Horticulture Made As Simple As It Can Possibly Be

~ craigb

TIP! Try to plan a variety of perennials that are slug-proof. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night.

Why not learn something new about becoming a better gardener? You can have a good idea on what you need, this way you aren’t spending money on equipment you do not need, or on seeds that will not work in your environment.

TIP! Healthy soil will be your best defense against the pests that can invade your garden. Healthy plants grown in robust and enriched soil have an advantage in fighting pest infestation.

It is important to do your homework so you choose plants that produce higher yields. It is quite common to find that hybrids, which are often able to resist disease and withstand cold climates, produce yields much larger than their conventional counterparts.

TIP! Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year.

The handles on your gardening tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Lay the handles on the floor, then run the measuring tape down next to them. Use a bright permanent marker and label the distances. This will allow you to have a ruler at your fingertips when you are working out in the garden.

TIP! Cover fences and walls with lots of climbers. Climbers have many different uses and spread quickly.

Transplanting plants and bringing them indoors can protect them from harsh winters. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones. Be careful not to damage the root system as you dig up the plant, and place it in a pot.

TIP! If you discover that your soil is very alkaline, take used coffee grounds and mix them thoroughly with your soil. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil.

All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee. Using that report, you can amend your soil as needed for a thriving garden. It can avoid ruined vegetables and flowers, so check with places, such as a cooperative extension department to see where you can obtain the analysis.

Mint Leaves

TIP! Don’t over-water your plants, and keep the soil around them aerated. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants.

If you find yourself in love with mint leaves, but not with how they dominate a garden, read on. You can control the growth of the mint leaves by growing them in a large container rather than in your garden. You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn’t run rampant in your garden.

TIP! Split up your irises. To increase the number that you have, you need to take all your overgrown clumps and split them up.

There are natural materials, and you can also use other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Slugs are repelled by bordering your vegetable garden with either onions or marigolds. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. When done naturally, there is no need for pesticides with harsh, and sometimes dangerous, chemicals

TIP! Fertilize your garden regularly. While a lot of people use manure, it is better to choose fertilizer from a reputable company, as this will reduce the risk of any pathogens getting into your soil.

Get a wheelbarrow, and a stool so that you can kneel down while gardening. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with gardening, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.

TIP! Keeping pests out of a vegetable garden can be difficult. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies.

Plan your garden, and plant with fall colors in mind. But, that does not have to be the case! Fall is the most colorful time of year for foliage. 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. Cotoneaster, barberry and hydrangea can provide vibrant color if you are considering shrubs for your garden.

TIP! As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. Most people can’t bend for long periods while standing.

Always protect yourself from the sun when you are outdoors working in the garden; you can do this by wearing clothes that will shield you from the sun. Put on some sunglasses, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat. Proper protection from the sun means a lower chance of sunburn, as well as a decreased risk of skin cancer.

TIP! Pine can be a wonderful mulch. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil.

Before planting any perennials, you have to make the ground ready. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. After a few weeks, dig, then plant your perennials.

TIP! A great tip when running your own organic garden, is to lightly ruffle your seedlings with your hand or cardboard, around once or twice per day. This will make your plants grow faster and they will get bigger than they would have without this practice.

When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. Have all of tools you will need for the day before you head out your garden. When you are finished, put them away neatly for the next time. If you use lots of tools, consider using a tool belt or even just some pants that have lots of pockets.

TIP! Organic gardening is more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but you will reap a greater reward. While chemical companies may make astounding claims about their products, growing organically is the most rewarding option for you and those who consume your crops.

Keep plastic bags handy to cover your muddy horticulture shoes. Having these available lets you keep your flow in movement, and helps you return to your horticulture fast so you can finish up your day.

TIP! Add mulch to keep your soil healthy. Mulch acts as a protective covering for the soil.

Enhance your property value and beauty with gardening and landscaping. Landscaping has a powerful home improvement return. Investing in the right plants could raise the resale value of your property by at least 20%. Seek out plants and shrubbery that require limited maintenance and will adapt well to the natural climate that you live in.

TIP! A great thing about organic foods produced by organic gardens is their lack of pesticides. This is healthier than other alternatives, but you need to still check for diseases and bugs regularly.

Regular maintenance prevents your gardening tasks from becoming overwhelming and unappealing. No matter what your schedule is like, you should be able to fit in small things that will help you avoid having an overwhelming amount of work all at once. You can pull a few weeds when you take your dog outside.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Make a shade garden out of your organic garden. These gardens are not high maintenance at all.

An old laundry basket works great for gathering produce from your garden. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. You can clean and rinse the harvest when it is the laundry basket and the water will go out of the holes.

TIP! Be sure that holes you dig for planting trees and shrubbery are ragged around the edges. If the sides of the hole you dug is packed hard by the shovel, the roots of your plant may have difficulty penetrating the surrounding soil.

You simply need to do your homework, spend some time working outdoors, and cultivate your patience. All the work will be worthwhile, when you experience the satisfaction of a thriving garden established by your own effort.