Learn Something New About Organic Horticulture With These Interesting Tips

Starting an organic garden can be a fruitful hobby, as long as you avoid major pitfalls. Read this article to find out more about this activity.

TIP! To get the best results, you must use the right soil. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate.

Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks. All you have to do is lay them on the floor then use a measuring tape to measure their length. Use a permanent marker to label distances. Now you have easy access to a long ruler whenever you are gardening.

Flower Beds

TIP! While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! Fruits, peppers and tomatoes are among the foods they love to eat. They can do serious damage in your garden, so look for an effective method of reducing their population.

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. Annuals and biennials that grow quickly can really wake up your flower beds, and they allow you to have a new garden look every season or every year, if you choose to. Use these beautiful flowers to line your driveway, surround trees and shrubs, and for decorative hanging baskets. There are plenty of varieties including petunia, marigold, cosmos, sunflower, hollyhock, and rudbeckia.

TIP! Bulbs are a great option for people who want to enjoy spring and summer flowers. Most bulbs are extremely hearty and grow easily.

If you want your garden full of flowers spring through summer, plant bulbs. Bulbs are easy to grow and hearty, and they keep growing in years to come. Different bulbs bloom at various times, so choosing appropriately, you may have blooms early spring to later summer.

TIP! Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline content. Combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this.

During fall, you should plant cold weather vegetables. Instead of a clay pot, show some fall spirit by using a hollow pumpkin to plant your lettuce or kale in. Slice a hole around the stem, and pull the pumpkin top out. Then remove the guts and use Wilt-Pruf to cover the insides and prevent rot. After this is completed, it is time to plant!

TIP! Carefully plan your garden first. A thoughtful plan can remind you of previous plantings and what you will see appearing from the soil in the months of spring and summer.

Make a plan for your garden. That way, if you see your plants beginning to bud but can’t recall what they are, you can refer back to your plan to refresh your memory. A good plan can also help you to place each plant in the area that is most beneficial to them.

TIP! Tender deciduous shrubs are very fragile, so protect them. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather.

You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold. You want to then tie the tops of the canes together, and cover them with a sheet or blanket. When you do this you allow air to flow and circulate which can actually prevent rotting, this method is great and better than just wrapping your plant in some plastic.

TIP! Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. This will allow your garden to have color, even in the dreary winter months.

One very good way to deal with weeds is to boil them away. A pot of very hot water is one of the most effective ways you can get rid of the weeds in your garden. Douse the weeds with this pot, just avoid the nearby plants. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.

TIP! You should get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool for garden work. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort.

Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? You can control their growth by placing them into a pot or container. By using a separate containment unit, you are limiting the plant’s ability to spread its roots and subsequently grow like wildfire. You can even plant the entire pot so that it still looks just like another plant in your garden.

TIP! When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. You can’t use chemicals as they’re the last thing you want to be eating when you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.

Beneficial Bugs

TIP! Try to avoid direct sun exposure when you are gardening during the day; wear protective clothing. Pair sunglasses with wide-brimmed hats and a dab of sunblock.

Broad-spectrum pesticide is not a good garden choice. These strong pesticides are non-selective, killing beneficial insects as well as pests. Beneficial bugs usually have more sensitivity towards pesticides than bad ones. Therefore, if the number of beneficial bugs drops, the problem with pests can get bigger. As a result, gardeners often have to resort to using more toxic pesticides to get rid of garden pests.

TIP! Aspirin water will strengthen your plants against diseases. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants.

Be smart about how you water your garden. Instead of watering each individual plant with a can or hose, utilize a soaker hose, which can water all the plants at once. Lower your water pressure on the soaker hose to avoid harming tender plants. Give it a few hours to water the plants so you have schedule freedom to tend to other matters.

TIP! When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. To ensure that your plants do not suffer shock, start eliminating the use of a heat source.

As you can see, there is a lot more to organic horticulture than most people think. Doing it successfully entails a good amount of patience and dedication, but achieving a productive organic garden is a worthwhile endeavor indeed. Follow the tips and you can increase your gardening skills.