If you use these principles of organic horticulture, you will produce notably positive effects for your plants and your planet. It shows that you care about taking care of your plants and that you want them to grow up healthy. These are worthy goals. Like with any other skill set, you can always add and improve. Some advice that will be of use to you follows.
If you want to keep your garden free of pests, start with healthy soil! Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects. High-quality soil that is low on chemicals is key. It’s the first thing you should think about when planning on growing your garden.
Plants that climb can hide fences and walls. Climbing plants are extremely versatile, helping to hide an ugly fence or wall, often within one growing season. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. Some varieties of these plants will have to be tethered to some sort of support, but other varieties will be able to attach to the medium they are climbing. Some climbers that have proven to be reliable are honeysuckle, jasmine, wisteria, clematis, and climbing roses.
Be sure to get rid of the weeds growing in your garden. A vibrant garden will be overrun with weeds if they are left alone. White vinegar is one option you can use in your routine weed removal. Yes, white vinegar actually kills weeds! If you don’t want to take the time to remove the weeds by hand, simply spray them with a white vinegar solution.
Take extra care of any fragile shrubs that are known to drop their leaves in the autumn. If you have tender shrubs in pots, they need to be protected in the cold weather. Pull the canes together at the top and securely tie them. Next, using a sheet or perhaps even a blanket, cover the structure. This method works better than covering your bushes in plastic, allowing air to circulate and preventing rotting.
It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Forming a border around your vegetable garden with marigolds or onions are ideal for repelling slugs. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. Using these methods eliminates your need of chemical pesticides.
Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil. This method will also prevent weeds. Every gardener can appreciate pulling fewer weeds.
If you want the best tasting vegetables, learn about the optimum time to harvest them. Different vegetables have different, ideal times that they should be picked for best flavor. Some vegetables, such as zucchini and baby peas, should be harvested when they are relatively young. In contrast, tomatoes are best when left on the vine as long as possible. So, make sure you do some research, and find out when the best time to harvest your vegetables is.
Plan your garden, and plant with fall colors in mind. Fall, though, can still be an interesting time for trees. The foliage in the fall probably exudes more color than any other season. There are many variations in leaf color with different varieties of Maple, Beech and Dogwood trees that can give you lively yellows and deep crimsons. Shrubs such as barberry, cotoneaster and hydrangea all have gorgeous fall foliage.
If you want a sustainable garden, leave part of it undisturbed as a home for the wildlife in the area. Wildlife can help the plants in your garden to thrive, as insects support plant reproduction, while the excrement of many species contains nutrients which can help to fertilize your soil.
Always completely protect any cuts, or wait until they are healed before attempting any horticulture, as this can introduce dirt or chemicals into the wound. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening. Get the appropriate bandages to seal the cut completely.
Stay on top of your organic gardening to-do list, and don’t let the work pile up. If your busy life prevents you from tending your garden every day, do small tasks to avoid having so much work when you do have some time. For instance, pluck weeds while you take your dog outside or before getting in your car.
Laundry Basket
When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. The basket will make a great strainer when you wash your vegetables. Rinse your produce while it lays in the basket; any excess water strains off through the laundry basket holes.
You now possess the information, the equipment, and the required skills to use what you’ve just read to grow a fantastic organic garden. That’s wonderful! The suggestions outlined above will help you learn new tips about organic gardening techniques because the learning never stops. It is likely that you have gained some valuable insights that you can apply to your organic garden.