Over-editing in landscape photography can often detract from the natural beauty of the scene, leaving the image feeling unrealistic or overly processed. Here are some key tips for avoiding over-editing: 

1. Stick to Subtle Adjustments:

• Exposure and Contrast: Fine-tune exposure and contrast for a natural look. Avoid extreme increases in contrast, as it can lead to unnatural-looking skies or harsh shadows.
• White Balance: Correct white balance to ensure the colors look accurate without pushing the image too far toward cool or warm extremes.

2. Enhance, Don’t Alter:

• Focus on enhancing the natural colors and tones of the landscape rather than dramatically changing them. For example, a slight boost to vibrance or saturation can add richness but avoid making the colors too bold. Keep in mind that some photographs are already very colorful straight out of the camera and may very likely require little to no color modification.  

3. Avoid Over-Sharpening:

• Sharpening can improve clarity but over-sharpening leads to unnatural halos around edges and noise. Apply only the amount of sharpening that enhances the details without causing pixelation.

4. Limit HDR Effects:

• High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography can bring out more details in shadows and highlights, but overuse of HDR can result in an overly surreal look. Use HDR with restraint to maintain the natural dynamic range of the scene.

5. Preserve Natural Textures:

• Textures in landscapes (like clouds, rock formations, or foliage) should remain crisp and real. Over-smoothing or excessive noise reduction can blur textures and make them look artificial.

6. Avoid Cloning or Removing Elements Excessively:

• While you can remove distractions from the scene, avoid altering the landscape too much by erasing key elements. Every feature in the frame often serves a purpose in the composition, so be cautious about removing things that contribute to the natural flow of the image.

7. Use Graduated Filters and Masks:

• If you're adjusting specific areas of the image (like brightening up the foreground or darkening the sky), use graduated filters or localized masks rather than broad edits that affect the entire image. This helps maintain a more natural gradient and avoids an over-processed feel.

8. Avoid Excessive Noise Reduction:

• In post-processing, it's tempting to reduce noise in low-light photos, but going too far can cause a loss of fine details. It's important to find a balance so that the image doesn’t look plasticky.

9. Minimal Use of Vignettes:

• Vignettes can be used to direct attention toward the center of the frame, but overusing them can make the image feel artificial. Use vignettes lightly to enhance the composition without it becoming the focal point of the photo.

10. Trust Your Eyes:

• Step away from the screen and return with fresh eyes to check if the edits still feel natural. If something looks too exaggerated or unnatural, dial it back.

By keeping your edits minimal and focusing on enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape, you’ll preserve the essence of the scene without making it feel overly processed.