Introduction
The most common question gardeners ask is What is wrong with my plant? If a plant is not growing well, there are four potential problem areas. Too little or too much light. That is an easy fix, and new gardeners soon learn to plant in the right light conditions. Watering is the next thing to consider. New gardeners struggle with knowing the correct amount of water to give a plant, but they soon learn that you water when the soil starts to dry out and that you water deep and less frequently. Pest and disease problems are not simple to diagnose, but you can see most pests, or at least you can see their effect on the plant. Even diseases show symptoms that help you solve the problem. Prevention may not be as easy, but gardeners do learn about common pests and diseases over time. The fourth area to consider is the soil, and even for experienced gardeners, this remains a mystery. You probably have a vague understanding about nutrients, and you have almost certainly fertilized plants before. But for most gardeners, the stuff that happens underground is a complete unknown. Go out into your garden and have a close look at it. What do you see? The plants are obvious, especially if they are blooming, but look past the plants at the soil underneath them. You probably don’t
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