Gardening experts warn common mistakes that can cost homeowners up to £2,000

Irish gardening specialist Peter Dowdell, known as “The Irish Gardener,” outlined three frequent errors gardeners make in May. He advises against using sulphate‑iron moss killers because they lower soil pH and encourage moss regrowth, recommending scarifying the lawn and aerating the topsoil with grit or sand. He cautions against planting summer bedding plants immediately, noting that cold night temperatures can damage seedlings grown in glasshouses. Dowdell also warns that “triple‑action” lawn feeds that combine fertilizer, moss killer and weed killer act like a blanket bomb, harming the environment and applying chemicals where they are not needed.

Liam Cleary of the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Brecon echoed the cost concerns, saying that mistakes such as improper moss treatment, premature planting, or misuse of chemical feeds can quickly increase garden expenses, potentially adding up to £2,000 in extra repairs, power‑washing, or equipment like robotic lawn mowers.