Tag: measuring sticks

Gardening Tips For New And Advanced Gardeners

TIP! Make sure that your sod is laid properly. You will need to prepare your lawn soil before laying the sod.

You probably know quite a bit about organic foods, whether you have read about them, or noticed them at your local supermarket. It is easy to tell the organic items from those that are not. They are usually packaged differently and often are marked up considerably. Keep reading for a variety of tips and tricks for maintaining an organic garden.

TIP! The first thing you can do to avoid pests is to start with healthy soil in your garden. Healthy plants are stronger and more able to resist both pests and disease.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks. Lay your handles on the floor, and put measuring tape right next to them. Use a bright permanent marker and label the distances. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants indoors to rescue them from the winter frosts. You may be able to save your most resistant or expensive plants.

Plant perennials that are resistant to slug and snail infestations. Creatures like snails or slugs can destroy a plant in a single night. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

TIP! Before you begin to plant your garden you will need to check the soil. A soil analysis report can be acquired for a nominal fee.

Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. By utilizing quick-growing biennials and annuals, not only will you be brightening up your flower bed, you can also alter its look 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 excellent choices include rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflower, cosmos, petunia and marigold.

TIP! If you want flowers in spring and summer, plant bulbs in the garden. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year.

If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Bulbs are usually very hearty and very easy to grow, and bulbs will grow year after year. Specific types of bulbs usually bloom at specific times of the season, so if you make appropriate selections, you can be rewarded with blooms from the early part of spring to the later part of summer.

You can plant wheat grass or cat grass near the plants that the cat eats. Try putting mothballs or citrus on your soil to wards pets away.

TIP! Do you ever wish that your fresh mint leaves would not grow as quickly and overcome your garden? You can control their growth by placing them into a pot or container. You can simply put the container below the soil level.

When you decide to add vegetables into your garden space, be aware that they must be placed where they will receive direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours daily. Many vegetables need about this much sun to grow quickly. Some flowers have the same requirement for growth.

TIP! Try growing your peas indoors for the first couple months. The seeds will grow better in your home if planted there first.

Try to have a plan with your garden. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting. Another benefit is that you won’t lose the little plants in a big garden patch.

TIP! Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen.

If you want to effectively weed out young plants, you can try “boiling” away the weeds. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.” Just pour out the water on the weeds being careful to avoid any nearby plants. Boiling water can hurt the roots of weeds and can prevent them from growing.

TIP! Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need.

Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. Garden chemicals can cause skin irritation and eye injury. Wear protective gear, and use the products as directed.

TIP! It only takes a few steps to create a new garden area for perennials. Cut underneath the turf, then flip it.

Chill out by taking time to garden. Many hobbies can help you to relax and attain inner peace. Gardening is one of the easiest ways to attain this. While you do have to invest a little bit of money, the returns on that are huge. The biggest perk of horticulture is the sense of satisfaction you get from what you grow with your own two hands.

TIP! The mulch in your organic flowerbeds should be made of organic material and be no shallower than three inches. Your garden will look more professional, have fewer weeds, and benefit from the moisture control and additional nutrients.

Grow heather so that you can attract useful insects. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects. Heather beds are typically left untouched, which is why helpful little critters like ground beetles and spiders call them home. For this reason, you should always remember to put on your horticulture gloves when tending to your heather.

TIP! If you’re trying to decide how to water the plants in your organic garden, consider a soaker hose. This type of hose allows you to water roots directly without wetting the plants’ leaves.

Allow your children to actively participate in planting your organic garden. Horticulture helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.

TIP! When mulching around trees and flowers, the depth of the organic material should be at least 3 inches. This will hold moisture in the soil allowing you to conserve water and it also retards the growth of weeds.

Avoid getting an infection by not allowing dirt and other chemicals to get into open wounds. If dirt and grime get into a cut while horticulture, it may become infected. There are bandages out there now that can seal cuts completely.

TIP! High soil quality means higher quality plants, and high-quality plants are more resistant to disease and insect infestations. While the insects are still present, you are avoiding their damages, so everyone is happy.

If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth. If you aren’t wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.

TIP! Compost is extremely helpful in a garden, but what is in it? Many people build their compost bins out of leaves and grass, scraps of food, hay and wood chips. Compost is an effective alternative to commercial fertilizer.

Do not rush planting seeds in your garden. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. Next, you should spread the seeds evenly so they can grow with room. Seeds should be buried about three times deeper than their own size. Some seeds require direct sunlight to grow, and these should be left on top of the soil.

TIP! A good gardening tip is to be sure to grow high-value crops. Certainly, different people place different ranges of values on various types of plants.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.

Ideas For Your Most Beautiful Garden Ever!

TIP! Learn the proper way to lay sod. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared.

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.

Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.

Measuring Sticks

TIP! Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Climbing plants are known to be very versatile, and can help hide any ugly wall or fence, and this often only takes one growing season.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks. Simply lay the handles out on the floor and run a measuring tape next to them. Mark the measurements with a permanent marker. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! During fall, you should plant cold weather vegetables. Try using a pumpkin as a natural plant pot.

For the best results, select the right kind of soil. Depending on the types of plants you would like to grow, your garden’s soil might need to be amended with different substances to alter drainage, acidity and other charactheristics that make plants happy. You can also make an artificial area with one variety of soil.

TIP! Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn’t too large for the plant you’ll be growing.

Try to have a plan with your garden. This will assist you in recognizing your tiny plants when they start to pop up. You might end up losing small plants in a large area, because you did not water them.

TIP! Grow wheat or cat grass in the area around the plants that your cat is eating. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.

Fertilizing your garden is essential. Manure can help grow plants, but to eliminate risk of pathogens, try using a type of commercially composted product. There are numerous types of fertilizers available. What type you select is less of a concern; any kind of fertilizer is better than none.

TIP! For areas with high alkaline, mix coffee grounds into the soil. This is an easy and inexpensive method to increase the acidity of your soil.

If you’re a new gardener, it is vital that you follow the instructions when it comes to your chemicals and tools. Otherwise, you are likely to have skin irritations flare up, which can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. Prevent issues, and use your garden chemicals safely.

TIP! Before you start planting your garden, plan it! This way, you will remember the places you planted your seeds when they start sprouting. In addition, your small plants or groups of plants that are limited in number won’t become lost if you have a large garden.

Use only pesticides designed to kill the specific type of pest in your garden, and avoid the broad-spectrum kind. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Beneficial bugs are usually several orders more sensitive to the things you spray than the pests you are trying to kill, so you might wind up dropping the good bug populace and open the door to pest population growth. This ends up becoming a vicious cycle of increasing pesticide use.

TIP! Split up your irises. Overgrown clumps of irises can be divided up to increase your numbers of this lovely flower.

For visual interest, make one plant a focal point of your garden. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.

TIP! Using pest-resistant plants or natural materials in your garden is a good way to keep pests away. Slugs who want to enter a vegetable garden, for example, can be repelled by a simple border of marigolds and onions.

You need to be smart when it comes to watering 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. Avoid damage to new plantings by keeping the water on low to move the water slowly through the soaker. Watering your garden for a couple hours while you are working on other tasks is an efficient use of your time.

TIP! If you are new to gardening, make sure you read and follow all the directions on any tool or chemical you use. Some of the chemicals in these products can cause skin irritation, or worse, if you fail to take this simple precaution.

The ideal temperature to set your thermostat for indoor plants is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the daylight hours. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If this is a little too warm for your house, grow your organic plants under a heat lamp.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. These pesticides can kill the useful insects that work as predators to pests.

When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. Set up the tools you will need for your day prior to hitting the garden, then put them away neatly at the end of your gardening session. You can use a tool belt, or you may want to wear pants with extra pockets.

Dried Material

TIP! If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening.

The compost pile should include equal parts of dried material and green plant material. Garden wastes, such as grass clippings, are classified as green materials. Your dried material can be things such as sawdust, paper shreds, wood shavings, straw and cardboard. Don’t include ashes, diseased plants, charcoal meat, or carnivorous animal waste.

TIP! You should work efficiently, instead of working hard in your garden, to simplify things. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools.

Try using untreated stone, brick, or wood to create a raised bed. Make sure the wood you use is untreated and rot resistant. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. Never use compost from treated woods in a veggie garden; the chemicals can contaminate your food. If you are already using treated lumber, you can use plastic liners, or a different barrier, in order to protect your garden.

TIP! Pine can be a wonderful mulch. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too.

In order to claim your crops are legitimately organic and be credible, it is important to your customers that you become organic garden certified. This will result in generating more sales and creating a loyal customer base.

TIP! An old laundry basket makes a great way to gather your harvest. An old laundry basket makes an excellent strainer for cleaning your produce.

After reading these tips, you can begin to understand what it takes to become a great organic gardener. There is a lot of information to be had and you need to know how to apply it. If you keep this information in mind, you should be able to grow a great organic garden in no time.

Horticulture Advice For A Healthy And Beautiful Garden

TIP! Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks.

Organic horticulture is becoming an increasingly popular activity. By following some simple advice, you can get started in the interesting world of gardening in just a little time. Just follow the tips and tricks outlined here and get ready for some beautiful results!

TIP! You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.

So you don’t shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. Put the plants outside in the sun for one to two hours in the beginning. Throughout the week, you should leave your plants out for a little longer each day. After a few more days, your plants will be more resistant and ready to stay outside all the time.

TIP! Make sure that you divide your irises! Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. After foliage is no longer alive, remove the flowers with bulbs.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. You can use larger tools, like rakes, as measuring sticks. Lay the handles onto the floor and place a measuring tape beside them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. Now, the next time you do work in the garden, you’ll actually have a ruler at your fingertips.

TIP! If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. Seeds will always germinate much better when you first plant them indoors initially.

Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. The types of bulbs you use will determine the time of year your flowers will bloom, giving you the pleasure of blooms from spring to summer, if you plant them right.

TIP! Controlling pests can be quite challenging when trying to grow a healthy, hardy vegetable garden. Don’t spray any harsh chemicals on your vegetables because you will be eating them later on.

Garden vegetables should be planted in areas of the ground that receive a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Most vegetables need that much sun to grow rapidly and successfully. Some flowers need the same thing.

TIP! When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. You should also try using a bit of coffee grounds or tea to increase the acidity of the soil for your gardenias or your rhododendrons.

If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. A pot of boiling hot water can be one of the most safe weed destroyers. Douse the weeds with this pot, just avoid the nearby plants. The extreme heat of the water will cause damage to the weeds’ roots, which will stop them from growing any more.

TIP! You can spray scents such as after-shave and cologne around your garden to deter your dog. Using this will cover up the odors that your dog likes and will cut down on the intrigue of your landscaping for your furry friend.

Try growing your peas indoors for the first couple months. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination. This will also make the seedlings hardier, which will help them resist diseases and pests. Take the seedlings outdoors once they look strong enough.

TIP! Plant strawberries for your children. Children will be more willing to help you if they can pluck their own fruit from the garden.

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil. In addition, mulch will help you to prevent weeds. This will save you having to constantly pull weeds.

TIP! Your seeds, once they begin sprouting, don’t need the same amount of warmth as they did before. As they begin growing you can move them farther away from heat sources.

Learn the proper way to handle chemicals, and the right way to use garden tools. If you don’t pay good attention, you could wind up with skin irritations or other issues. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.

TIP! In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden.

If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

TIP! Keep plastic bags handy to cover your muddy gardening shoes. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

Vegetables are softer when they are warmer, increasing the risk that you will damage them. Twisting off vegetables causes damage to the plant; always snip them at the base of the vine.

TIP! Increase your property value with landscaping. Landscaping your yard will bring you a big return on your investment.

If you’re working to build a sustainable organic garden, try leaving a portion of your garden untouched so that the wildlife will be able to thrive. One side effect of this is that where animals thrive, so do birds and insects that help nurture and pollinate plants, which will increase the quality of your garden.

TIP! Using organic produce from organic gardens which are free of pesticides is a great benefit. This will improve your family’s overall health, but it does mean you have to be extra vigilant about checking for pest infestations.

The ambient temperate of a room with live plants should be kept between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees throughout the day. The temperature needs to remain warm so they may grow. If you aren’t wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.

TIP! Rotate where you plant each type of plant each year. For example, if you usually plant corn in one area of your garden and flowers in another, switch which plant is planted in each section.

When composting lawn clippings, leaves, and other materials, it is best to add the same amount of green, freshly-cut material as you do dried material. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings. Dried plant material consists of sawdust, shredded paper, cardboard, straw, and cut-up and dried wood material. Charcoal, meat, ashes or other diseased plants should not be included in a compost pile.

TIP! It only takes a few steps to create a new garden area for perennials. Simply use a spade to cut under the ground where you want to place your garden, flip it over and cover with wood chips.

As you can see from the information provided in this article, organic gardening requires time and perseverance. Use the tips you found here, mixed with some of your own ideas, to have a productive, environmentally friendly garden. Whatever you chose to plant, the suggestions from this article will help your horticulture be a success.

Achieve Horticulture Success With These Useful Tips

TIP! Try not to cause shock to your plants by gradually changing their conditions and temperature. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so.

No time is better than the present. You may have several questions on how you should begin and what you need, and this article is the perfect resource for you. Included here is advice that will assist you with your gardening dreams.

TIP! Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools that have long handles such as rakes, hoes and shovels can be used in place of a measuring stick.

You must gradually introduce your plants to changing conditions and temperatures, so you do not shock them. Put them in the sun outside for a couple of hours during the first day. Gradually increase the the time they spend outside over a one week period. By the weekend, the plants can make that big move without a problem!

Measuring Sticks

TIP! For an unusual, but effective, organic solution to weeding young plants, try “boiling” the weeds away. Boiling water is a very safe alternative to other potent herbicides.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks. Lay your handles on the floor, and put measuring tape right next to them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! Irises can be easily divided. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants.

Prior to planting anything in your garden, check your soil. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. A lot of extension offices will offer this service and it is worth it so you know what your soil needs.

TIP! Good green gardens begin from seeds, not plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery.

Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. This will keep seeds hydrated and help them to grow faster. This increases the chances of survival for the seeds.

TIP! When deciding on which plants to include in your landscaping projects, consider evergreens which produce colorful berries. These will help give your garden a burst of color, even in the winter months when most other vegetation has lost their colors.

If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. This simple act can lead to vegetables that taste better and look more appealing.

TIP! Plant with fall season color in mind. That doesn’t have to be the case.

You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected. Join them together at the top, and use a blanket or old sheet to cover them. Doing this is a lot more effective than wrapping up the plant with plastic because it lets air circulate, which could avoid any rotting.

TIP! Gardening can be very relaxing. A plethora of paths to individual relaxation and inner peace exist.

Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all gardening tools and chemicals prior to using them. If you fail to follow the directions, you expose yourself to safety hazards or a risk of experiencing adverse reactions. Stick to the rules and safeguard your health.

TIP! Avoid damage from the sun by dressing correctly when you garden. Try wearing a large sunhat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes, and use sunscreen on any exposed skin.

Consider planting evergreens in your garden that produce berries. These help to give your garden nice looking color, even during winter when most vegetation is colorless. The American Holly, American Cranberrybush, the Winterberry, and the Common Snowberry help provide color during the winter.

TIP! Organic gardening is a safe hobby to share with your children. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.

Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Useful insects are more sensitive to these pesticides than the pests, so by killing them, you could be growing your pest population. Your problem will only get worse and you will find yourself using more pesticides.

TIP! If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps.

You can keep your dog away from your garden by spraying perfume or aftershave in the grass. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

TIP! It is easy to quickly prepare your perennial garden ground. Turn over the soil in your garden so it will be soft and easy to plant before spreading wood chips around your garden.

During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. You can also protect both your vegetables and the plant they grow on by cutting them off instead of twisting them off.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weeds, reduce watering needs and fertilize your garden.

To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow. If you do not want to keep your home that warm during the winter months, you can get a heat lamp for the organic plants instead.

TIP! Keep plastic bags handy to cover your muddy gardening shoes. Doing this prevents lengthy work interruptions, and allows you to finish the job quickly.

Make sure you have some plastic bags around so that you can cover any muddy gardening shoes you have. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! When planting tomatoes in your organic garden, a great tip is to plant another set of tomatoes after three weeks of planting the original ones. Doing this will keep your whole harvest from popping up at the same time.

Put coffee grounds in your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nutritional elements plants need, such as nitrogen. Nitrogen is often the most important nutrient when it comes to plants thriving, and a solid source of nitrogen, like coffee grounds, urea, or compost, can boost growth speed and increase height.

TIP! Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. Mulch adds nutrients to the soil, keeps the soil moist, reduces weed growth, and makes beds look tidier.

You can get rid of slugs with a simple beer trap. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level. Pour beer into the jar until it’s almost full. Leave an inch of space between the beer and the jar top. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, and will then become trapped within the jar.

TIP! Increase the biodiversity in your organic garden. When you have a bigger variety of plants, you also attract different wildlife as well.

One of the more rewarding hobbies is organic gardening. Any form of horticulture gives a basic outline for all others; teaching you the general methodology behind sewing, planting, and harvesting properly.

TIP! When getting ready to plant a tree or a shrub in your organic garden, try digging an ugly hole to plant them in. If the hole that you create for them has any “glazed” sides that were caused by a shovel, then it may restrict the root from penetrating into the nearby soil.

Consider using botanical pesticides to keep the pest that plague your garden under control. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. Natural insecticide are more environmentally friendly, in part, because they decay quickly and become harmless.

TIP! Determine which plants you want to grow in advance when planning an organic garden. While two varieties of a plant may fall within the same family, there could be variations in the basic requirements for each one.

After reading this article, you should now have a solid base of knowledge about horticulture. You thought perhaps that you knew what to do before, but look at how ready you are now! The ideas within this article have hopefully gotten your enthusiasm up for some wonderful horticulture adventures of your own!