Need Help With Organic Horticulture? Try Using These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel.

An organic garden is an interest you have. Now’s the time! This article is packed with tips and inspiration that will allow you to better understand the basics of organic horticulture. Read on!

TIP! If you have any mildew on the plants, do not go out and buy anything. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water.

Learn the proper way to lay sod. Start by preparing your soil with care. Remove weeds and break your soil until all the clumps are gone. Compact the soil gently but firmly to be certain that it is indeed flat. Afterward, you want to make sure the soil is moistened. Be sure to stagger the rows of sod. The joints should be offset like bricks in a wall. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. Sod must be watered every day for about two weeks, and then it will have rooted and be completely ready to be walked on.

TIP! If beautiful flowers throughout the warmer months are important to you, make sure you put bulbs into the ground. Bulbs will grow every year and are easier to take care of than seeds.

A great horticulture tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high 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.

TIP! Ensuring your plants are both dry and aerated is a great way to keep them healthy. Plant moisture is a big attraction to both parasites and plant diseases.

Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another. In addition, you might need something to fill empty spaces in your flower garden. Fill gaps with annuals or biennials. Just make sure the flowers will get enough sun to thrive. There are plenty of varieties including petunia, marigold, cosmos, sunflower, hollyhock, and rudbeckia.

TIP! Do you want fresh mint leaves without having to worry about them growing too quickly? You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth. You can bury the container so the top is flush with the ground if desired, but the container’s walls will prevent the roots from spreading so that the plant won’t take over your entire garden.

Long plants that run up or around a fence or wall are often useful for masking ugliness. Climbing plants are great for hiding hideous fences and walls, and they usually grow within a season. They can also grow through existing shrubs or trees, or be trained to cover an arbor. Some types of climbers support themselves naturally through twining stems or tendrils, but others will have to be attached to something. If you’re looking for the most reliable varieties available, choose from clematis, wisteria, and climbing roses.

TIP! Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time.

When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. They thrive on fruits, citrus, peppers and various beans. Proper measures should be taken in order to ensure minimal damage to your crops.

Knee Pads

TIP! Use only pesticides designed to kill the specific type of pest in your garden, and avoid the broad-spectrum kind. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests.

A set of comfortable knee pads makes a great investment if your garden is full of plant material that stays low to the ground. The time that you will have to spend on your knees in your garden can cause you unnecessary knee pain. 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 can make scents that dogs are attracted to, and make your garden less interesting in general for pets.

Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. Parasites are attracted to the moisture on plants. A common parasite to plants is fungi. Fungicidal spray treatments can contain fungi, but spraying prior to problems even developing in the first place is the best way to go about it.

TIP! You don’t want to pick vegetables during the day when it is hot, as that is when they are prone to damage due to them being softer. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.

You never want to do any gardening with open wounds, so make sure everything is completely healed up before you begin; otherwise, you run the risk of your cut being exposed to dangerous chemicals and dirt. It is possible for a cut to become extremely infected if it comes into contact with dirt and grime while gardening. You can completely seal the area using some of the great bandages that are now available.

TIP! If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. Children love to snap up these sweet juicy fruits for themselves and will be much more willing to eat other foods you’ve planted as well.

Take your time when planting seeds. The first thing you should do before planting is moisturize the soil. Lay out your seeds, and make sure that they will have enough room to grow. Multiply the size of each seed by three and bury the seed that deep. Make sure you are not burying the seeds that need light to grow.

TIP! To make the most of your time in the garden, you should store all of your tools and implements in a close, accessible location. Keep the tools in a big bucket, or store them in strong pockets in your pants.

Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

TIP! Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weeds, reduce watering needs and fertilize your garden.

Spacing is one of the primary considerations when planning an organic garden. You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need until they begin to grow. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. Plan your garden carefully and leave enough space between the seeds.

TIP! Spacing is one of the primary considerations when planning an organic garden. Amateur gardeners often make the mistake of failing to leave enough space for fully matured plants.

Try not to let the chores associated to your organic garden build up. Even if you end up being too busy to do garden chores every day, do small tasks that will help you avoid having to do large tasks when you finally do have time. Take the time to do a little weeding or something else that needs to be done each time you have to be outside keeping an eye on your dog, which for some can be several times a day.

TIP! Some advise passing your hand gently over your newly planted seedlings each day. This may sound strange, but research has proven that doing this will help your plants grow bigger than if they were not petted at all.

Lightly ruffle your seeds by hand or with cardboard, twice daily in your organic garden. While it seems a little odd, it has been reported that this can encourage plant growth.

Organic Garden

TIP! Make sure that you plant your crops in segments at three-week intervals. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes.

You are now well-equipped with insight on creating an organic garden. If you thought you were prepared previously, then you should be at a pro’s level now! The tips included here will help you create the most beautiful and abundant organic garden you can, so enjoy!