Make sure you are getting the most out of your garden this summer by steering clear of popular pitfalls

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Many people are just digging themselves a hole when it comes to attempts at sprucing up flower beds, lawns, shrubs and vegetable patches, according to experts. By avoiding some common mistakes, you can get the most out of your garden this summer and make it a beautiful space to relax in.

As with most things, the key to the success of any gardening project is actually making a start. But to ensure all your hard work doesn't end up being in vain, there are some important factors to also consider - especially for those new to the green-fingered bug.

This is even more the case for novice gardeners who, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, run the risk of parting with cash at a local gardening centre or nursery only to see their purchases wither and fail. It could all be down to being unaware of problems familiar to more experienced home horticulturalists.

READ MORE:Gardening can reduce risk of death by 20 percent, study finds

We turned to some gardening experts for some of their best tips and advice. So, before heading to the shed for your trowel and fork, the following is a short rundown of some of the most common mistakes - and how to fix them.

Bigger isn't always better when it comes to gardening. This is especially the case for beginners, according to gardening blogger Megan Gilger. Speaking to architecturaldigest.com, she said: "It is easy to let your eyes get big when wandering the plant stores or looking online at ideas. Instead use those ideas to spur a bigger plan. Growing a great garden successfully takes time".

Gilger, who runs the Fresh Exchange blog, believes it's always better to start small and gradually build up your garden as your skills and vision develop. Her advice is to set short-term goals and not to bite off more than you can chew at any one time.

One big mistake is forgetting that many plants need to be pollinated to produce fruits and seeds. Although some plants are self-pollinating, other are not, according to Housebeautiful.com.

These include blueberries, apples, tomatoes and squash, all of which need bees, flies, beetles and other insects to carry pollen from plant to plant. To make it easier for them, you will need to plan a few pollinator-friendly plants and shrubs. These include lavender and herbs such as thyme, fennel, dill and oregano.

"People want that instant garden full and colourful - big mistake," says American gardening expert Michael Giannelli. "Plants need room to grow and spread naturally."

He says that packing plants together will inhibit their growth as they battle each other for sunlight and nutrients. As a rule of thumb, he suggests trying to leave at least two feet between plants.

Although it may be tempting to go for the full spectrum of herbs, vegetables and flowers in your garden, it is probably best to start out growing those that you enjoy the most. That includes making the most of produce you like to eat.

Gardening blogger Gilger said there is no need to fuss and waste time over a flower or plant that you don't even like that much. "It seems simple, but you are most passionate about growing the vegetables, herbs, and flowers you already find yourself grabbing for at the grocery store or farmers market," she said.

In your eagerness to nurture your flowers, garden shrubs and vegetables, you could actually be doing more harm than good, according to grow-your-own veg YouTube expert Charles Dowding. He says that overwatering should be avoided - especially at the seedling stage when there is less need for new moisture.

That's because he says tiny roots can easily be flooded, causing them to die from a lack of air. His tip to get around this problem is to lift your seed trays, as a well-watered one will feel heavier than one needing water. This way you will quickly learn how to judge how much water is needed.

You want to make the most of your garden's productive power, according to gardening expert Niki Jabbour, who runs the Savvy Gardening website. "Once the first crops have been harvested, amend the soil and re-plant for late summer and autumn harvesting,” she said.

"Good choices for a second helping of homegrown vegetables include carrots, beets, peas, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and scallions." Charles Dowding adds: "Why do so many gardeners just sow seeds in spring?

"It will result in empty space and rampant weeds by autumn." Instead, his tip is to make use of the whole growing year, for example, by sowing beetroot in late June, fennel and lettuce in July and rocket as late as early August.

Similar to overwatering, too much plant food can have the opposite effect to the one you're looking for, according to Charles Dowding. "Feed soil life instead with a mulch of compost on top of the soil and leave it undisturbed," is his advice.

This way, he says, plant food is then available through biological interactions, such as "the work of naturally-occurring mycorrhizal fungi". By overfeeding, however, you can do more harm than good by creating an imbalance in growth and potentially encourage "more leaf, less fruit and more aphids".

This is one of the frequent mistakes made by beginner gardeners and a reason why some plants don't survive, according to the House Beautiful gardening experts. It doesn't matter how much care and attention you give if the plant dies after only a few years.

To avoid this error, their advice is to dig a hole up to three times as wide as the plant container. However, when setting the plant make sure it is at the same level as it was in the pot.

This means bove ground level if you plan to mulch (and you should as mulch helps preserve moisture and keep down weeds). Pay special attention to trees: The root flare, where the base widens slightly, should be above ground - a tree should not look like a telephone pole coming out of the ground.

It may sound a little obvious but gardening experts agree that it's always a good idea to read the plant tag or label before planting. Planting a plant or tree too close to your house, or garden shed could prove very costly once it's no longer a sapling in a small container.

The House Beautiful gardening experts agree that problems with overcrowding plant neighbours, stunting their growth and becoming a maintenance nuisance can easily be avoided. "Read the plant tag or label before planting, and heed the plant’s mature size. You’ll only make more work for yourself in the future if you ignore it."

Experts recommend keeping a garden diary to make sure you're on top of what's happening, when and where. This will keep your ideas in one place and document the trial-and-error process so key to improving, both your garden and your gardening skills.

It is a particularly good way to learn from your mistakes. Handy notes could include which crops didn't work out, and how they met their end, as well as pest issues. So, even if you have a disastrous growing season the next one will often prove to be more productive. Practice makes perfect, after all.