9 Common Garden And Outdoor Area Problems

Our gardens and outdoor areas can be wonderful and relaxing places. But they can also present us with a lot of problems. Hardly anyone has a garden that does exactly what they want all the time. Things seem to go wrong. When all you have to do is work on a garden, then the problem is minor. You can invest some time in it and fix it. But if you’re busy running a family, it’s not so easy. 

The good news is that most of the common problems people experience in their gardens have fairly straightforward fixes. Most of the time, you shouldn’t need to reinvent the wheel. So, what are the problems that are most common to gardens? And what fixes are in place to make them simpler to solve? 

Moss On Surfaces

Moss on surfaces is a common problem on patios and decks. This plant likes to grow in damp, wet and cold conditions and tends to appear more prevalent in northern areas (although it can still reach south).  Moss is annoying because it is slippery and unattractive. It usually appears in lumps and bumps, meaning it ruins the visual appearance of hardscaping materials, making you wish it wasn’t there. Fortunately, dealing with moss on surfaces is quite easy. It simply requires knowing a thing or two about how to kill unwanted plants. 

The safest option is to use an acetic acid or vinegar solution. When this substance comes into contact with the plant material, it burns it, allowing you to sweep away the moss more easily later on. Using an algae remover is also an option. These are available commercially and can have a profound effect on moss growth, keeping it at bay for longer. 

Another option is to simply increase the amount of sunlight hitting the affected area. UV naturally damages moss and can sometimes get rid of it from surfaces, especially if it isn’t well established. If you wind up using treatments on the moss, make sure you expose the area to regular sunlight. Otherwise, there is a chance that it might come back. 

Poor Outdoor Lighting

Poor outdoor lighting is another problem with gardens and outdoor spaces. You would like to use them in the evening but can’t because you can’t see what you’re doing. Fortunately, this problem is fairly easy to solve. Simply install solar-powered garden lights for pathways, or to add as an accent elsewhere. 

You can also hook up lights to your pergolas and other areas to increase general illumination. Spreading the light around and creating a general glow can make the space feel more welcoming, even if it is cold. Of course, if it is the middle of winter, no amount of light is going to help. But it can be beneficial when the temperatures are higher and you want the outdoor experience to extend further into the night. 

Pests Everywhere

Pests are also an issue in many gardens and outdoor spaces. Some species can take a liking to your property and want to stay on it longer than they are welcome. To solve this, it is helpful to use a pest control kit. These contain everything you need to take back control of your garden and prevent pests from damaging it or causing harm. 

If you have a serious pest problem, calling in the exterminators is usually the only option. But if you want to get it under control naturally, then buying something online that has all the elements you need can be beneficial and will sometimes deal with the problem. 

Patio And Walkway Cracks

Patio and walkway cracks are also an issue that many homeowners have to contend with. These can make properties look poorly kept or unkempt. Obviously, the more cracking you have, the more damage it will do to the rest of the material. Some walkways can disintegrate into gravel if left without care for long enough. 

You can fix small cracks and gaps in your hardscaping using outdoor caulk and concrete repair mixes. These substances bind to the underlying material while also offering flexibility, which is hopefully enough to prevent the problem from recurring. If you can’t do that because of the extent of the damage, repair those sections. Look for ways to make them last longer, replacing them with granite if necessary. 

Faded Outdoor Furniture

Faded outdoor furniture is another annoying problem that’s actually surprisingly easy to fix. Outdoor seating can start to look tired if exposed to excessive UV which destroys the organic color compounds in the underlying material. The easiest solution here is to coat the furniture with a new layer of paint. It won’t restore the underlying wood, but it will prevent damage. 

You can also replace wooden items with metal. However, this material is prone to corrosion, which causes other problems. Finally, you can get special vinyl furniture options that are UV-resistant and aren’t harmed by water. These tend to be the best since it is difficult for any of the elements to degrade them, even over a long period of time. 

Unruly Plants

Unruly plants are also an issue many busy people face. These get out of control when you don’t do sufficient trimming or pruning. To avoid this issue, create a pruning schedule at the start of the year. Make sure that you cut back plants according to the species’s requirements, using antiseptic measures on at-risk cuttings to prevent more general infections. Always use the sharpest tools you can find. These make cleaner cuts and ensure the plant tissue surrounding the cut doesn’t get damaged. 

Plants Failing To Grow Properly

Plants failing to grow properly is another mystery and challenge. Often, it isn’t clear why they won’t shoot up or bloom, despite what it says on the packet.  Usually, plants don’t grow for one of two reasons. The main problem is nutrient deficiencies in the soil. If it doesn’t have the density, character, or minerals the plants require, it won’t grow. 

The other issue is pH imbalances. Some plants can be fussy about the acidity of the soil and won’t grow unless it is in range. Therefore, you’ll want to get tools that let you measure the soil acidity and decide whether it needs changing. If you adjust it and still don’t see any growth, then that’s the time to add additional mineral fertilizers to the ground. 

Patchy Lawn

Bald or patchy lawns are another bane of busy gardeners. Again, these seem to occur for no reason and are incredibly challenging to figure out. The usual approach is to reseed, water regularly and monitor. Sometimes grass will die in a patch for transient reasons that won’t affect you again. However, there are situations where the grass simply refuses to come back. 

When this happens, look at the context. Is there an issue with overhanging trees or access to light? If there is, you can think about making more substantial changes to your landscaping. Modifying the layout can sometimes help grass to return spontaneously. 

Pests Eating Plants

Finally, you may have a problem with pests eating plants. Insects can sometimes be attracted to specific elements in your garden, preventing you from getting the lush blooms you want. The best way to prevent this is to use deterrents, like garlic spray. These put invaders off and get them to focus elsewhere. 

You can also use physical barriers. These are helpful during challenging seasons when you know you’re going to get a lot of insects in the area that you don’t want.