VOA健康报道2022--避免这五个园艺错误

Avoid These Five Gardening Mistakes

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 seedlings¹ 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 mint² 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 acidity³, 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 nutrients⁴ are available to plants only at target pH levels, which are different for each kind of plant.

Test kits⁵ for pH are not costly⁶ 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, mildew⁷ and bacterial⁸ 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 drainage⁹ 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.

Improper¹⁰ mulching

Mulch is material made out of old leaves, wood or compost. It can keep water and heat in the soil. It also suppresses¹¹ 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 enrich¹² 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 stems¹³ to avoid blocking air and preventing water from escaping, which would result in rot.

Words in This Story

drainage –n. the act or process of removing or pulling water out of or away from soil or some other material

soggy –adj. heavy and soft with water

rot –n. the slow break down of wood or similar materials because of water

1 seedlings   

n.刚出芽的幼苗( seedling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ninety-five per cent of the new seedlings have survived. 新栽的树苗95%都已成活。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In such wet weather we must prevent the seedlings from rotting. 这样的阴雨天要防止烂秧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 mint   

n.薄荷，铸币厂；vt.铸造（硬币），创造（词）等

参考例句：

• The mint makes coins.铸币厂制造硬币。
• This candy tastes of mint.这糖果有薄荷味。

3 acidity   

n.酸度，酸性

参考例句：

• This plant prefers alkaline soil,though it will readily tolerate some acidity.这种植物在酸性土壤中也能生存，但硷性土壤更加适宜。
• Gastric acidity would not prevent the organism from passing into the gut.胃的酸度不能防止细菌进入肠道。

4 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 mildew   

n.发霉；v.（使）发霉

参考例句：

• The interior was dark and smelled of mildew.里面光线很暗，霉味扑鼻。
• Mildew may form in this weather.这种天气有可能发霉。

8 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。

9 drainage   

n.排水系统，下水道，排水，放水

参考例句：

• This is a drainage area.这里是排水区。
• Bad drainage caused the land to be flooded.排水不利容易使土地淹水。

10 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

11 suppresses   

抑制（感情等）( suppress的第三人称单数 )； 压制； 禁止发表； 阻止…的生长（或发展）

参考例句：

• The regime ruthlessly suppresses all dissent. 这个政权残酷压制所有不同意见。
• Hemingway suppresses emtion, Wolfe engulfs the reader in feeling. 海明威感情压抑，沃尔夫却把读者卷进感情的漩涡。

12 enrich   

vt.充实，使丰富，使富裕，使富有

参考例句：

• Some cream will enrich the sauce.在调味汁里加一些奶油会使其味道更加丰富。
• Music can enrich your life.音乐能丰富你的生活。

13 stems   

n.（花草的）茎( stem的名词复数 )；词干；（高脚酒杯的）脚；烟斗柄v.遏制[阻止]（液体的流动等）( stem的第三人称单数 )；封堵；遏止

参考例句：

• The present wave of strikes stems from discontent among the lower-paid. 当前的罢工浪潮起因于低工资雇员们的不满情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her interest in flowers stems from her childhood in the country. 她对花卉的兴趣产生于她在乡下度过的童年时代。 来自《简明英汉词典》