Useful Advice For Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Properly put down your sod. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared.

There are literally thousands of gardening books and websites out there. You could use all of your time to find useful horticulture information, but then you wouldn’t get much horticulture done. However, a source of wonderful information to get you on your way is right here, right now. Read on for excellent information.

TIP! When selecting among several varieties of a plant, choose the ones that will produce the largest yield. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.

Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. There are genetically modified plants that resist cold and/or disease. These often give higher yields due to higher survival rates.

TIP! The first thing you can do to ward off garden pests is to ensure you are using healthy soil in your garden. Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases.

You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties. Carefully dig near the roots and transfer those plants into a flower pot.

TIP! Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it.

Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. You can do a soil sample analysis for an affordable fee and then know what you need to properly treat your soil with so you can grow the best plants. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.

TIP! Plants need ample amounts of CO2 to reach their maximum growth. If the level of CO2 is extremely high, your plants will grow much better.

Before planting seeds, soak them overnight. Place them in a cupboard or other place where they won’t be exposed to light. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top. This will give your seeds a good start by making sure they have plenty of water, which they need to sprout. The seeds will now have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.

TIP! If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Bulbs are easy to grow and hearty, and they keep growing in years to come.

Grow some plants that cats like to eat – try catnip or wheat grass. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

Knee Pads

TIP! You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Forming a border around your vegetable garden with marigolds or onions are ideal for repelling slugs.

A set of knee pads is a great investment if your garden has a lot of low-growing plants. Kneeling on the ground as you garden will eventually cause serious discomfort for your knees. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! 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 will mask the garden smell that is attracting your dog, and it will make it a less appealing place for your dog to visit.

Make sure that you divide your irises! Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. Cut the center out of each rhizome but save the pieces. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant them immediately.

TIP! Have some plastic bags on hand that you can put over your gardening shoes if they are muddy. You will be able to go in and out without having to keep taking your shoes on and off.

The best gardens will evolve from original seeds rather than transplanted items. When starting a new garden, the most environmentally friendly way is to start from seed. It is common for commercial plants to be packaged in plastic that is not commonly recycled, and therefore, it is better to use seeds or purchase plantings only from merchants who make use of organic packaging.

TIP! When you are planning on growing a garden, you should think about the space you will need to provide a healthy growing area for your plants. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides in the garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to toxic pesticides than their annoying counterparts, so a broad-spectrum pesticide could kill all of the good bugs first, allowing the population of bad pests to multiply. This will leave you using even more pesticides to fix the problem.

TIP! One unusual tip in organic gardening, is to “pet” your seedlings often. Use your hands or a piece of cardboard and lightly ruffle the seedling about one or two times a day.

Wisely water your garden. A soaker hose is a great way to water all of the plants at once, and will save you a lot of time. To protect your plants, keep the flow on the soaker down. Letting the soaker hose do the work frees you up to turn your attention elsewhere.

TIP! Though organic farming can present challenges that traditional farming with the use of chemicals does not, harvesting the crops is reward itself for the hard work. Chemicals can be beneficial, but a chemical free organic garden will always produce the best results.

You can create the look and feel of an English garden by mixing different plants of varying heights throughout your flower bed. Using plants that all grow the same height result in a flat and uniform looking bed.

Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. This way, you can get in and out quickly, and get back to work in the garden.

TIP! Adding some biodiversity to your garden, can really help you get the most from your gardening efforts. The more types of plants you have, the more kinds of wildlife you’ll have.

If you are interested in using organic horticulture techniques to plant perennials, you will be pleased to know that it is very easy. Cut into your turf using a spade and then cover the exposed portion with lots of wood chips. In a few weeks, try cutting into your new bed and planting some perennials.

TIP! Weeds are very hard to get rid of in a regular garden as well as an organic garden. This organic weed killer is safe for the environment and you.

Add mulch to flowerbeds and your garden that is about three inches and made from various organic materials. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.

TIP! Consider the value of the crops you choose to grow. Value is subjective and will vary from person to person.

Gardening can be highly rewarding and a wonderful experience. With simple education, you can easily develop your horticulture craft. Make sure to use any advice you are provided with. Start off by applying the tips that you have read, and you will wind up with a garden that is better than the one you dreamed of.