Organic horticulture doesn’t have to be grueling work. Indeed, it can be quite enjoyable. But, when a person begins organic gardening, they may feel overwhelmed. Are you interested in cultivating green gardens and earning that green thumb? Keep reading to discover some useful tips and tactics.
Learn the proper way to lay sod. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Compress the soil lightly yet firmly, and make certain it’s flat. Moisten the soil thoroughly. You want the sod laid down in staggered rows, and the joints to be offset from each other. Sod should be firm and have an even, flat surface without gaps. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.
Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. The annuals and biennials are usually fast growing because they only last one season, and this will let you change the garden every season for a nice change of pace. They are very helpful when trying to fill in gaps between shrubs and perennials in an area that is sunny. A variety of flowers that will thrive in your region are available.
For the best results, select the right kind of soil. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate. It is also possible to create individual areas with one specific soil type.
Before actually putting plants into your garden, check the type and compostion of your soil. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.
Be sure to do some weeding on a regular basis. Weeds will cause your garden to become overgrown and cluttered. To help with the removal, you can use white vinegar. White vinegar can not only kill the weeds, it’s also a non-toxic spray that won’t harm pets or people. So, use a spray solution of white vinegar if you are tired of pulling those weeds by hand.
Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them. First tie together the tops; then take a sheet or blanket and loosely shroud the wigwam. When you do this you allow air to flow and circulate which can actually prevent rotting, this method is great and better than just wrapping your plant in some plastic.
Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? Instead of planting mint in your garden, keep it in a large container or pot to prevent it from spreading. You have the option of planting the container with the plant to keep the roots from taking the garden over.
Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. The berries will provide a boost of color to your backyard, even during the colder months when most of the other vegetation has been drained of their color. Other plants that boast of winter berries include: Holly, Snowberry and Winterberry.
Pest control is tough when you have a veggie garden. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. Research the methods available for eliminating garden pests organically. If you catch them when there are only a few around, you can actually pick them off the plants by hand.
Coffee Grounds
Add coffee grounds to your garden’s soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nitrogen, that is a nutrient required by plants. Usually, nitrogen is limited with a plant, but using coffee grounds, diluted urea, or compost can make your plants grow faster and taller.
Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. The laundry basket can be used as a colander for your produce. You can clean and rinse the harvest when it is the laundry basket and the water will go out of the holes.
If slugs are a problem in your garden, use a beer trap to kill them naturally. Place a jar into the soil so that the top of it’s mouth rests parallel with the soil. Fill the jar with beer to an inch below the jar’s top. Slugs will crawl into the jar to get the beer and not be able to get out again.
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. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.
Reading this article has hopefully given you some great ideas to begin your experiences in organic gardening. It provides so much opportunity for relaxation in a soothing environment and so much reward when the garden flourishes. Use these tips to see your garden flourish!