There are a variety of all-natural techniques that you can employ that will create a healthy, vibrant organic garden. You just need to learn them and use them.
Consider planting slug-proof perennials. Snails and slugs can do irreparable damage to your garden in a single night. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. Achillea, euphorbia, helleborus, heuchera and campanula are good choices that slugs don’t like.
Flower Beds
Use biennials and annuals to add color to your flower beds. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful. They allow you to select different flowers from one year or season to the next. You can use them between the gaps in shrubs and perennials where there is plenty of sun. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.
Use climbers to cover walls and fences. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant. Climbers can also be trained to grow and cover an arbor, and they will grow through or around existing trees and shrubs. Some of these plants must have support, and some can attach themselves to something using their stems and tendrils. Some dependable types include honeysuckle, clematis, jasmine, climbing roses, and wisteria.
Check the soil before you plant anything in your garden. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it. Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.
When horticulture, be sure to look closely for stink bug infestation, especially during Autumn. They thrive on fruits, citrus, peppers and various beans. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.
Using boiling water to kill weeds is both efficient and organic. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. One simple layer across the weeds with a pot of boiling water will take care of the problem, but you have to remember the same applies to your plants, as well. The roots of the weeds are damaged by the boiling water which, in turn, inhibits further growth.
In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your vegetable garden will help repel slugs. Wood ash used as mulch helps repel pests as well when around shrubs and trees. These are methods you can use to get rid of the need to use pesticides.
Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.
Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it’s a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.
Prior to working in the garden, make sure any cuts on your hands heal completely, or shield any cuts from contact with chemicals and dirt. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when horticulture. Instead, opt for a bandage that entirely covers your wound.
Planted flowers will benefit from organic materials that are built up to as much as three inches. Mulch will minimize weed growth and maximize nutrients and moisture. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.
Laundry Basket
When it is time to gather your produce, you should use an older laundry basket. The laundry basket can be used as a colander for your produce. The basket won’t be affected by the water and it will drain right off as though it were poured into a large sieve.
When you run your personal organic garden, try ruffling seedlings using your hands or cardboard one or two times daily. This will sound a bit strange. However, it has been proven to cause plants to grow larger.
Use a few inches of organic materials to mulch your flowerbed or garden. This will add nutrients to your soil, keep it moist, stop the growth of weeds and keep the garden looking beautiful.
The best option available to water an organic garden are soaker hoses. The water seeps slowly out of these hoses and can be directed straight to the roots so that the leaves stay dry. Compared with sprinklers, a soaker hose wastes less water and is far more convenient to use.
When you garden, be aware of what you can use. Try using organic substitutes for the typical chemical fertilizers. Compost is a popular type of fertilizer. Inorganic materials, such as those found in commercial fertilizers, are responsible for toxic chemical buildup in both soil and drinking water. This can be avoided by using eco-friendly organic methods.
Shade Gardens
For an easy, organic garden option, try a shade garden. Shade gardens do not take a lot of work, people love to hear this! This type of garden requires only a small amount of water, which makes it especially easy to maintain. While the plants in shade gardens grow slower, so do the weeds.
Anybody can grow a garden, but those who bother to understand what they’re doing will be the only ones to reap rich rewards from their crop. Remember these helpful tips the next time you are working in your garden!