out with one or two 4x8 and grow bags, while getting everything figured out (soil, irrigation, mulch, etc.), you can grow a lot to get started. Then if needed, you can scale up as you figure out how much food you'll get over the span of a year with the original space. Vertical growing with trellises really saves time and space, too.

[@chickenmama4384]

Great advice. So sorry about your divorce. Hope the move will be a wonderful new start for you.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Thanks so much. Excited for this next chapter and new garden start!

[@chickenmama4384]

@@CortneyGrowsFood I cannot wait to see your new garden set up.

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

@chickenmama4384 Thank you!

[@davidstrom9076]

How connected are you with community? I hope you're able to find and use gratitude...❤

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Very much, we have a wonderful tight-knit community. I’m grateful to be able to stay in the same area! Thank you for watching and for leaving a comment. 💚

[@davidstrom9076]

@@CortneyGrowsFood KZbin sucks a**! Lol🤣 I suppose if you just stick to talking about farming and not calling out the powers that be, they won't use the algorithm to screw with your channel.🥰

[@CortneyGrowsFood]

Yep.