Tips On Organic Horticulture For New Gardeners

~ craigb

TIP! Select plants that produce a relatively high yield. 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.

Well, now is as good a time as any. You may have concerns about logistics, but do not fear! The following article will outline the straight facts you need to start a beautiful garden. Included here is advice that will assist you with your horticulture dreams.

TIP! Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks.

To keep your plants from getting shocked, you need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature and conditions. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. When the week is done, your plants will be ready for the big move without any problems.

TIP! Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them.

When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. A plant that is resistant to disease, or one that is tolerant of extreme weather, will deliver a higher yield.

TIP! Use annuals and biennials to brighten your flower garden. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another.

Your tool handles can easily be used as handy rulers. Large handled tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes can be used as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the ground and measure them. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.

TIP! Pest control can present a challenge for successful vegetable gardening. It’s wise to avoid harsh insecticides if you plan on consuming your fresh fruits and vegetables.

Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year. If you want to maintain a flower garden all year or you want to add new flowers to reflect the changing seasons, annuals and biennials are for you. You can fill any spaces between shrubs and perennials when they are in the sun. Some flowers you can use are rudbekia, petunias, cosmos, marigolds, or sunflowers.

TIP! If you want to start a small organic garden indoors, evaluate the amount of natural light that is present. If you live in a home or apartment that does not get great sunlight you may want to consider growing plants that are designed to grow in low or medium-light environments.

Before actually putting plants into your garden, check the type and compostion of your soil. For a tiny fee, a soil analysis may be done, and based on the results, the soil can support a growing garden by you enriching it as necessary. A Cooperative Extension office can provide you with this service, saving you learning on your own by trial and error.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! When you’re making a compost pile, you should use fresh and dried plants to get it started. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings.

If a test indicates that your soil is very alkaline, you can mix the dirt with used coffee grounds. Using coffee grounds is a low-cost way to increase the acidity of the soil. Balanced soil will produce more flavorful, crisp vegetables and greens.

TIP! When planting seeds, you should bury them three times as deep as their actual size. You should know that certain seeds need not be covered, because they need the sunlight.

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. Cushion your knees with a pair of gardening knee pads.

TIP! Construct raised flower beds of brick, stone, or wood. Be sure that any wood you use isn’t chemically treated, and will be able to resist rot naturally.

Start your garden by planting seed in small pots. Starting with your own seeds is more environmentally friendly than buying plants from a nursery. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.

TIP! While organic gardening costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. Chemical giants claim miracles, but those miracle crops come at a price to whoever eats the produce.

Put a couple of inches of organic mulch around each of your vegetable plants. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. It will also prevent the growth of weeds. This can save you a lot of time and effort in pulling out the weeds.

TIP! When gardening, know what is available for you to use. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones.

You can help provide nutrients by watering your plants with room temperature water that is leftover after cooking vegetables. You should also try using a bit of coffee grounds or tea to increase the acidity of the soil for your gardenias or your rhododendrons. Spray your plants with a 9:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to eliminate fungus without harming your plants.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. You might be interested to know that these gardens are very low maintenance.

One way to encourage an organic garden to be sustainable and healthy is to put aside a section to stay undeveloped, thus encouraging wildlife to approach it. As the natural wildlife begins to flourish, the various insects, birds, and other natural life around will all blend together and actually assist your garden as it begins to grow.

TIP! When adding a new tree or shrub to your garden, remember that a ragged planting hole is best. If you see that the sides of the hole appear shiny, you’ve probably packed the dirt to tight, which can interfere with the roots.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage. Additionally, remove any plastic films that were on your containers. This will keep out warmth and humidity. You should know when the right time is if you are keeping an eye on the seeds.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Garlic is an easy deterrent for bugs in an organic garden. The odor tends to keep harmful insects out of the area.

Use an old laundry basket to collect your produce. The laundry basket can be used as a colander for your produce. You can rinse your produce off while it is in the basket, and the excess water will strain through the holes of your laundry basket.

TIP! Save your rainwater. It can help you to keep your garden healthy.

Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? Pile newspapers on top of each other to kill weeds. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow. If you put a thick layer of newspaper on them, weeds will not be able to get light or air, and they will die! Newspapers break down over time, and they make a great addition to compost. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! A terrific way to fertilize your plants in the garden is by creating compost of your own. A fun method to make this is to start a small compost bin with worms.

After reading this article, you should feel better about starting your gardening journey. Even if you have some previous experience with gardening, you now know more about this art. These tips should help get you going in the right direction so that your garden is extremely successful.