
Horticulture can be very complicated, when you look at it more closely. There are so many things to consider, such as proper pH balance, natural but effective pesticides, adequate sunlight and water supplies and so on. If you are inexperienced with horticulture, making the switch to organic methods may be a challenge for you. By reading the tricks in this article, you will find yourself better prepared to grow your food organically.
Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Put the plants outside in the sun for one to two hours in the beginning. Over a week, increase the time outside slowly. After a week’s time, the plants should be fine staying outside.
Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. This will keep the soil from sticking, and prevent rusting of the tool.
Think about planting your seeds in indoor pots and then transplanting them to your garden once they become seedlings. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood. It also lets you have tighter control over the planting periods in your garden. Using this method, you can remove the mature plants, then put the seedlings in their places.
Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The mulch will keep the soil around the plants moist a little longer. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.
When horticulture, try not to use broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. In fact, beneficial insects are more likely to die than pests if you spray these types of pesticides. As the population of “good” bugs dwindles, your garden may become overrun with pests. As a result, gardeners often have to resort to using more toxic pesticides to get rid of garden pests.
Plant with the colors of autumn in mind. That idea is actually far from the truth. Autumn is the most colorful season of all, foliage-wise. 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. Also, when considering shrubs, try using cotoneaster, hydrangea, or barberry.
If you want to keep dogs our of your garden, take some aftershave, old perfume, or any other scented item and spray the grass around the area. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.
Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. An aspirin and a half, combined with a couple of gallons of water, will do amazing things for your plants. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Apply at three week intervals.
When gardening, protecting your knees is important. For most people, bending over while gardening is too difficult. Due to this, most people choose to garden while on their knees, which also makes it easier to tend to plants. You can pick up a knee pad for you to rest on so that your knees are at ease on the ground.
To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth. If your home isn’t that warm during in winter, try a heat lamp to use on your organic plants instead.
Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. Allow the newly turned soil to sit for two weeks, then plant your perennials.
In order to maximize the efficiency of your horticulture, ensure your gardening tools are kept close by you. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets. Have shears, a trowel, gloves and other commonly used garden tools portable and easy to access.
Treated Wood
A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely. Cypress, locust and cedar are all very good choices. Avoid using treated wood in an organic vegetable garden. The chemicals in the wood can leak into the soil, and eventually into the plants. If you have built a bed with treated lumber already, use a barrier such as plastic to line the bed.
Gardening is not only a great hobby, but also a way to feel at peace with the earth. Organic gardening will accomplish that feeling even more so. By engaging yourself in organic horticulture, you can start to gain knowledge and better understand the full process of planting.
When planting tomatoes in your organic garden, a great tip is to plant another set of tomatoes after three weeks of planting the original ones. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes. If something happens to ruin your harvest, you have time to fix the problem before the next set of tomatoes is due, sparing part of the harvest.
Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.