A lot of people think tending a garden is totally beyond them, but that’s true only for people who don’t do their research. Knowing what it takes to correctly grow your plants will take you from an amateur to a master in no time. The ability to develop into a master gardener is within your reach; just read on to get the advice that will help you get there.
Starting a garden with the best soil is a great defense mechanism against pests. Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases. To give your garden the best chance of yielding the healthiest plants, start with a high-quality soil that has fewer chemicals which over time will accumulate salts.
If you want flowers in spring and summer, plant bulbs in the garden. These are hearty choices, choices that will reward you for years despite the little effort that is involved in their care. Include a variety of plantings to get a full season of flowers, from early bloomers to late-season varieties.
In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Put some seeds (a small amount) in a container that isn’t too large for the plant you’ll be growing. Fill that container with water, almost to the top. This will hydrate the seeds and facilitate growth. Seeds that are grown in this way have a higher survival and maturity rate.
Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. Alternatively, you can try putting mothballs, citrus peel or anything else with an odor that cats find distasteful in the soil surrounding the plants.
Two items you need to invest in when working in a garden are a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool. Working on the ground for long periods of time can be painful on the knees, so a small garden stool can really allow you to work in comfort. It is also normal to move heavy objects and dirt around the garden, so a wheelbarrow is something you should have.
If you have problems keeping the dog out of the garden, spray things like aftershave, perfume or other scents on the grass surrounding the garden. This kind of scent is going to mask the scents your dog is attracted to. If your dog has no interesting smell to follow, the garden will not be a tempting place.
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. Be certain that you cut picked vegetables straight off from the vine itself and not by twisting them off, because you don’t want to harm the plant.
Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. Dissolve 1 aspirin per gallon of water for a plant disease fighting solution. The simple practice of spraying them with the mix will help them fight off diseases. Plants should be sprayed once every two to three weeks.
Pine mulch can be highly effective under the right conditions. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.
Get more value from your property. Landscaping has a powerful home improvement return. Some plants can even raise your home value about 20%. Select plants and shrubs that won’t require a lot of ongoing maintenance and will adapt well to your climate.
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. While this appears strange, research shows it can help plants grow larger, versus not petting them at all.
While organic gardening costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.
Adding a lot of mulch to your garden is a great tip to implement in order to keep your garden healthy. Mulch will protect and nourish the soil. On hot days, mulch will offer protection to a plant’s root system by cooling the soil. Mulch slows down evaporation, thus helps your soil retain its moisture. It also is helpful in keeping weeds under control.
What plants are native to your area? You should plan your landscaping by using native grasses, bushes and flowers. If you choose groups of plants that all mesh with each other in terms of optimal soil conditions, weather requirements and plant interaction, you won’t need to do as much work to get the plants to coexist peacefully. Native plants will thrive with only natural compost.
Be specific about the things you desire to grow when it comes to your organic garden. Not all varieties of flowers and produce are suited to the same type of environment. An example would be seen in the many different varieties of roses, as some will grow well in your garden, where other varieties may not. Therefore, you need to be sure that the varieties you chose to plant, are most suited to the growing environment present in your garden.
As was stated in the beginning of the article, horticulture is not hard to accomplish if you know what you are doing. With the necessary knowledge, such as the advice presented by this article, you’ll be able to garden with perfection.