Tag: flat surface

A Healthy Start: How To Grow An Organic Garden

TIP! Starting off your garden with healthy soil can be the best defense against those pesky garden bugs. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants with more strength to deflect those insects and various diseases.

In the world of organic horticulture, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.

TIP! Before you begin to plant your garden you will need to check the soil. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it.

Put sod down the right way. Get your soil ready before you lay your sod. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Next, you want to make the soil compacted by applying light but firm pressure. Make sure the soil creates a flat surface. Dampen the soil completely. Stagger your sod so that each joint offsets from joints in adjacent rows. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.

TIP! Coffee grounds can be used to amend soils that are high in alkaline. This is a simple way to replenish your soil with acid.

Trying to shovel through clay soil can be extremely difficult and tiresome. To make your digging project easier, apply a coat of automobile wax to your shovel first and then buff it lightly. The wax prevents the clay from sticking to the shovel, and stops rust from forming.

Baking Soda

TIP! If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. Without pads, you may have pain in your knees from spending too much time kneeling on the hard ground.

If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water. Spray this mixture on your plants weekly until the mildew is gone. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! To keep pests away, you can use plants in the garden or other natural materials. Slugs can be kept at bay with a patch of marigolds or pungent vegetables.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

TIP! You should start pea seedlings indoors instead of planting them outside right at the start. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden.

Soil needs to be rich in certain nutrients to grow healthy plants. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You can also create an artificial area with only one kind of soil.

TIP! Your children can help you with your garden. Gardens are terrific teaching tools for kids, and provide great opportunities for interaction, growth, and instruction on healthy living.

Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. You can do a soil sample analysis for an affordable fee and then know what you need to properly treat your soil with so you can grow the best plants. A lot of cooperative extension offices can provide this service to you and it is worth knowing what you need to do in order to avoid ruining your plants.

TIP! If you’re growing indoor organic plants, you should ensure that you think about how much light is available for them. The amount of light available can determine which type of organic plants you should grow.

Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Use a small container filled with water to nearly the top and place several seeds in it. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. The seeds will most likely survive and mature this way.

TIP! It’s simple to quickly prepare your soil for the planting of a perennial garden. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches.

Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. Basically, the grounds resupply the soil with acid. This is one of the most inexpensive ways to achieve this result. When you can eliminate excess alkaline from the soil, it makes what you are growing much healthier. This means your veggies will taste better, and your flowers will be more vibrant than ever.

TIP! To be most efficient in your gardening, always keep your tools close at hand. Large pockets or a sturdy bucket can be used to store tools.

Draw up a garden plan before you plant the first seed. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting. This can also help prevent you from losing smaller plants or smaller groups of plants within a larger garden area.

Horticulture Knee Pads

TIP! When you are planning on growing a garden, you should think about the space you will need to provide a healthy growing area for your plants. You can underestimate how much space you need when they are growing.

If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase horticulture knee pads. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. Pick up a good pair of horticulture knee pads to help cushion your knees.

TIP! Adjust your watering to the season and climate. The level of necessary watering turns on the type of water you use, the kind of soil in your garden and the amount of direct sunlight you have.

All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This will save you a ton of time and work.

TIP! One of the most wonderful things about buying food that is organic is that they don’t contain pesticides. Although this is better for your health, you do need to check organic produce for infestation of bugs before eating it.

Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.

TIP! When mulching around trees and flowers, the depth of the organic material should be at least 3 inches. When you do this, you save money by conserving the amount of water you use, and it also helps out the environment in the process as well.

Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.

TIP! The healthier the soil the healthier your plants are, and when they are healthy they become that much more resistant to insects and disease. Insects will still buzz around, but they will cause less damage, so a happy medium is achieved.

If you have a cut on your hand, take the time to make sure it is either healed or completely covered before you put your hands in the soil. If you have an open cut while horticulture, contact with dirt or debris can infect the wound. There are bandages out there now that can seal cuts completely.

TIP! While you may have heard a few things here and there about composting, how much do you really know about it? It is made from a variety of items, including wood chips, bits of produce, twigs, straw, grass clippings, and leaves, all of which have decomposed into a sort of soil. It is recommended that you use this compost in place of commercial fertilizer on your organic garden.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets. Keep your gloves, a trowel, small pruning shears and other tools handy and make quick work of your garden maintenance.

TIP! If you plan to keep your organic garden going in the winter, consider making a tent over the garden with a few household items. Old bean poles stuck at the end of your beds provide the support.

Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. Keep all of your tools together; do not waste time looking for them! In addition to keeping your horticulture tools in one location, you should also clean your tools after each use. Get a tool belt if you need to, or a pair of pants with a lot of pockets.

TIP! Fencing a garden in before starting a garden is a good idea. This keeps animals out from the beginning, before you have sprouts or plants visible.

The advice given here is perfect for helping you to know the best ways of organic gardening. You can find out a ton of information on the subject, you you really need to be aware of how to use it. Use the tips and build them into your own horticulture strategy and you’ll find great growing success!

Horticulture Is As Simple As It Is Fun

TIP! Starting seedlings in pots before planting in your garden is a smart idea. This insures that the plants will grow and thrive into adulthood.

Many people think of horticulture as a hobby that is soothing and therapeutic. When it comes to horticulture there are some basic “need to know” things such as: knowing your soils, which equipment to use and the time frame for planting your seeds. The tips you will find below will guide you through those questions and more.

TIP! It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. Perhaps you can save your most expensive or resistant plants.

Properly lay your sod. Your soil should be prepared before you lay the sod. Take out any weeds, then mix up the soil into a tilth that is fine. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. Make sure the soil is moist all the way through. Sod should be staggered in rows, the joints offsetting from each other. Pat your sod to form an even and flat surface, fill any gaps with some soil. Water the sod each day for two weeks so it will become well-rooted and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. A hardy perennial addition to your garden, bulbs will continue to delight every year.

The handles on your gardening tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Put the handles down and measure them with a measuring tape. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. When you decide to work in the garden again, you will now have a ruler at your disposal.

TIP! When mowing your lawn, avoid mowing the grass too short. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out.

Use proper soil for the best results. The type of plants you’re planning to grow will determine the type of soil you need, and whether the soil will or will not be adapted. You can also make an artificial plot with just one type of soil.

Stink Bugs

TIP! A great garden starts from the seeds and not from the plants. When you grow a new garden, start the environmental way, from seeds.

When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit. If you do not keep them under control, the damage can be excessive, so keep an eye out for them.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal.

Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Bulbs are easy to grow and hearty, and they keep growing in years to come. If you choose your plants carefully, you could have flowers in blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer.

TIP! Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Try wearing a large sunhat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes, and use sunscreen on any exposed skin.

When fall arrives, it’s time to plant your autumn vegetables. Rather than using clay pots or planters for your lettuce and kale, plant them in a pumpkin! Use some Wilt-Pruf to prevent your pumpkin from decomposing and then you can put your plants right inside. You are prepared to plant after this is done.

TIP! To create a beautiful English garden, use the same bed to mix various kinds of plants, as well as different heights. If you only use uniform plants, your bed will look boring and flat.

Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Place some seeds in your smaller pots and add water almost to the brim. This hydrates your seeds and jump-starts their growth. The seeds will have a better chance of surviving and maturing.

TIP! If you can’t wait for a cut to heal before digging in the dirt, then at least protect your cuts from exposure. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening.

Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Pretty much any vegetable you plant in your garden requires sunshine for this duration. It allows them to grow in the proper manner and also much faster. This holds true for some types of flowers.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Planted flowers will benefit from organic materials that are built up to as much as three inches. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden.

If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. Coffee grounds are an affordable means of adding acid to the soil so that it is pH-balanced. This will allow your vegetables and greenery to really thrive.

TIP! Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. There are some plants that thrive in acidic soil.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. Slugs are repelled by bordering your vegetable garden with either onions or marigolds. You can also prevent insect pests by using wood ash like mulch around your trees and shrubs. Using these methods eliminates your need of chemical pesticides.

TIP! Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. An old basket will act like a strainer does.

Peas have a better chance of survival when their seeds are started indoors as opposed to outside, exposed to the elements. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating. Your seedlings will be stronger, and this will mean they can withstand diseases and bug attacks. Once the seedlings are sturdy enough, they can be transplanted to their rightful place in the garden.

TIP! Calibrate how much you water based upon the time of the year and the weather conditions. The amount of water you will need will vary according to your climate and even such factors as the part of day and soil type.

Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. This method will also prevent weeds. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.

TIP! Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Always check to see if rain is in the forecast before watering your plants.

As you now have discovered, gardening can be a fun, productive and rewarding activity if you invest a little time into gaining a bit of knowledge before you begin. With the right advice and proper planning, you’ll soon have a thriving garden. Simply use the advice presented here and wonderful garden will be growing from your land.

Growing Your Garden In Many Types Of Areas

TIP! In order not to shock your plants, you have to gradually accustom them to the change of temperature and conditions. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day.

Understanding all there is to know concerning horticulture can be extremely mind-blowing. However, like other things in life, it can be thoroughly researched, learned, and taught to others. Now you know what you need to do, you can hopefully be more knowledgeable about horticulture, so you can get more from it.

Flat Surface

TIP! Coffee grounds can be used to amend soils that are high in alkaline. This is an easy and inexpensive solution to increase the acid content back into the soil.

Sod should be laid correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay your sod. Thoroughly weed the soil, and work it into a fine, smooth tilth. Compact the soil lightly and firmly, and be sure to create a flat surface. Dampen the soil completely. Lay the sod in rows, and make sure the joints do not overlap. Make sure that the sod forms an even, flat surface, and if you have any gaps show between the sod, fill them with a little bit of soil. Water the sod each day for two weeks so it will become well-rooted and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease.

The correct soil can make a big difference in how your garden grows. The soil may have to be adapted, depending on what types of plants you’re planning for the garden. You may also be able to design an artificial area that contains one type of dirt.

TIP! Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over.

Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. Remember that different bulbs will bloom at all different times of the year, so if you are careful to choose the right bulbs, you will see blooms in the early spring, and have flowers all the way to late summer.

TIP! Think about berry-producing trees that are green year round for your garden. These help to give your garden nice looking color, even during winter when most vegetation is colorless.

Balance your alkaline soil with the acid found in used coffee grounds. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.

TIP! Vegetables are softest during the warmest hours of each day, so picking them then, no matter how gently, runs the risk of damage. When you remove the produce from the plant, use shears or a knife to cut them from the vine without twisting, as this can damage the plant.

If you are considering planting a garden take the time to plan it out. Use your seed packages to make fun markers that will remind you where each type of plant is growing. With a plan, you will also be less likely to lose track of small groups or individual plants within a large and ambitious garden.

TIP! Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees will go straight for these plants in the spring.

The best gardens from an environmental standpoint originate from seeds, instead of plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.

TIP! If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. Cuts that are infiltrated by soil or other substances have the potential to breed serious infections.

There are natural materials, and you can also use other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. For example, if you plant onions or marigolds along the edges of your vegetable garden, you can ward off slugs. Insect pests will stay away from seedlings and trees if you use wood ash around the base as a mulch. Doing these things can ensure that you do not need potentially harmful chemicals.

Pest Control

TIP! When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Wasting time finding tools is inefficient gardening.

Pest control is tough when you have a veggie garden. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. Persistence and care is a much better solution for pest control, but many avoid it because it actually requires some work on their behalf. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.

TIP! Remember to plan for adequate spacing when you first lay out an organic garden. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow.

Plant things that will give you color for the fall. This does not have to be so. The foliage of autumn makes for perhaps the most colorful season of the year. There are a number of trees that provide exuberant displays of color, such as Dogwood, Beech and Maple. Cotoneaster, barberry and hydrangea can provide vibrant color if you are considering shrubs for your garden.

TIP! Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Bury a jar in the garden with it’s mouth open and level to the ground.

It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening. Instead, opt for a bandage that entirely covers your wound.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Get your organic garden certified so you can credibly claim that your crops are organic. This can boost sales and tell loyal customers that you’re providing the best to them.

Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. You can rinse your produce off while it is in the basket, and the excess water will strain through the holes of your laundry basket.

TIP! Though organic farming can present challenges that traditional farming with the use of chemicals does not, harvesting the crops is reward itself for the hard work. Growing your crops organically will offer the best reward for those who eat the foods.

Do you want to kill weeds in a natural way? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Weeds need sun for growth, just like any other plant. The layers of newspaper over the weeds will block out the light and kill them. In time, the newspaper will decompose into the soil. You can then add a mulch layer right on top so that it looks more attractive.

TIP! Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall. They require soil that is well-drained and moist.

Hopefully, you can now see that becoming a great gardener is not as difficult as you first feared. Like all subjects, horticulture is a vast world which has a lot of information available to sift through. Sometimes, if you figure out where to begin, it’s easy to “jump right in”. With luck, you got such a spark from something in this article.

Plant Problems? Follow These Hints For A Better Garden Today!

TIP! Shoveling clay soil is tiresome since clay is hard, and it can also stick to your shovel for twice the difficulty. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel.

One of the tenets of organic horticulture is to focus on the garden and to tend it well. Gardeners need to use all the information they can to create and tend to their organic garden. This can help you grow tastier and happier produce. Use the following tips to create a flourishing and very rewarding organic garden.

Flat Surface

TIP! Regular weeding is essential to the health of any garden. Weeds can be extremely detrimental to your garden.

Properly put down your sod. Before you lay the sod, the soil has to be prepared. Eradicate any weeds and work the soil until it is very fine. When the soil is clean, pack it tightly and create a flat surface. Thoroughly water the soil. Sod must be arranged in staggered rows; each joint should offset one another. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Water the sod every day for a couple of weeks. Then it should be rooted well and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! Bulbs will give you wonderful flowers that you can enjoy in early spring and right through the summer. Bulbs are hearty and will continue to grow every year.

Digging in clay soil with a shovel can be very difficult. The clay isn’t easy to work with and will adhere to the shovel, which only makes the problem worse. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. Not only will the clay slide off the surface, but it will keep the end from rusting.

TIP! When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. If you leave your grass a bit longer, the roots can grow deeper.

Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. These types of flowers grow at high speed, which gives you more flexibility in changing the look of your flower beds as the seasons change. They are very helpful when trying to fill in gaps between shrubs and perennials in an area that is sunny. Notable biennials and annuals include marigold, sunflowers, hollyhock, petunia, and cosmos.

TIP! If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. Using coffee grounds is a low-cost way to increase the acidity of the soil.

Do a soil analysis prior to planting. There are soil testing services that can analyze a garden’s soil content for a small charge. With those results, it’s then possible to refine and supplement the soil to make it as fertile as possible. Before you ruin any crops, make sure you do this. Soil can be analyzed at a lot of cooperative extension offices, so make sure you plan accordingly.

TIP! Make sure to protect your tender shrubs from the elements. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season.

When autumn has arrived, you must plant everything you want to eat before winter. Clay pots are boring, so replace those ordinary lettuce and kale pots with pumpkins. Simply carve open the top of a pumpkin so you can remove the innards, and then spray inside and out with something like Wilt-Pruf to prevent pumpkin rotting. Once you have finished, you can begin planting.

TIP! Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all gardening tools and chemicals prior to using them. If you use your gardening chemicals wrong, you can abrade or even burn your skin.

You should divide irises. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. The iris bulbs should easily split apart in your hand. Once you replant them, they will have a good flower show the following year. Rhizomes, however, need to be divided by using a gardening knife. Cut healthy pieces from the root stalk and throw out the dead center. A strong offshoot is needed on every piece that you decide to plant. Do this cutting beside your garden bed, so that you can place your new groupings into the ground immediately.

TIP! You may want to think about having evergreens that will produce berries planted in your yard. These types of trees can offer your garden a splash of color, especially during the winter when all other plants and trees have lost their hues.

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.

TIP! Know the ideal times to harvest each of the vegetables you plant. Individual vegetables have distinct windows of time to pick for getting the greatest flavors.

Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. Spending too much time on the ground working can be quite hard on your knees, and a gardening stool can help alleviate this, plus make things more comfortable for you. Horticulture also requires transporting heavy objects and lots of dirt, so purchasing a wheelbarrow can be a very smart investment.

TIP! Create a focal point in your garden with a unique plant. A focal point, in a strong garden design, will attract eyes and hold them there.

Plant with fall season color in mind. However, that does not have to be the case! When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. There are a number of trees that provide exuberant displays of color, such as Dogwood, Beech and Maple. As you select your shrubbery, consider hydrangea, barberry or other similar plantings.

TIP! When you are organic gardening, ask your children to lend a hand. A garden can be a great learning experience for your children, and it gives you a chance to bond while producing healthy food.

Pick your vegetables when the temperature is moderate to avoid bruising them. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine. If you just yank or twist the whole plant, it may become damaged.

TIP! Apply equal portions of dried plant material and green into your compost pile. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings.

To create an English garden, combine a lot of different plants in the same garden. You should avoid using plants of the same height so that your flower bed doesn’t look flat and uniform.

TIP! Spread three inches of organic material on your garden for mulch. Mulch adds nutrients to soil, maintains moisture and prevents weed growth.

Take care of your knees while working in the garden. Bending over for a long while is quite difficult for a lot of people. Kneeling allows you to reach your plants easily and is healthier for your back and legs. You can purchase an inexpensive kneeling pad for horticulture in order to protect your knees.

Organic Horticulture

TIP! Weeds are pesky for any type of garden, whether or not it is organic. This organic method of killing weeds is safer for both you and the environment.

As you’ve read from the above tips, proper organic horticulture may really affect the nutrients and freshness of your produce. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort and be patient, but the results organic horticulture can give you are worth all the work.