TIP! Shoveling soil that is mostly clay can be difficult because of the hardness of the soil, and because it sticks to the shovel. Try applying a coat of wax onto your spade prior to working with clay soil, and then buff the spade head with a cloth.
If you want that green, lush garden, there are many things to do in order to get there. While horticulture is lots of work, it is also enjoyable! This article is full of tips which will help you enjoy horticulture more and more every day!
TIP! Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks.
Select plant varieties capable of producing large yields. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.
TIP! When fall arrives, it’s time to plant your autumn vegetables. A pumpkin makes a great container, and costs less than a clay pot.
Give your flower beds a boost by introducing annuals and biennials. Fast growing biennials and annuals can enliven a flower bed while letting you change up the look each season and year. They can make a handy, gap-filler between shrubs and perennials located in sunny areas. Notable varieties include cosmos, rudbeckia, petunia, hollyhock, marigold and sunflower.
Stink Bugs
TIP! If you have planted vegetables within your garden, make sure that they are getting at least six hours of sunlight each day. Most vegetables need at least that much sun for optimal growth speed.
When horticulture, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. Stink bugs may get out of hand and do significant damage in your garden. It is important to take steps to eliminate them from that area.
TIP! Draw up a garden plan before you plant the first seed. This will help you to remember where you planted the different plants when sprouts begin to shoot up from the ground.
For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Planting and growing bulbs is very simple, and once planted the bulbs will grow for years. Different types of bulbs bloom at different times, so if you choose appropriately, you can have blooms from early spring to late summer.
TIP! Knee pads are a gardener’s friend when caring for plants low to the ground. Without pads, you may have pain in your knees from spending too much time kneeling on the hard ground.
Start your garden by planting seed in small pots. As a green-friendly gardener, you always want to use seeds to start your new plot. The plastics used in nurseries are rarely recycled and ends up in landfills, so it is best to start with the seeds or buy from nurseries who use organic materials in packaging their plants.
TIP! Start a new garden from seeds. Once the plant is healthy enough, replant it in your garden with the appropriate type of soil.
If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. If you give them a chance to grow indoors where they are protected, they will germinate better. Seeds grown indoors are much more resistant to diseases and damage done by pests. After the seedlings get mature enough, transplant them to your outdoor garden.
TIP! Fertilizing your garden is essential. Manure can help your plants grow quickly, but you must use only commercially created products to reduce the chance of contracting pathogens.
If you want to keep dogs our of your garden, take some aftershave, old perfume, or any other scented item and spray the grass around the area. Doing so shields the scents that your dog might pick up on and be drawn to, causing their potential interest in your garden to drop dramatically.
TIP! Try pouring water leftover from steamed vegetables onto your potted plants. It contains rich nutrients that come from the vegetables.
Get your children interested in helping with your organic garden. Toiling together in the garden brings your family closer together and offers many different opportunities to learn new things and instill green values.
TIP! Efficiently water your garden. A soaker hose is a great way to water all of the plants at once, and will save you a lot of time.
You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. Bending for extended time periods causes pain for many people. Kneeling is a great way to reach your plants without causing stress to your back. You can get a knee pad to place on the ground to kneel on so that you do not feel pain in your knees.
TIP! The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. Not only will you be adding nutrients, but weeds will be less likely to grow and moisture will be retained more easily.
If you’re thinking about growing your own organic garden, then you might want to consider keeping a bit of your property undeveloped; this way wildlife can flourish. Your cultivated garden spaces will benefit from the various insects and wildlife that will inhabit and pollinate the undeveloped space.
TIP! Organic gardening is a high-risk, high-reward activity compared to normal gardening, but the rewards certainly are sweet. While chemicals offer an easy solution to many common gardening problems, the organic method is far healthier for you and everyone you share your food with.
Make sure you consider adequate spacing when planting your garden, so that each plant is given room enough to grow and flourish. Amateur gardeners often make the mistake of failing to leave enough space for fully matured plants. The plants need space due to sheer size and also for air circulation. Because of this, you should always take the time to ensure that there’s enough distance between all your seeds.
TIP! While any kind of gardening can make you feel as though you’re in tune with nature, organic gardening takes this to the next level. Not only does organic gardening provide you with quality food, but also you learn all of the plant’s cycles.
Get more value out of your property. You can get a great return on investment from landscaping. Investing in plants can raise the value of your property by 20%, or sometimes even more. Select plants and shrubs that won’t require a lot of ongoing maintenance and will adapt well to your climate.
TIP! Mulch your garden rather heavily. Remember, the mulch will compact and break down over time.
Grow garlic in your organic garden. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring. Set them four inches apart, approximately one to two inches deep into the soil, with their ends up. You can use the tops of the garlic shoots instead of scallions or chives. You know your bulbs are ready when they turn brown on their tops. To harden the garlic’s skin after picking, dry the it in the sunlight for a few days. The garlic should be stored out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
TIP! When watering your garden, a soaker hose may be your best bet. This special type of hose allows water to slowly ooze out; the water then directly targets the roots and spares the leaves.
When you think about how you want to water your garden, look into a soaker hose, this is the best option available to you. Because the water in these hoses seeps out slowly, it goes directly to the roots of the places and leaves the leaves dry. Soaker hoses don’t use as much water as sprinklers, and make it easy to water plants.
TIP! Making beds is one of the most important skills you need to acquire. You do this by slicing underneath the turf using an appropriate tool.
If you’re preparing to add a new shrub or tree to your organic garden, it’s best that the hole you plant them in looks a bit off-balance. If you see that the sides of the hole appear shiny, you’ve probably packed the dirt to tight, which can interfere with the roots.
TIP! When working in the garden, know exactly what you are using. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use.
When deciding which plants you want to focus your organic horticulture efforts on, you should be as specific as possible. Not all varieties of flowers and produce are suited to the same type of environment. For instance, there are many kinds of roses and some will work in your garden, while others won’t. So, be sure to choose the specific varieties that are most suited for your planting environment.
TIP! Use at least 3″ of organic material to mulch flowers and trees. This is not only beneficial for the earth, but it also saves you water and money on the water bill.
With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.
