Horticulture is a surprisingly complicated subject at times. This is especially true if you want to garden naturally. You may need to learn everything from soil pH to controlling pests without chemicals. If you are a newbie, getting into organic horticulture can be daunting. Make sure you play for the pros by employing the tips from the text below.
Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower beds. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. Some of these that you might consider are petunias, marigolds and sunflowers. If those are not flowers you like, you can also try cosmos, holyhocks or rudbeckias.
Save some plants in the winter by bringing them indoors. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.
The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. Soil analysis costs a little money, but the report can inform you how to enrich your soil and open the door to a lush garden. Many Cooperative Extension offices will provide this service, and it is well worth knowing exactly what the soil needs to avoid ruining a crop or two.
When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. If you leave some of the grass when you mow, the roots grow further into the ground, which makes the grass less prone to drying and other hazards. Short grass on the other hand is more susceptible to drying out.
If you would love to have access to fresh and healthy mint leaves from your own back yard, but dread the way the plant spreads so quickly, worry not. You can slow down this growth by planting them inside a pot or container! If you prefer, you can even place the container in the ground, but the pot’s walls will prevent the mint from spreading and being a nuisance in your garden.
Think about starting your peas indoors rather than planting them directly in the garden. If you give them a chance to grow indoors where they are protected, they will germinate better. Give the seeds enough time to get stronger: growing indoors will make it easier for your plants to resist diseases and the pesky bugs. You can transplant the seedlings outside after they are sturdy enough.
Take the time to place organic mulch in the area around your vegetable plants. The mulch help keeps the soil that is around the plants much more moist for much longer. Mulch will help a lot in preventing weeds from growing. That helps you save a great deal of effort and time in weed eradication.
Know when is the best time to harvest your vegetables. Different veggies have different windows of time in which they should be picked; it is during this period that the vegetable is most flavorful. For instance, zucchini and baby peas will taste a lot better if you pick them when they are young. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. Research the best time to pick your produce.
An English garden mixes plants of various kinds and sizes close together, which helps to give it a more multi-dimensional feel. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.
Adopting organic horticulture methods may take more effort than traditional approaches, but the payoff is considerably worth it. While chemical claims are wondrous, growing organically is a great reward to whomever eats your produce.
Whenever you plant tomatoes in your garden, plant multiple sets about three weeks apart. When you stagger your planting in this manner, your tomato plants will not be in bloom all at once, meaning you have fresh tomatoes for longer. If something happens to ruin your harvest, you have time to fix the problem before the next set of tomatoes is due, sparing part of the harvest.
You need to mulch your flowerbed and garden using at least 3 inches worth of organic material. This will add nutrients to your soil, keep it moist, stop the growth of weeds and keep the garden looking beautiful.
Biodiversity is important in your garden. The more varieties of plants that are around, the more wildlife will be around. To create a more natural environment, plant many different kinds of plants. By doing this, you will turn your garden into a pleasurable and relaxing retreat, and will also have the benefit of helping the environment.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.