Organic horticulture is capable of not only bringing about relaxation, but also headaches as well. The following suggestions will guide you on how to be a very successful organic gardener.
If you work with clay soil, you have probably found using a shovel very frustrating and exhausting. To make digging clay soil easier, try applying a light coating of wax, either car wax or floor wax, and then buff off and commence digging. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.
To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day. 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.
Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Climbing plants are extremely versatile, helping to hide an ugly fence or wall, often within one growing season. They can also grow through existing shrubs or trees, or be trained to cover an arbor. There are those that have to be fixed to a support, but others will find a surface to cling to all on their own through twining stems or tendrils. There are many varieties you can choose from. Honeysuckle, climbing roses and jasmine are among the best.
Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2. A greenhouse can concentrate the levels of CO2. For the best growing conditions you should keep the CO2 levels high.
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. Plant bulbs that will bloom at various intervals to ensure beautiful flowers are growing in your garden all year long.
Both cat grass and wheat grass are good for giving your errant feline pause. You could also place mothballs and citrus peels around your plants to keep your cat away.
If you have planted vegetables within your garden, make sure that they are getting at least six hours of sunlight each day. Many veggies require this amount to properly grow at a faster pace. This also rings true for some of the flowers.
Using boiling water to kill weeds is both efficient and organic. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil. Douse the weeds with this pot, just avoid the nearby plants. Boiling water will actually hurt the roots, and it will prevent the weeds from growing.
To save your knees from the wear and tear of gardening, invest in some knee pads if your garden includes a lot of low-growth plants. The time that you will have to spend on your knees in your garden can cause you unnecessary knee pain. Knee pads offer your knees the extra cushioning they need to stay comfortable during extended periods in the garden.
A great garden starts from the seeds and not from the plants. When starting a new garden, the most environmentally friendly way is to start from seed. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.
For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. What this does it essentially kill the weeds by damaging their roots. The result is that those weeds are unlikely to regrow.
Try mixing various plants that have different heights to create an interesting garden setup. If you only use uniform plants, your bed will look boring and flat.
Having a good wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool makes garden chores a lot easier. It can be very uncomfortable on the knees when working so close to the ground, so a light, portable stool makes gardening easier. You will need a wheelbarrow in order to perform various gardening chores, it is a good thing to have on hand.
Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden. Your children will be much more interesting in helping out if they know they’ll get to enjoy some tasty strawberries.
Pest control can become a major issue. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals. Remain vigilant to control your garden pests. If you happen to notice them early on, you can control them just by physically removing them from your plants with your hands.
Gardeners who are intrigued by the ideas of organic and sustainable methods should think about designating a portion of their landscape to support native plants and animals. You will find that many of the supporting cast of insects and birds that aid in plant production and pollination will be present on your land and actually help your developed gardens to produce better.
The nutrients from vegetables can help. If you steam your vegetables, you can pour the remaining water around them. For gardenias and rhododendrons, try putting your used coffee grounds or tea bags in the soil so they may acquire the acid they need for proper growth. If your garden has a fungus problem, a highly effective treatment method is to sprinkle it with chamomile tea.
Keep the temperature in your home between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if you are keeping or growing any kind of plant in your house. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth. If you think it would not be comfortable to keep your residence that warm in the winter, consider purchasing a heat lamp to use on the plants.
Plant with autumn colors in mind. It’s not necessary to think this way, however. Fall foliage provides for 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. Add even more color to your garden by planting shrubs such as hydrangea, barberry or cotoneaster.
Flower Bed
Water your garden wisely. A soaker hose can save valuable time by watering all of your plants simultaneously, removing the need for hauling a watering can or hose around to each plant. Turn down the water pressure to its lowest setting, as anything higher could harm the plants. You can go about your business and leave your soaker hose at work for an hour or two.
You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. Mulch discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while adding nutrients to your flower bed. What’s more, your garden will look professional all year.
It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. Turn over the soil in your garden so it will be soft and easy to plant before spreading wood chips around your garden. Let the area sit for a couple weeks, then begin digging into it and planting your new perennials.
Add coffee grounds to your garden’s soil. These coffee grounds have many nitrogenous nutrients that your plants could use. The more nitrogen you have in the soil, the greater the growth of your plants will be, so adding grounds or compost will ensure your plants grow large very quickly.
Pine mulch can be highly effective under the right conditions. Many types of plants thrive in soil that has high acid levels. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. If you spread a few inches of pine needles around your garden beds, when they break down, the acid they contain will leach into the soil.
A rule of thumb for when you are planting seeds in containers is to make the hole depth around three times larger than the seed itself. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Some common examples include ageratum and petunias. If you are unsure as to whether or not your seeds should be covered or not, try to read the package or find the answer online.
Try using coffee grounds on the soil. Coffee grounds have nitrogen that plants will utilize. Your plants will really bloom if they get the nitrogen they need from coffee grounds or compost or diluted urea.
One odd but apparently useful tip for growing organic plants, is to lightly brush your plants with your fingers or a piece of cardboard 1-2 times a day. This may sound strange, but research has proven that doing this will help your plants grow bigger than if they were not petted at all.
When you water your organic garden, choose a soaker hose for the best results. This special type of hose allows water to slowly ooze out; the water then directly targets the roots and spares the leaves. Soaker hoses don’t use as much water as sprinklers, and make it easy to water plants.
Certification is important in order to be considered a legitimate organic gardener. This will result in generating more sales and creating a loyal customer base.
Weeds are annoying in any garden. Fortunately, there are many organic products that can be used to kill weeds without harming the environment.
When you mulch your garden beds with organic material, make sure it’s about three inches deep. This will retain moisture in the soil as well as provide nourishment. It also inhibits weed growth, resulting in a tidier presentation of your organic garden.
A good gardening tip is to be sure to grow high-value crops. The worth of a plant is not an objective thing. By choosing plants that tend to be more expensive, growing your own versions will save you a great deal of money over time. So, sow seeds of plants that you like and reap the rewards in the future.
There are many different plants that will grow well in an organic garden. Many acid-loving plants love mulch. These plants must be mulched with thick layers of pine needles every year in the fall. As the needles decompose, their acid will deposit into the soil and nourish the plants.
Just because winter is coming doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s time to give up your garden. Instead, create an outdoor tent to protect the area. You can stick old bean poles into the four corners of your beds. Place a sheet over the poles and keep them down with bricks or rocks. This tent is easy to make, but offers effective winter protection for tender crops.
Planting trees in such a way that your home is in the shadows of the trees is a good idea. Your trees can provide natural cooling by shading your house.
You should use plenty of mulch if you want to save water when growing a home garden. The more mulch that you spread in your garden, the less watering you will need to do. The mulch can be store-bought or from dead plant and tree materials from around your home. Just be sure you use a lot of it.
Dig small ditches between your rows of plants when you are creating an organic garden. This way, when you water your plants, the water will flow directly to them, and they won’t need to be watered as much. This saves water, which helps you save money and helps the environment.
Add small ditches between each row of plants in your garden. This is a great way to make sure that each plant is properly hydrated. This saves water, which helps you save money and helps the environment.
Organic gardening does take some effort, but anyone can do if they approach it with the right attitude. It involves lots of work as well as patience, but it’s so worth it when you see your beautiful organic garden. If you use the advice above, you can improve your skills at organic horticulture.
Among the most effective of all gardening techniques is mulching. Mulching can also lessen the rate at which water evaporates from the soil, and keep weeds from taking over the garden.
Blue widgets is a complex topic, which is why you should take the time to research it some more. You have found the information you require to get going, right here in this article. All you need to do now is put it into action.
About The Author
