If you have visions of a healthy, lush, green garden, there are things you should consider on your way to that goal. Gardening can require a large amount of ongoing work, although many find it to be fun, rewarding and even therapeutic. The following paragraphs are going to give you ideas and insights that you can use to make gardening fun, instead of laborious.
To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only. As you continue the first week of the project, gradually extend the duration of sun exposure. By the week’s end, your plants should then be ready for the big move!
Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night. They often enjoy feeding on perennials with very smooth and tender leaves. Young plants are a special favorite of theirs. Some perennials, however, leave a bad taste in slugs’ mouths or are difficult to chew through because their leaves aren’t tender. Selecting an unappetizing perennial, such as campanula or heuchera, will help stop them from being eaten.
When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. You may be able to save your most resistant or expensive plants. Use caution when digging around the roots of your plant. You need to keep the root structure intact for it to thrive after being potted.
Plant Bulbs
If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as summer, plant bulbs. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. Plant bulbs that will bloom at various intervals to ensure beautiful flowers are growing in your garden all year long.
Don’t cut your grass too short! If you allow your grass to grow a little longer, the roots will go down deeper into the dirt, helping the grass grow better and remain hydrated. Short grass leads to more shallow roots and will result in more brown, dried-out patches.
Coffee Grounds
If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil. The right soil will make your vegetables taste better and make your flowers more vibrant and aromatic.
Get some horticulture knee pads if you find yourself kneeling on the ground a lot to do your horticulture. Horticulture can really put a lot of pressure on your knees that will leave you cramped and uncomfortable. Purchase a great pair of knee pads; they will provide a cushion for your knees while making horticulture more comfortable.
You need to be smart when it comes to watering your garden. A soaker hose will save you time because you won’t have to individually water each plant, like you do with a regular nozzle, or a can that you need to constantly refill. 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.
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 work to mask any scent that is attracting dogs, and will make the garden a much less interesting place to for dogs to be.
Protect cuts from dirt and chemicals, and think about staying away from horticulture until they heal. A cut that has come into contact with extraneous materials like dirt can become seriously infected. Get the appropriate bandages to seal the cut completely.
In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings. Dried plant material comprises shredded paper, cardboard, sawdust, and straw. Never use ashes, meat, charcoal, diseased plants or carnivorous animal manure in your compost pile.
A raised bed can be built with untreated wood, brick or stone. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated. Several species of trees yield suitable wood. Locust, cypress, and cedar are among the more commonly used rot resitent woods. In a veggie garden, don’t use treated wood since its chemicals can leech into the food crops and soil. If you are already using treated lumber, you can use plastic liners, or a different barrier, in order to protect your garden.
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.