Tending your garden is a relaxing way to get some sun and be active. Getting the right kind of soil and knowing when to start planning are two important parts of horticulture. The tips you will find below will guide you through those questions and more.
Think about starting plants in pots, and then placing the seedlings in the garden later. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. You will then be able to lessen the time between planting your seeds. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.
Baking Soda
If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Try mixing a little liquid soap with some baking soda in water. Spray this solution on plants once weekly until the mildew is gone. Baking soda will not damage your plants and treats the mildew gently but efficiently.
Prior to planting anything in your garden, check your soil. Have a soil analysis completed so you can know what you need to add to have soil which will fully support your garden. Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.
Be sure to do some weeding on a regular basis. Weeds will cause your garden to become overgrown and cluttered. You might want to think about using white vinegar to do this. The acidity of the vinegar is harmful to most plants. A spray solution is much easier to apply than to rid your garden of weeds by hand.
If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as summer, plant bulbs. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year. Various bulbs do not all bloom at the same time, and if you employ this knowledge wisely, your garden can provide freshly blooming flowers for half the year.
Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Place your seeds in a container filled with water. This will keep your seeds hydrated and give you a little head start with your growing. The seeds will now have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.
Consider growing wheat grass or cat grass near the plants your cat enjoys eating. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.
Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture on the surface of a plant can attract parasites, and cause disease. In fact, fungi love a wet plant and can cause a great deal of damage. It is possible to get rid of fungi after it appears with anti-fungal sprays, but it’s better to spray at-risk areas before fungi appear.
Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. It can be very uncomfortable on the knees when working so close to the ground, so a light, portable stool makes gardening easier. Because horticulture means transporting a lot of heavy things, a wheelbarrow will also come in handy.
It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. Do not spray harsh chemicals on the vegetables you are going to eat. Remain vigilant to control your garden pests. When you see bugs, remove them by hand before they have a chance of spreading.
Garden for fall colors. That doesn’t have to be way it is though! The fall season is probably the most colorful of the year in terms of foliage. Maple trees are an autumn rainbow of crimsons to yellows, and so are beech and dogwood trees. Some very good shrubs to choose are barberry, hydrangea, and cotoneaster, which is a member of the rose family.
Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point, in a strong garden design, will attract eyes and hold them there. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.
Organic Garden
One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. Most likely, you will find your organic garden producing better once your property is home to the insects, birds, and other wildlife that plants rely on for pollination and the production and dispersal of seeds.
Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil. When you have plants like this, nothing is easier than to gather pine needles for your beds. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.
Change how much you water your plants with the changing of the seasons. You should also adjust your watering habits if the temperature or amount of rainfall changes dramatically. The amount of water you need depends on when you are doing the watering, whether your water is high-quality and the grade of the soil in your garden. In a warm and humid climate you should avoid watering the plant itself. Wet leaves promote the growth of leaf fungi. Instead, focus water on the plant’s root system.
In conclusion, gardening is a tremendously rewarding hobby. It is also a hobby for which a substantial amount of understanding is required to ensure the best results. Taking this advice and using it wisely will help your garden grow properly. Follow the advice in this article and you will be on your way to enjoying a beautiful garden of your own.