July 08, 2026

5 Common Gardening Myths That Are Making Your Life Harder

Now that I have been actively in the field of Horticulture for nearly a decade, I have come across quite a few surprising myths that people assume are true. Most of these myths involve an extra care step that is supposed to make plants grow better. In reality, they usually just mean extra work for you for no reason. Let’s dive into 5 gardening myths making your life harder and what to do instead!

Myth 1: Plants need to be watered often, sometimes every day, to be healthy.

This is simply not true in almost every circumstance. The vast majority of the time, the best way to water plants, whether they be your garden, your lawn, your landscaping, or your houseplants, is to do it infrequently and deeply. This more closely mimics natural rainfall patterns and allows plant roots to get the moisture they need, deep in the soil, without keeping them too wet and causing root rot.

This saves you time because you likely don’t have to go out to water your garden or houseplants every single day. Depending on the plants you have and your local rainfall, you probably only need to water your garden 1-3 times per week rather than 7.

Myth 2: Adding gravel or rocks to the bottom of pots improves drainage.

While yes, water drains more easily through rocks and gravel than through potting mix, adding a layer of rock to the bottom of pots actually raises the water table inside the pot, making it easier to over- and underwater your plants and potentially harming root growth. The best thing to do is simply to use a good, well-draining potting mix and pots with adequate drainage holes.

No need to scout your yard for rocks or gravel to add to your pots. You most certainly don’t need to purchase rocks for this purpose. Save time and money by skipping this step next time you’re repotting.

Myth 3: You should be deadheading and/or pruning flowering plants constantly.

Many gardeners lament that their petunias need near-daily grooming to thrive or that they could never have a flower garden because it takes too much maintenance. The reality is that many modern cultivars are self-cleaning, and overpruning often stresses plants more than underpruning. The best thing to do is to identify what plants actually need deadheading (hint: it’s probably fewer varieties than you think) and just prune and deadhead on a seasonal schedule, not daily.

If you love being in the garden every day and keeping your plants as tidy as can be, then by all means continue. But if you begrudgingly are conducting unnecessary plant maintenance or have even avoided certain plants because you think they need too much care, please reevaluate! You likely don’t need to be in the garden every single day to enjoy beautiful blooms all season.

Myth 4: More fertilizer means faster, better growth.

Some gardeners and landscapers fall into the trap of thinking that if a little fertilizer helps, more must be even better. The truth is that if you fertilize too much, it can cause burns, stunted growth, runoff issues, and easily throw soil pH off balance. The thing to do instead is to get your soil tested at least once a season to see what your soil is truly missing, and then follow the fertilizer manufacturer's guidelines closely. Most plants only need to be fertilized once or twice a season to have optimal growth.

Save yourself time and money by fertilizing only when and as much as is actually necessary.

Myth 5: You need to till or turn your soil every season.

Many, often more old-school, gardeners assume you need to break up the soil every year before planting, or even multiple times a year if you do multiple plantings. Recent research shows that tilling disrupts soil structure, kills beneficial organisms, and brings weed seeds to the surface. You only need to till if the soil is compacted, and even then, you should only need to do it once before planting your garden and then never again if you maintain the soil properly. No-till or low-till methods have been shown to improve soil health and, therefore, plant health, without this labor- and time-intensive chore. Simply top-dress with compost and let soil biology do the work.

Skip tilling each spring to save yourself time and energy. Not only does this benefit you (and your back), but it may also improve your garden's overall health.

Garden Smarter, Not Harder

All of these myths are based on understandable reasoning, but in reality, there is a better way to care for your plants that will save you time and money. I always encourage everyone to observe their plants and learn their specific care needs rather than giving into blanket statements. Gardening can be overwhelming at times, but it’s important to take a deep breath and remember that caring for your plants can be a joy, not a chore!

Lara Wadsworth is a freelance horticulture writer with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture and over three years of experience creating engaging content about gardening and plant care. As a wife, mom, and dog lover, Lara understands the importance of balancing a busy life with a thriving garden. She values practical advice and effective strategies that empower beginners and experienced gardeners alike to grow with confidence. Through her writing, she aims to inspire othe

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