Growing your own organic fruits and vegetables is a great way to save money and adopt a healthier diet, but it also requires efforts from you. You also have a wide variety of seeds that you can select from. Here are a few tips and techniques you can use to get started in your own organic garden.
Lay sod properly. Before laying sod, you have to make sure the soil is accurately prepared. Remove weeds and break your soil until all the clumps are gone. Make sure your soil is flat and compacted. Now make sure the soil is thoroughly dampened. You should lay your sod staggered, and have the joints offset. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. You will have to water the sod every day for 2 weeks, and then it should be firmly rooted to the ground, and able to be walked on.
Flower Beds
Plant a variety of annuals, biennials and perennials to keep your flower beds bright. These fast growth plants make flower beds vibrant, and they let you alter the appearance seasonally and annually. Sunny areas in the middle of shrubs and perennials can be filled in nicely with these plants. The most popular varieties to use include petunia, zinnia, cosmos, snapdragon, marigold, hollyhock, and sunflower.
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.
Don’t cut your grass too short! When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant. Short grass means short roots and dead grass.
Garden vegetables should be planted in areas of the ground that receive a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. 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. It’s also the same for some types of flowers.
Irises should be divided. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. Lift bulbous irises when the foliage is dead. The bulbs should automatically divide in your palm, and once you put them back into the earth, they will typically flower the following year. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. You can trim new pieces away from the outside of the bulbs and then simply throw the old center away. Every piece needs to have a minimum of one good offshoot. For optimum viability, plant your new cuttings into the ground without delay.
Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort. Also, gardening can involve a lot of heavy lifting and moving items, therefore a robust wheelbarrow can make that aspect much easier.
Select a specific type of plant to be the focal point of your garden. Gardens are like art; you need to give the piece (or garden) an initial focal point. Quite often a distinctive plant works well as a point of interest.
To keep dogs from disturbing your garden, spray some old aftershave, cologne, perfume or other strongly-scented products in the dirt or grass surrounding it. 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.
Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. This includes wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to prevent sunburns and skin cancer.
Allow your children to assist with the work to be done in your organic garden. Growing a garden offers a unique learning experience, and you and your child can grow closer while growing healthy food for your family.
If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If you aren’t wanting your house to be this warm in the winter, you can use a heat lamp on the plants.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are a good addition to your soil. Coffee grounds will add nitrogen to your soil which will make them helpful for some of your plants. Coffee grounds as a source of nitrogen for plants are usually limited to acid-loving plants because coffee is acidic. 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.
As mentioned earlier, an organic garden could be a valuable asset for improving your diet. It is also important to be knowledgeable of the various types of plants that you can choose from. Following the advice you have read here is a great first step in starting your own successful organic garden that you can enjoy for years to come.