Organic horticulture is wonderfully therapeutic and anyone can enjoy it. Horticulture can be overwhelming for a beginner. How should a novice approach the learning experience of growing plants? Well, read the tips below, of course!
Make sure that your sod is laid properly. Prior to laying the sod, prepare your soil. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. Lightly, but firmly pack the soil down, and make sure that it is flat. The soil should be adequately moistened. Sod must be arranged in staggered rows; each joint should offset one another. Make sure the sod is firmly placed to ensure a surface that is sufficiently flat and even. Also, make sure to use soil to fill the areas where there are gaps in the sod. Water the sod each day for two weeks so it will become well-rooted and ready for foot traffic.
Save some plants in the winter by bringing them indoors. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.
Irises should be divided. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. Uproot bulbous irises if the flowers have wilted. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Divide rhizomes with a knife. Cut rhizomes from around the outside then throw away the remaining center. Each new piece you cut should possess at least one healthy offshoot. Replant them immediately.
Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. For your own safety, take the time to read and follow the instructions.
Know the perfect time to harvest the vegetables in your garden. Each veggie has its own prime time for harvesting. Harvesting zucchini is best done when they are small and baby peas should be harvested when they are young. However, you get better taste out of tomatoes that have been allowed to ripen as much as practical while still on their vine. So, be aware of the best harvest time to pick your veggies.
Pest control can present a challenge for successful vegetable gardening. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. Research the methods available for eliminating garden pests organically. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.
Grow heather so that you can attract useful insects. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects. Heather beds are also attractive to bugs such as spiders and ground beetles that will kill pests. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing horticulture gloves.
Plant strawberries for your children. Strawberries are a favorite of children due to their sweetness. And since they’re so easy and fun to pick, it’s also a healthy, productive, safe activity that children can assist adults with.
When gardening, it is critical to shield your knees as much as possible. Bending over from a standing position is something many people cannot do. Kneeling is much easier on your body, and helps you tend to your plants without hurting your back. You can get a knee pad to place on the ground to kneel on so that you do not feel pain in your knees.
Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow. If you do not want to keep your home that warm during the winter months, you can get a heat lamp for the organic plants instead.
If you’re planning on gardening inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. If your house or apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light, one option is to grow something that only requires medium or low light. If you have a different type of plant, extra lighting can always help.
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. Let the area sit for a fortnight, then turn the earth and set up your new perennial bed.
Keep your gardening tools close by to maximize gardening efficiency. You could do this by using a big bucket, or just wear old pants that have some deep pockets. Tools you’ll need to garden efficiently include towels, gloves, pruning shears and other plant-specific tools.
Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build up. There are certain little things to help you keep up with your garden, even if you don’t have the necessary time each day to do everything. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.
Now you have the groundwork of knowledge necessary to start enjoying organic gardening. Horticulture is not only a beautiful art but also a rewarding and relaxing way to spend your time. Using what you’ve learned here will help you sow your organic garden.