A Few Easy Tips For All Gardeners

~ craigb

TIP! To get the best results, you must use the right soil. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose.

Many people are beginning to see how great an organic garden really can be. Using the information in this article will help you to quickly get up to speed on how to grow your own organic garden. Just put these tips to work in your own garden to yield delicious and nutritious results.

Baking Soda

TIP! Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits.

Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water. Spray this solution on plants once weekly until the mildew is gone. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.

TIP! In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. These climbing plants will help beautify an old fence, and they are fast workers too. You may also be interested in training them over an arbor or trellis. You can also grow them among existing landscape trees and plants. There are those that have to be fixed to a support, but others will find a surface to cling to all on their own through twining stems or tendrils. There are many varieties you can choose from. Honeysuckle, climbing roses and jasmine are among the best.

TIP! Both cat grass and wheat grass are good for giving your errant feline pause. Another option is to place something smelly, like citrus peels or mothballs, on the soil surrounding the plants that have previously been eaten.

Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. Spending lots of time on your knees while gardening can injure them and create lasting pain.

If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil. This solution will make the vegetables you grow healthier and more flavorful.

TIP! Always fertilize your garden. One type of fertilizer that really helps plants grow is manure, but be sure to utilize a type that is commercially composted to reduce the chances of pathogens.

All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. Mulch is used to keep extra moisture and provide nutrients for your plants. In addition, mulch will help you to prevent weeds. You will benefit by not having to spend so much time fighting weed growth.

TIP! Invest in a kneeling stool, and a wheelbarrow to work in the garden. You can make gardening much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool.

Pest control is very difficult if you are dealing with your veggie garden. It is wise to limit the use of harsh chemicals, because the vegetables will be eaten. Remain alert in order to control garden pests. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.

TIP! To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Heather is great for getting bees to stop by at the beginning of spring, as heather plants have nectar available early in the season.

When you are horticulture out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to prevent sunburns and skin cancer.

TIP! If you can’t wait for a cut to heal before digging in the dirt, then at least protect your cuts from exposure. A cut could get infected if it gets in contact with grime and dirt in the garden.

When growing indoor plants, the thermostat should be set between 65-75 degrees throughout the day. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.

TIP! Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature.

Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. This allows you to work steadily and without distractions, making you a happier and more productive gardener.

TIP! An old laundry basket works great for gathering produce from your garden. The basket will make a great strainer when you wash your vegetables.

Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

TIP! Try using a beer trap to naturally eradicate slugs from your organic garden. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need to be in direct sunlight, though, so you need to know information about each type of seed. Ageratum and petunias are two examples of seeds that should not be planted deeply. If you’re not sure, a guide either comes with seeds, or you can find this information online.

TIP! It’s not what’s on the surface that counts. When buying tomato seedlings, avoid the ones with a bad root system or green starts.

Organic foods are beneficial because they have not been contaminated by pesticides. Although this is better for your health, you do need to check organic produce for infestation of bugs before eating it.

TIP! Carefully decide which plants you want to grow before you plant your garden. Not all plants thrive well in the same environment.

You can create a garden for perennials easily. Lift the top layer of turf with your spade, flip it, then cover the exposed soil with three or more inches of mulch. In a couple of weeks, plant your perennials in this new bed.

TIP! You can grow many different types of plants in an organic garden. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions.

Biodiversity is a key element of your organic garden. Variety in your garden has more potential to attract wildlife. You want to have a diver garden so do your best to plant a bunch of different plants. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you’ll have done a little something for the environment.

Pine Needles

TIP! You can use the leaves out in your yard to mix and make an organic compost with when you combine it with your soil An organic compost is created when leaves decompose, and this is a very nutrient rich item for your plants and will make them healthy. This won’t cost you a penny, and will benefit your garden in many ways.

There are many different plants that will grow well in an organic garden. Many acid-loving plants love mulch. Use pine needles or decomposed leaves to mulch around these plants in the fall. When pine needles break down, they fortify the soil with their natural acids.

TIP! You can fertilize your organic garden with compost you make yourself. An enjoyable way you can do this is by starting a little worm compost bin.

Know how and when you must water the organic garden. Try using a soaker hose. A soaker hose can get water to the bottom of the plant and it will ensure you do not lose any moisture. Watering is best done early in the morning.

TIP! You can conserve more water by mulching your garden. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants.

You just have to be patient if you want to get your organic garden into tip top shape. Put the tips you have learned above to use today, and see firsthand just how wonderful your new garden can be. There are a huge number of plants to grow, and with these tips, you’ll succeed no matter which plants you ultimately choose.