Author: craigb

Horticulture Without Chemicals: Everything You Need To Know About Organic Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! To get the best results in your garden, you need to use a good quality soil. Dependent on the type of plants you are choosing for the garden, the soil may not be right for them.

A lot of people believe that horticulture is difficult. However, if you have the proper knowledge, it can actually be quite simple. The proper information can make anyone a great gardener. The tips in this article will provide you with all the gardening information needed to become a master at horticulture.

TIP! The approach of fall means you need to start planting autumn goodies. Rather than using clay pots or planters for your lettuce and kale, plant them in a pumpkin! You simply need to cut off the top, scoop out the guts, and spray your pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf.

To prevent shocking your plants, you must gradually introduce new temperatures and other conditions to them. You need to give them about an hour of sunlight during the first day. Slowly, day after day, you can leave your plants outside for a little longer. When the week is done, your plants will be ready for the big move without any problems.

TIP! Try to grow some wheat or cat grass around your cat’s favorite plants. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect.

Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest yield. Traditional strains are often out-performed by hybrids that have been bred for cold tolerance or disease resistance.

TIP! Give peas a head start by sprouting them indoors. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating.

You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks. Just lay your tool down on the floor then lay a yardstick beside the handle. Then, with a permanent marker, you want to label distances. The next time you find yourself in your garden, you will have one large ruler right at your fingertips.

Flower Beds

TIP! When gardening, protecting your knees is important. Most people can’t bend for long periods while standing.

You can make your flower beds brighter with biennials and annuals. Annuals and biennials that grow quickly can really wake up your flower beds, and they allow you to have a new garden look every season or every year, if you choose to. Use them to fill gaps between shrubs and perennials in the sun. You should get varieties such as cosmos, petunia, rudbeckia, hollyhock, sunflowers or marigold.

TIP! 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. This can be a good area for the types of insects that pollinate plants.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. Some require a support, while other climbers attach to surfaces using twining stems or tendrils. Excellent varieties include honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses and clematis.

TIP! It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. A cut or abrasion can become infected if it is not properly protected from dirt, pesticides and other irritants.

For the best results, select the right kind of soil. Fertilizer can enrich the soil to make it more viable. You can designate one area of your garden to use one specific type of soil.

Carbon Dioxide

TIP! When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. People often underestimate how much space plants will need when once they’re grown.

Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. The majority of plants thrive when they are exposed to a high level of carbon dioxide. The best way to expose your plants to a high level of carbon dioxide is by growing them in a greenhouse. The levels need to be kept high for optimum greenery growth.

TIP! When you are growing seedlings in your organic garden, lightly brush over them using your hand up to twice a day. However odd this may sound, research shows that this touching encourages seedlings to grow better than they would without touching.

Try to grow some wheat or cat grass around your cat’s favorite plants. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.

TIP! Use a beer trap to get rid of unwanted pests, like slugs. Bury a glass jar in your garden so that its open mouth is level with the top of the soil.

It is best to aerate and dry your plants daily. If your plants get too moist, they may get sick or infested with parasites. A commonplace plant parasite is fungi. Proactively treat fungi through the use of fungicidal sprays and treatments.

TIP! If you plant tomatoes, make sure you plant a second batch roughly three weeks after the first ones were done. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time.

Take the time to place organic mulch in the area around your vegetable plants. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.

TIP! Organic gardening has been made much easier! Plan your landscaping with primarily native grasses, flowers, and bushes! You can reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers by selecting plants that correspond to the soil you have and to the climate. Actually, plants that are native to your area will work great with compost made of other native plants.

You should get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool for garden work. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees; therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making horticulture easier on them. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.

TIP! Weeds are a recurring issue in both organic and traditional gardens. This method is much safer for your other plants.

As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. Your seedlings should be moved away from any heat source. Make sure you remember to remove any plastic films that were on the plant containers to repel humidity and warmth. Unless you closely monitor your seedlings, you may not move them in time.

TIP! Plant high-value crops in your garden. The worth of a plant is not an objective thing.

Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty gardening shoes. This helps you stay in the zone so that you can continue horticulture when you have completed your tasks in the house.

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

A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Take a glass jar and bury it so that the soil is even with its mouth. Next, fill up the jar with beer until there is around one inch between the liquid level and the jar top. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, and will then become trapped within the jar.

TIP! One should build a border with a fence around their garden before they even start planting their garden. This keeps animals out from the beginning, before you have sprouts or plants visible.

A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood. If you choose wood, it needs to be naturally rot resistant and untreated. Cypress, locust and cedar are all very good choices. Never use compost from treated woods in a veggie garden; the chemicals can contaminate your food. If you’re using treated lumber, line it with a barrier, or some plastic.

TIP! Go green with rain water to irrigate your garden. Collect the rainwater in a container or barrel, which makes for a great natural resource, not only that it saves you money on water bills.

Regulate the amount and timing of watering, to the specific climate and its seasonal variations. The amount of water you use each time should be dependent on the water quality, the soil type and what time of day you are doing it. As an example, do not water your plant’s leaves if you live in a humid climate since this will most likely result in leaf fungus. Instead, keep the root system well-watered.

TIP! Bumble bees can help with the pollination of your garden. There are bees that can cause harm such as carpenter bees that consume wood in order to make their nests.

As you read before, becoming a great gardener is not as difficult as it seems. After you take the time to educate yourself about all the ins and outs of what it takes to be a great gardener, you will can look forward to success in all your gardening endeavors.

Improve Your Organic Horticulture Skills By Trying These Ideas

~ craigb

TIP! Properly lay your sod. Make sure you prepare your soil before you lay any sod down.

Learning how to implement organic methods into your gardening will express your concern for your health and the environment. It reflects a sincere desire on your part to create healthy plants and to see them reach their full potential. This is a valuable attitude. As with all skills, you can continuously improve your gardening through experience and further study. Some advice that will be of use to you follows.

TIP! Fight pests before you even plant, by getting your soil in shape. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects.

Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. Make your shoveling job easier by lightly coating a shovel with a layer of wax, then buffing the surface. Either car wax or floor wax will work just fine. The wax will enable the clay soil to simply slide off the shovel, and will also prevent the shovel from rusting.

TIP! Use climbers for covering fences and walls. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant.

Use climbers if you want to cover any fences or walls. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. They can also grow through existing shrubs or trees, or be trained to cover an arbor. There are natural climbers, which use tendrils or stems to wrap around any given surface, while others must be tied with a string or rope. Some of these plants include, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle!

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones.

Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color. A few examples that you could go with include the American Holly, the Winterberry, the American Cranberrybush, and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! All plants need an adequate supply of carbon dioxide in order to thrive. When exposed to high levels of CO2, most types of plants will grow better.

For visual interest, make one plant a focal point of your garden. A solid focal point will draw peoples attention to your garden, leaving them to admire your unique design. Usually, the focal point will be a plant that is unique from the plants around it.

TIP! If beautiful flowers throughout the warmer months are important to you, make sure you put bulbs into the ground. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year.

Vegetables get softer as the temperature goes up, so you could damage your vegetables if you pick them during the hottest hours. Vegetables and fruits should always be cut from the vine, not twisted; twisting subjects a plant to needless stress.

TIP! Come up with a gardening plan before planting anything. This helps you remember where each plant was planted before they begin to sprout.

To attract insects that will benefit your garden, plant heather. Bees like it because it gives them nectar in the springtime. In addition, beds of heather are usually left alone. Because of this, insects that are good for your garden often make them a home, such as beetles or spiders. Bearing this in mind, it is always a good idea to wear horticulture gloves when pruning your heather!

TIP! Fertilize your garden regularly. Manure is great in enabling plants to grow, although it’s vital to use commercially composted products in order to lessen the risk of a variety of pathogens.

Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. If you already have plants that need full light and the natural light provided is not sufficient, artificial lights can supplement their needs.

TIP! Place a two inch layer of organic mulch at the base of your tall vegetable plants. Mulching helps keep moisture in the soil.

To get the most from your composting efforts, aim for a 1:1 ratio of dried materials and green plant products. “Green” material refers to things like wilted flowers, weeds, leaves from your yard, and grass clippings. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Don’t include ashes, diseased plants, charcoal meat, or carnivorous animal waste.

TIP! Plan your garden to provide some fall color. That doesn’t have to be the case.

When maintaining your organic garden, try lightly petting your seedlings — either with the palm of your hand or something like a sheet of cardboard — once or twice each day. Believe it or not, aerating the soil in this manner can actually make your seedlings grow larger.

TIP! Strawberries are a great plant to grow in any organic garden, especially if you happen to have kids or any strawberry lover in your home. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

If slugs are an issue in your garden, a beer trap can make them go away. Bury a jar in the garden with it’s mouth open and level to the ground. Fill the jar with beer about an inch lower than the top. Beer attracts slugs and then they’ll get stuck in the jar.

TIP! Protecting your knees while you are gardening is very important. Bending for extended time periods causes pain for many people.

Regulate the amount and timing of watering, to the specific climate and its seasonal variations. Other factors that influence how much you need to water include time of day, soil factors and how hard your water is. An example would be that if you live in a humid and warm climate, then you’ll want to avoid watering the plant’s leaves as this will cause fungus to grow on your plants. The important thing is to make sure the plant’s roots receive sufficient water.

TIP! There should be no rush when you are planting a seed. Start first by moisturizing your soil.

Plant twice- three weeks after planting tomatoes in the organic garden, plant more seeds. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time. While ruin in one harvest can be an issue, having multiple harvests to look forward to can alleviate some of the issue.

TIP! You should always take spacing into account when placing plants in your organic garden. You can easily underestimate how much space the plants need until they begin to grow.

You now possess the information, the equipment, and the required skills to use what you’ve just read to grow a fantastic organic garden. You’ve come to the right place! The tips here should help you with your organic gardening. Don’t stop here, though, you should continue learning. With luck, you have learned something you can use to get the most from your garden.

Tips And Advice For Making Your Garden Grow

~ craigb

TIP! A good way to ensure that your seeds sprout effectively is to start them in smaller pots and then transplant them once they reach the seedling stage. Your plants will be more likely to mature this way.

Now’s the best time. You may have tons of questions about how you should get started and what should be done first, but don’t worry, the tips here can help. This article includes a few tips and tricks that can help you begin gardening.

TIP! Turn the handles of your garden tools into measuring rulers. Tools with substantial handles, like rakes, hoes and large shovels are great for taking measurements.

In order not to shock your plants, you have to gradually accustom them to the change of temperature and conditions. Leave them outside in sunlight for a couple of hours on the initial day. Throughout the week, you should leave your plants out for a little longer each day. By the weekend, the plants can make that big move without a problem!

Baking Soda

TIP! You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties.

If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. A great home remedy is to mix baking soda with water and a little bit of liquid soap. Spray the mixture on the plants once every seven days or so until you no longer see the mildew. Baking soda treats the mildew effectively and gently and it won’t damage your plants.

TIP! If you’re planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits.

Choose the right soil for best results. Your soil may not be correct, but it depends on what sorts of plants you want to grow. It is also possible to make an artificial area using only one type of soil.

TIP! Grow wheat or cat grass around the plants your cat likes nibbling. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. The majority of plants thrive when they are exposed to a high level of carbon dioxide. The best way to obtain a saturated level of carbon dioxide (CO2) is to use a greenhouse. Here the CO2 can be increased, as it cannot be outdoors, and can give your plants the best conditions for rapid growth.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. Try to keep your mint in a container in your garden to stop their rampage.

When you’re out and about in the garden, particularly in the fall, keep an eye out for sink bugs. Stink bugs are attracted to tomatoes, beans and most fruits. If kept unchecked they can certainly do a ton of a damage to your garden so you should do what you need to to reduce their population.

TIP! Divide your irises. If you divide the overgrown clumps of flowers, you’ll find that your stock grows proportionally.

Keep the weeds out of your garden by removing them regularly. Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self. To help with the removal, you can use white vinegar. The acid in white vinegar kills weeds. You may also be using plants that need that very same acid. A spray solution is much easier to apply than to rid your garden of weeds by hand.

TIP! It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs.

When mowing your lawn, avoid mowing the grass too short. If you leave more height to your grass, the roots will grow deeper into the soil, making the lawn stronger and more resistant to drying out. If you have short grass, you will have short roots and you will dry out your grass.

TIP! Be smart when you water your garden. Soaker hoses save time by watering all of your plants at once, rather than individually with a standard hose or watering can.

The best gardens will evolve from original seeds rather than transplanted items. Once the plant is healthy enough, replant it in your garden with the appropriate type of soil. The problem is those plastic trays which end up in landfills and are not generally recycled. Plants in organic packagingn or seeds sown in your garden, are fine .

TIP! Bring your young ones into the garden with you so they will learn about organic methods. Toiling together in the garden brings your family closer together and offers many different opportunities to learn new things and instill green values.

If you’re going to grow peas, start them indoors before putting them in the ground outside. Planting them inside helps the seeds germinate better. Your seedlings will be stronger, and this will mean they can withstand diseases and bug attacks. Take the seedlings outdoors once they look strong enough.

TIP! If you are interested in sustainable organic gardening, consider keeping part of your property undeveloped so that wildlife can flourish there. Wildlife can help the plants in your garden to thrive, as insects support plant reproduction, while the excrement of many species contains nutrients which can help to fertilize your soil.

Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. Gardening can take a toll on the knees, but a small ergonomic stool will be a comfortable solution. Using a wheelbarrow or wagon to transport heavy loads of dirt will help protect you from back injuries so make sure that you have one.

TIP! Organize your gardening so that you can work efficiently. Don’t waste thirty minutes looking around for a tool.

If you have an organic garden and children, plant some everbearing strawberries for them. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

TIP! Pine mulch can be highly effective under the right conditions. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity.

Asprin will actually help your plants out by killing diseases. Three aspirins per four gallons of water will help keep your plants healthy. You can just spray this on them to fight disease. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

TIP! Be aware of spacing considerations when you are first planting your organic garden. Plants take up quite a bit of space as they grow, and it’s easy to underestimate just how much.

Pine is a surprisingly good source of mulch. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity. Plants like these thrive when you use pine needles as mulch. Lay a few inches of needles over the beds to allow them to decompose and add some acid to your soil.

TIP! Add more value to your property. Landscaping increases your house’s curb appeal and give you a good return for the money invested.

Organic gardening is a relaxing hobby that will give you a great sense of satisfaction. Approaching horticulture in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

TIP! Grow garlic in your organic garden. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring.

Make sure you look at what lies beneath in order to start off on the right foot. Evaluate each tomato and check for green starts, as they generally have bad root systems that impede growth. If starts don’t have a good root system, they’ll remain attached to the seedlings for a long time. The seedlings won’t be able to thrive until the starts have been removed.

TIP! You will need to know the correct way to create planting beds if you want to make an organic garden. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open.

You are now one step closer to fulfilling that ambition and beginning your garden. Even if you have some previous experience with horticulture, you now know more about this art. Hopefully, the strategies provided in this article have given you the confidence to develop your own garden and enjoy the bounty nature has to offer.

Grow A Safer Garden By Using These Organic Horticulture Tips

~ craigb

TIP! Learn how to properly lay sod. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared.

You will see the difference when you begin using tried-and-true organic horticulture methods. This will show that you love your plants and care about their health. This is something that is admirable. Just like most things in life, there are continual ways to improve your skills. Read on for some insights that can prove to be invaluable.

TIP! Start your plant in pots before you plant them in your garden. They are more likely to survive the transition to adulthood with this method.

A good way to ensure that your seeds sprout effectively is to start them in smaller pots and then transplant them once they reach the seedling stage. This increases the chance that your plants will survive to adulthood. This also helps tighten time between plantings. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.

TIP! Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks.

Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. A plant can be completely demolished overnight by slugs and snails. These pests normally go after plants with thin little leaves and plants that have yet to fully mature. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Achillea, euphorbia, helleborus, heuchera and campanula are good choices that slugs don’t like.

TIP! Plant annuals and biennials to make your flower beds brighter. These fast growing flowers let you change how your flower bed looks season to season.

When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive. Dig around the roots carefully and transfer the plant to a pot.

Soil Analysis

TIP! Carefully plan your garden first. This way, when the sprouts start shooting up, you can recall where you planted each plant.

Prior to planting anything in your garden, check your soil. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it. Many offices of Cooperative Extension will do a soil analysis, and it is important to know how to improve soil so that all crops can grow in it.

TIP! If you find yourself in love with mint leaves, but not with how they dominate a garden, read on. You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth.

Make sure you remove the weeds from your garden! Weeds can take a promising garden and turn it into a shell of its potential. To help with the removal, you can use white vinegar. White vinegar can not only kill the weeds, it’s also a non-toxic spray that won’t harm pets or people. A spray solution is much easier to apply than to rid your garden of weeds by hand.

TIP! Divide irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden.

Carefully plan your garden first. This way, when the sprouts start shooting up, you can recall where you planted each plant. You might end up losing small plants in a large area, because you did not water them.

TIP! Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. When you place mulch around your plants, it keeps the ground more moist.

Divide irises. You can divide those overgrown clumps and increase the amount of irises you have. When the foliage has died off, it is time to harvest the iris bulbs. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. Cut new pieces from the outside and discard the old center. At the least, each piece will need to have one strong offshoot. Plant immediately.

TIP! Try pouring water leftover from steamed vegetables onto your potted plants. It contains rich nutrients that come from the vegetables.

If you want a sustainable garden, leave part of it undisturbed as a home for the wildlife in the area. 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! Plant for fall color. However, that does not have to be the case! The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall.

Have some plastic bags on hand that you can put over your horticulture shoes if they are muddy. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

TIP! Tend to a garden as a way to relax. A plethora of paths to individual relaxation and inner peace exist.

Make sure you consider adequate spacing when planting your garden, so that each plant is given room enough to grow and flourish. People often underestimate how much space plants will need when once they’re grown. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. Plant the plants appropriately when it comes to spacing the seeds.

TIP! Irrigate your garden efficiently. Soaker hoses save time by watering all of your plants at once, rather than individually with a standard hose or watering can.

Don’t let your organic gardening tasks stack up for very long. Every time you go outside, you should take care of a few things so that you do not have too much work to do when you have the time to go back to your garden. For example, while your canine is outside going to the toilet, take the time to pull out a few weeds.

TIP! Using aspirin water will help your plants fight diseases. You will need 2 gallons of water and one and one half aspirin mixed together for a wonderful add-on to your plants.

Do you want to kill weeds in a natural way? Layer sheets of newspaper on the surface of areas where you are trying to control weeds. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight. By covering them with a layer of newspaper, you are essentially suffocating the weeds due to a lack of light. The paper will break down quickly and cleanly, adding to your compost. Put mulch over top to increase the attractiveness of the pile.

TIP! When gardening, protecting your knees is important. Bending over for extended periods can be harmful to your joints and muscles.

You possess the products, tools and skills to use these tips to better your garden. You’ve come to the right place! As with most things, organic gardening requires that you never stop learning to improve your craft. Take the tips from above to boost your knowledge arsenal about organic horticulture. You may have even found something new to employ in your own organic garden.

Tips For Having A Bountiful And Productive Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Choose perennials that are not vulnerable to attack by slugs. Slugs and snails are voracious eaters that can destroy a plant literally overnight.

There is a lot of information about horticulture, but a little time and research will get you started. Now you know what you need to do, you can hopefully be more knowledgeable about gardening, so you can get more from it.

TIP! Cover fences and walls with lots of climbers. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season.

It is important to do your homework so you choose plants that produce higher yields. Normally, hybrid plants that are disease-resistant and cold-tolerant have a greater yield than traditional varieties.

TIP! Save some plants in the winter by bringing them indoors. Find out which plants will be able to thrive despite the transplanting and different indoor conditions.

If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. 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.

Soil Analysis

TIP! Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. Most plants will grow better with more CO2.

The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. Have a soil analysis completed so you can know what you need to add to have soil which will fully support your garden. Many offices of Cooperative Extension will do a soil analysis, and it is important to know how to improve soil so that all crops can grow in it.

TIP! If you have a vegetable garden, it is crucial they are kept in a spot with at least six hours of sun each day. Many types of veggies require this amount in order to thrive and produce the food source that you are hoping for.

Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. This will allow seeds to be watered and they will get a kick start when growing. The seeds will now have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.

TIP! Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather.

See to it that you fertilize your garden. Manure is a great garden additive, but it is important that you choose a manure that has been composted commercially so that there is less of a risk of pathogens. There are a number of options for fertilizer, but the truth is that what you use is unimportant; you just have to remember to use something.

TIP! To ensure a healthy garden, make sure you surround your plants with a few inches of good organic mulch. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over.

If you are just starting out, follow all the guidelines and rules on your chemicals and tools. Otherwise, you are likely to have skin irritations flare up, which can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.

TIP! Whether you have been gardening for a few days or a few decades, you must never deviate from the instructions on the labeling of all implements and chemicals. If you do not do this very simple step, you can end up causing skin irritation problems that are very painful.

Create a focal point in your garden with a unique plant. A good garden design will have a focal point which captivates attention. Usually this focal point is a luscious plant that is distinctly different from the plants and scrubs that surround it.

TIP! Spray fragrances such as old perfume or aftershave on grass around your garden to help keep your dog away from the plants. This helps mask the attractive scents and can make your garden unappealing to them.

Grow heather so that you can attract useful insects. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects. Plant a heather bed, it will house many bugs that are good for a garden such as spiders and ground beetles. Because of this, you should put on a pair of gloves when it’s time to prune the heather.

TIP! Make sure to wear sun protection gear if you’ll be working in the garden in the sun. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

It is important to protect your knees when you are horticulture. Many people experience back pain and stiffness from bending over and working in the garden for extended amounts of time. Due to this, most people choose to garden while on their knees, which also makes it easier to tend to plants. Get knee pads or a small mat you can use to kneel on if the ground is too hard.

TIP! Protecting your knees while you are gardening is very important. Bending over while gardening can be painful and unhealthy for your back.

The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. This fights weeds, retains moisture, and gives your garden valuable nutrients. Mulch also completes your garden, giving it a finished appearance.

TIP! It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. Use a spade to dig into the turf, turn the turf over, then spread the area with approximately three inches of wood chips.

When the time has come to gather up the produce, you need to use an old laundry basket. Laundry baskets which have holes in them act as giant strainers for your home grown 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.

Dried Plant

TIP! When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. Do not underestimate the space that plants need to develop their root systems.

Use equal parts of green and dried plant material in your compost pile. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds. Dried plant materials are things like shredded newspaper, cardboard, sawdust, straw, and any cut up wood materials. Avoid using animal manure, charcoal or diseased plants in your compost.

TIP! Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? You will need many layers of newspapers. Weeds require sunlight to grow.

You can get rid of slugs with a simple beer trap. Bury a single glass jar with the open mouth level with your soil in the garden. Next, fill up the jar with beer until there is around one inch between the liquid level and the jar top. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, and will then become trapped within the jar.

TIP! Any type of gardening can be a fun hobby because it brings you closer to the earth, but creating an organic garden is really good at this. Organic gardening allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

Overall, a layer of mulch is beneficial for the soil. Mulch can help protect your soil. It can also keep the ground from overheating during hot weather, which will protect the roots of your plants from damage. Mulch slows down evaporation, thus helps your soil retain its moisture. This will also help to keep weeds under control.

TIP! Annually rotate your garden. Planting the same area with the same plants year after year will lead to disease and fungus.

Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Always check the weather forecast for chances of rain before going outside to water your plants. If a downpour is coming, you may want to forgo watering your plants that day.

TIP! Grow garlic in your organic garden. You can place garlic cloves directly into the moist, fertile soil during spring or autumn months.

Make your organic gardening experience easier. When deciding what to plant, opt for flowers, grasses and shrubs that are native to your area. The best way to avoid unnecessary fertilizers and pesticides would be to pick out plants that thrive the easiest in your soil and climate. Native plants will thrive and grow with compost made of dead plants which came before.

TIP! While gardening, be careful of what products you use. Instead of using chemical fertilizers, try organic and natural fertilizers.

That wasn’t so hard, right? Like most subjects, there is amble information on gardening available. It is easy to become overwhelmed. Sometimes, it helps to have a place to start! With any luck, the guidance in this piece has been just that.

Want An Organic Garden? Here Are Some Tips To Try!

~ craigb

TIP! Take the time to remove weeds. If you’re not careful, weeds can take over your beautiful garden, ruining it.

Creating a beautiful garden is not an immensely difficult task. You might believe that your next-door neighbor has a special formula for a beautiful yard that no one else knows about. Actually, a beautiful lawn and garden can be cultivated without the use of secrets or magic. All you need is the proper information on how to correctly care for your plants. Reading the advice from this article can help you on your path to horticulture wisdom.

TIP! A simple way to lower the alkaline content of your soil is to dilute it with coffee grounds. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap.

You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. When you are at work in the garden, you will always have a handy measuring device on each and every tool.

TIP! If you are going to grow peas, start them inside rather then planting them outdoors. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate.

Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. For a small fee, a soil analysis can be obtained – based on that report – the soil can be properly enriched to support a vibrant garden. Cooperative Extension departments often offer this testing service. It is a worthwhile effort so a garden can be productive on the first year of planting.

TIP! Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch.

The sun can cause irreparable skin damage; therefore, it is essential to dress accordingly when horticulture. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Proper protection from the sun means a lower chance of sunburn, as well as a decreased risk of skin cancer.

TIP! Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming.

To create a unique English garden, use a variety of plant types and lengths in the same flower bed. Plants that are all at the same height makes a garden bed look flat and uninteresting.

TIP! Gardening is an excellent relaxation tactic. There are countless ways that people find to relax.

After your seeds have sprouted, heat lamps are not needed. Move your plants away from the heat as they grow. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. Keep a close watch on your seeds to know when to do this.

TIP! Water your garden carefully. Use a hose with a soaker attachment to save you time, so the garden can get watered while you are doing other tasks.

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Covering the beds with mulch serves multiple purposes; it helps the flowers by retaining moisture and adding nutrients, and it discourages the growth of unwanted plants. A layer of mulch also creates a more attractive appearance.

TIP! To defend your garden from errant dogs, spray something with a strong scent, including aftershave or old perfume around the perimeter of the garden. This kind of scent is going to mask the scents your dog is attracted to.

Keep plastic bags handy to cover your muddy horticulture shoes. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your gardening project.

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. For vegetables growing on vines, cut them carefully rather than twisting them off to avoid damage to the plant.

Try to work in your garden at least a short time each day. While you may not be able to spend time in the garden on a daily basis, there are still many things you can do to keep things from snowballing out of control. Grab a handful of weeds, throw down some mulch, or toss some water on it anytime you walk by.

TIP! If you are going for a British feel with your garden, then vary the heights of your plants. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.

If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. This can increase your sales and also prove to your customers that they are getting the best produce out there.

TIP! You should work efficiently, instead of working hard in your garden, to simplify things. Wasting time finding tools is inefficient gardening.

While organic horticulture costs more and requires more effort, the produce that will come out of your garden will be healthier for you. Growing your crops organically will offer the best reward for those who eat the foods.

TIP! While gardening organically requires more work than gardening with the help of chemicals, the rewards are worth it. While chemical claims are wondrous, growing organically is a great reward to whomever eats your produce.

Water your plants appropriately for the climate. When watering your plants, consider the time you are watering them, the kind of soil you are using and how good the water is. In a warm and humid climate you should avoid watering the plant itself. Wet leaves promote the growth of leaf fungi. Rather, make sure the root system is watered.

TIP! Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Before you set out to water your plants, you might want to verify that the forecast does not call for rain.

Too much water may hurt plants since extra water can keep roots from getting the nutrients they need from the soil. If you are going to water your plants outdoors, you should first check the weather for you area to see if any rain is coming that day. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.

TIP! You should rotate your garden every year. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family.

Make sure you plant your garden in different areas every year. If the types of plants that you grow are consistent from one year to the next, they may be more prone to diseases and plant fungus. Harmful things may take root in the soil, preparing to take over your garden. If you change things and plant your garden in a different area, you will have a way to keep fungus at bay.

TIP! Research the local botanical insecticides which can be useful in deterring the pest population. Natural insecticides are sometimes more effective than the myriad synthetic, chemical-based products available.

Plant some organic garlic. Plant garlic cloves individually. Do this in early spring or during the fall in moist and well drained soils. Set them four inches apart, approximately one to two inches deep into the soil, with their ends up. Garlic stalks can be used as they grow for chives or scallions in any recipe. When the bulbs begin turning brown on top, they are ready for harvesting. Dry the bulbs well in the sun for several days to harden the skin. Store the dried bulbs loosely or in bunches in a dark, cool area.

TIP! When setting up an organic garden, plant tomatoes three weeks apart. Doing this will cause your harvest to come in at differing times, allowing you to gather up the majority of them and cut your losses.

When gardening, you should know all the different things that you can utilize. Rather than dousing your garden with chemical fertilizers, use an organic alternative. One good example is compost. The type of fertilizers used becomes important when you look at soil and drinking water contamination. Inorganic fertilizers often cause chemicals to build up. This doesn’t happen with organic fertilizers.

TIP! Plant trees in such a way that they provide shade for your home. If you plant your trees in the correct locations, you can save money on your heating and cooling bills, as they will provide a block from chilly winter wind, and cooling shade in the summer.

Most of these ideas are quite simple and require little advance skill. Now that you have learned what to do, it is time to apply it. Focus on the reaction of the plants to your methods. Do not waste time with something that does not look promising. A garden that is the pride of the neighborhood will be well worth the time it takes.

Horticulture Made As Simple As It Can Possibly Be

~ craigb

TIP! Plants that result in a larger yield should be higher on your priority list when planning the garden. Frequently, a hybrid plant will produce a higher yield because of its disease-resistant properties.

Maintaining an organic garden is extremely beneficial for your diet. However, there is a fair amount of information that you must learn, including how to choose the proper equipment and tools. There is a diversity of seeds that are suitable for organic gardening as well. Follow these steps to grow your very own organic garden.

TIP! Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower beds. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year.

Turn the handles of tools you have on hand into rulers to make measurements in your garden. It is possible to utilize tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes and shovels, as measuring sticks. Lay the tools down on the floor, then place a measuring tape along the handle. With a permanent marker, note pertinent measurements on the tool handle. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.

TIP! You don’t need expensive chemicals to treat powdery mildew on plants. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water.

Choose perennials that won’t be taken out by slugs. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night. When you wake up in the morning, there will be very little left of your plants. These pests are especially attracted to tender sprouts and to delicate, soft leaves. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Achillea, euphorbia, helleborus, heuchera and campanula are good choices that slugs don’t like.

TIP! D

If you want your garden full of flowers spring through summer, plant bulbs. Bulbs are generally very simple to grow and hearty, as well; they will continue to grow for years. The types of bulbs you use will determine the time of year your flowers will bloom, giving you the pleasure of blooms from spring to summer, if you plant them right.

TIP! Divide your irises. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants.

Prior to planting a garden, think through what you want to do. It will be a while before things start to sprout and visually remind you of what was planted where, so a written record can be helpful. You can also avoid losing the smaller plants, or in larger gardens, the small plant groups.

TIP! While you garden, it’s important that you wear the right clothing to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. There are many ways to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays such as wearing sunglasses, sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats.

Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. These will help give your garden a burst of color, even in the winter months when most other vegetation has lost their colors. A few examples that you could go with include the American Holly, the Winterberry, the American Cranberrybush, and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Heat softens vegetables, so you can damage them immensely by pulling them out of the ground or cutting them off vines when it is too hot outside. Cut them with a tool rather than pulling or twisting, otherwise you could damage the plant itself.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticidal products anywhere in your horticulture area. These kinds of pesticides kill the helpful insects that destroy the pests. Bugs that provide a benefit to your garden are more easily killed by these broad-spectrum pesticides, you may simply end up with a bigger pest problem. This may then lead to using even more pesticides to eliminate this new problem.

TIP! Preparing a plot for planting a perennial garden can be done quickly and without difficulty. Use a spade to dig up some soil, flip the soil over, and finally, sprinkle around 3-4 inches of wood chips on the soil.

Use smarts when watering your garden. Use a hose with a soaker attachment to save you time, so the garden can get watered while you are doing other tasks. Keep water pressure on your hose low so you don’t harm fragile plants. Give it a few hours to water the plants so you have schedule freedom to tend to other matters.

TIP! Make sure that you take time to properly plant any seeds that you buy. The first thing you should do is moisturize the soil.

Vegetables are softer when they are warmer, increasing the risk that you will damage them. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine. If you just yank or twist the whole plant, it may become damaged.

TIP! When your seeds sprout, they will not be in need of the warmth they needed to germinate. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature.

If you want to spend more quality time outdoors with your children, why not allowing them to help you with your gardening? Children enjoy picking fresh fruit, especially if they can eat it right away.

TIP! Procrastination leads to problems in a variety of areas, including organic gardening. Even if you can’t tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it.

It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. Cuts that are infiltrated by soil or other substances have the potential to breed serious infections. The key is to use bandages capable of covering cuts in their entirety.

TIP! Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Place a container in the ground so that the lip is even with the soil surface.

It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips. You want to then give the area about a couple of weeks, then you want your new perennials planted by digging into it.

TIP! Your authenticity as an organic grower is solidified when you obtain the organic gardening certification. With this, you and your crops are credible and 100% legitimately organic.

Seeds that have sprouted don’t require the extra warmth that was needed before they sprouted. To ensure that your plants do not suffer shock, start eliminating the use of a heat source. Also, remove plastic coverings from the tops of your growing containers to keep them from becoming too warm or humid. Watch the seeds so you can know when you do this.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Making beds is one of the most important skills you need to acquire. Use a spade to slice under the grass.

Put used coffee grounds on the soil. The grounds contain essential nitrogen, which will benefit your plants in many ways. Generally, nitrogen is the limiting nutrient with any plant and having a good nitrogen source either by coffee grounds, compost, or even diluted urea, will make your plants bloom faster and grow taller.

TIP! Think about what types of products you can use on your garden. Try natural or organic alternatives to the usual chemical fertilizers.

Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow. When you pile up layers of newspapers right on top of the weeds, they will suffocate and die. Old newspapers are a valuable addition to your compost heap. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! You should use 3″ or more of organic materials as mulch for your trees and flowers. This aids in environmental conservation and also saves you serious money on water each month.

The more you read, the more you understand how great growing an organic garden can be and how important adding what you grow in your garden to your dietary habits can be. Following the advice you have read here is a great first step in starting your own successful organic garden that you can enjoy for years to come.

Dreary Garden? Perk It Up With This Fabulous Advice.

~ craigb

TIP! Plant a variety of annuals, biennials and perennials to keep your flower beds bright. These types of flowers grow at high speed, which gives you more flexibility in changing the look of your flower beds as the seasons change.

Many people are interested in organic gardening but are unsure how to get started. A lot of people feel like growing your own garden is a daunting task because they feel intimidated by the unknown. This article has some good ideas to help you reach your goal of creating a garden for your enjoyment, and without incurring too much difficulty.

Clay Soil

TIP! It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

Clay soil is hard and will also stick to a shovel, making it difficult to work with. To make digging clay soil easier, try applying a light coating of wax, either car wax or floor wax, and then buff off and commence digging. By waxing the shovel head, the clay will not be able to adhere to the surface.

TIP! Vegetables should be planted in an area where they will get a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight. Most vegetables need that much sun to grow rapidly and successfully.

Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. Fast-growing annuals and biennials can brighten up a flower bed, and allow you to change the look from season to season and year to year. If there are gaps between the perennials and shrubs you have planted in a sunlit area, try filling those gaps with annuals and biennials. There are many flowers you can plant in these gaps. Try marigolds, petunias or sunflowers for a brighter garden.

TIP! Prior to planting your garden, devise a plan. It will be a while before things start to sprout and visually remind you of what was planted where, so a written record can be helpful.

Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. 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. You can often find Cooperative Extension offices that provide this service, which can help to make your garden flourish.

TIP! Shelter your deciduous shrubs. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected.

If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Bulbs are generally very simple to grow and hearty, as well; they will continue to grow for years. The types of bulbs you use will determine the time of year your flowers will bloom, giving you the pleasure of blooms from spring to summer, if you plant them right.

Six Hours

TIP! Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. The berries will provide a boost of color to your backyard, even during the colder months when most of the other vegetation has been drained of their color.

If you’re growing veggies in the garden, they need to be in a spot that lets them get about six hours of sun daily. Proper sunlight is a prerequisite for proper growth. Some flowers also need six hours of daily direct sun in order to grow and blossom well.

TIP! Put money into a quality wheelbarrow and kneeling stool if you plan to do garden work often. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier.

Having a good wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool makes garden chores a lot easier. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.

TIP! Another way to help them grow is by watering them with the liquid that is left from cooking vegetables. Tea and coffee grounds can be used to add acidity to your soil for plants like gardenias and rhododendrons.

To create an attractive, quintessentially English garden, you need to use a mixture of different plants that all grow to varying heights in each bed. If you want a more organized look, select plants that will grow to the same height and put them in the same bed.

TIP! Be sure to plant using the colors of Fall. That idea is actually far from the truth.

Add aspirin to your plants to help them fight sickness. One and one half aspirin crushed and added to a two gallon container of water will be a great help for your plants. Then spray your plants with this mixture to stave off diseases. Be sure to repeat this process every two or three weeks.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Mixing a variety of plants at different heights is how you can make a very interesting English garden. Having plants that grow to the same height will result in a common and flat looking bed.

Add used coffee grounds to your soil. Coffee grounds contain many of the essential nitrogenous nutrients that plants are able to use. Nitrogen is a nutrient that will help your plants grow taller and bloom faster, so use those coffee grounds, extra compost, or diluted urea to make this happen.

TIP! For in-home organic gardeners, you are looking for an ideal temperature of around 60-75 degrees for your plants. Plants require a warmer climate to grow.

A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil. Pour beer into the jar until it’s almost full. Leave an inch of space between the beer and the jar top. Slugs will be attracted to the beer and find themselves trapped.

TIP! When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If you are living in a place that does not have a lot of natural sunlight, think about cultivating plants that do well in lower lighting situations.

Create raised beds with stone, brick or untreated wood. If you are to use wood, you should make sure that the wood is not treated and is also naturally rot resistant. Optimal wood choices that fit these criteria are locust, cypress, and cedar. In a vegetable garden, never use treated wood, as the chemicals can leach out into the soil and food crops. You may have previously used treated lumber; if so, you should use a plastic liner to cover it.

TIP! Over-watering your plants is not healthy because too much water may inhibit the roots from getting nutrients out of the soil. Before watering your organic garden, check weather forecasts to determine if it is likely to rain later that day.

If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious. A certification will easily communicate to them that they are getting the best products possible.

TIP! This tip greatly eases your organic gardening attempts. Select native specimens for your landscape design.

One of the most wonderful things about buying food that is organic is that they don’t contain pesticides. This will improve your family’s overall health, but it does mean you have to be extra vigilant about checking for pest infestations.

TIP! Incorporate shade elements into any organic garden area. These kinds of gardens are usually low in maintenance, which a lot of individuals like to hear.

Take a look below the surface to get a start. When buying tomato seedlings, avoid the ones with a bad root system or green starts. These starts will stick around on the main plant for several weeks, hindering the growth of the seedling as long as they are present.

Organic Garden

TIP! Be sure you have information about what to look for when buying plants to add to your organic garden. When it comes to perennials and annuals, this is particularly important.

Once you understand and begin utilizing the tips you have read, the thought of working on your own organic garden should not seem intimidating at all. With your new-found knowledge, your organic garden is sure to be a success, and you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor in no time!

Gardening Tips For Growing Better Organic Foods

~ craigb

TIP! Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. Creatures like snails or slugs can destroy a plant in a single night.

Application of correct organic horticulture tips and products will shine through in the quality of your garden. It will show how much you care about the plants you grow, and your desire to ensure they are as healthy as possible. This is a great thing. As with all skills, you can continuously improve your gardening through experience and further study. The following article will help you do that.

TIP! Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. These flowers grow quickly and can be planted at any time during the year.

Make sure that your sod is laid properly. Before laying the sod, have your soil prepared. Break the soil into fine tilth and make sure you remove any weeds as well. Make sure the soil is packed firmly and even. Thoroughly water the soil. The sod should be laid in staggered rows, with the joints offset from one another. Even out the surface of the sod by firming it down flat, filling any available gaps with a handful of dirt. Water the sod every day for a couple of weeks. Then it should be rooted well and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. Try to save plants that are expensive or that are resistant enough to handle the transition.

Use climbers if you want to cover any fences or walls. Many climbers can cover the wall or fence in as little as one growing season. You can also train climbers to cover arbors and other things that you want covered, and they will even grow right through trees and shrubs. Some types of climbers support themselves naturally through twining stems or tendrils, but others will have to be attached to something. Some dependable types include honeysuckle, clematis, jasmine, climbing roses, and wisteria.

TIP! Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. A soil analysis report can be acquired for a nominal fee.

Soil needs to be rich in certain nutrients to grow healthy plants. Depending on what type of plants you have, your soil may or may not be adapted. You can also make an artificial area with one variety of soil.

TIP! You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. You could also place mothballs and citrus peels around your plants to keep your cat away.

Be sure to get rid of the weeds growing in your garden. A vibrant garden will be overrun with weeds if they are left alone. For this task, try using white vinegar. That’s right, you have safe way to get rid of weeds right there in your kitchen cabinet. So, use a spray solution of white vinegar if you are tired of pulling those weeds by hand.

TIP! Irises should be divided. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps.

If your soil is highly alkaline, try mixing used coffee grounds into the soil. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.

TIP! Start a new garden from seeds. It’s better for the environment to begin from seed.

Plan your garden before you plant it. It will be easy to remember where each plant is when sprouts start to shoot up the following spring. It can also aid in identifying the less prominent fledgling plants that lie withing a larger landscaped garden.

TIP! A good fertilizer is important to add nutrients to your soil. Choose commercial compost instead of homegrown manure to keep toxins out of your plants.

If your gardening plans include pea plantings, try starting them off indoors rather than planting the raw seeds in outdoor beds. Planting them inside helps the seeds germinate better. This will also make the seedlings hardier, which will help them resist diseases and pests. You can transplant the seedlings outside after they are sturdy enough.

Follow Instructions

TIP! Plant ever-bearing strawberries for your children in the organic garden. 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.

It is particularly important for new gardeners to read and follow instructions that come with tools, as well as chemicals. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that. Directions, especially safety rules, are there for your own good, so make sure you follow instructions on your tools and chemicals to the letter.

TIP! Plants growing in your home need a constant temperature of no less than 65 degrees. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow.

When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. One way to control gardening pests is to be vigilant. If you catch pests early, you can remove them by hand effectively.

TIP! Seeds that have sprouted don’t require the extra warmth that was needed before they sprouted. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

Make sure your pesticides are focused on only what you’re trying to kill. These types of pesticides also kill the beneficial insects that eat the pests. In fact, beneficial insects are more likely to die than pests if you spray these types of pesticides. As the population of “good” bugs dwindles, your garden may become overrun with pests. In the end, you may resort to using even more pesticides in order to erase the problem.

TIP! Spacing is one important factor in gardening. You must think of how much room the plants will take up as they grow, and it easy to underestimate this.

Take care of your knees while working in the garden. For most people, bending over while horticulture is too difficult. Kneeling allows you to reach your plants easily and is healthier for your back and legs. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

TIP! Each year, you should rotate the plants in your garden. Keeping plants that belong to the same family in the same place can eventually spark fungus growth and disease.

After sprouting occurs, you will not need to keep seeds as warm. Take your plants out of the heat once they start to grow. You must also take away plastic films from your containers in order to keep the warmth and humidity out. Keep an eye on your seeds so you will know when this should be done.

TIP! Make sure that you plant your crops in segments at three-week intervals. Doing this will cause your harvest to come in at differing times, allowing you to gather up the majority of them and cut your losses.

Try to work as efficiently as possible when horticulture. Don’t waste time searching for lost tools. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. If you need, use a tool belt or even pants that have quite a few pockets.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Be particular when selecting the plants you will include in the organic garden. Different plants require different sorts of environments.

Add coffee grounds to your garden’s soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. Plants need an adequate nitrogen source in order to thrive. Adding coffee grounds, chemical fertilizer, or diluted urea to your soil increases the soil’s nitrogen content and will help to make your plants grow faster, taller and healthier.

TIP! Use at least three inches of organic materials to mulch trees and flowers. This method is good for the planet, conserves water and can save money all at once.

You already have the products, the tools and the skills to get those organic gardens going. Wonderful! The tips in this article were intended to enhance your organic gardening skills, as everyone can benefit from learning. With luck, you have learned something you can use to get the most from your garden.

Organic Gardening Tips You Can Try Today!

~ craigb

TIP! Turn your tool handles into convenient rulers. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own.

While organic gardening is a wonderful way to relax, it can also be a source of stress. The following suggestions will guide you on how to be a very successful organic gardener.

TIP! Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. Using a variety of flowers allows your flower garden to have a different look each season.

Put down sod correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. Make sure your soil is flat and compacted. Thoroughly moisten the soil. Avoid laying your sod in straight rows with all of the seams lining up. Instead, stagger the rows for a more pleasing visual effect. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. You will have to water the sod every day for 2 weeks, and then it should be firmly rooted to the ground, and able to be walked on.

TIP! Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Plants are more likely to thrive in environments where high levels of CO2 are present.

You can use the wooden handles of your tools as measurement sticks. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Have a marker handy, and mark the distance with it. This modified ruler will serve you well as you begin working in your garden.

TIP! If you are going to be doing some gardening, watch out for stink bugs, especially in the fall! These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. If they go unnoticed, they can cause large amounts of harm to your garden, so remember to take protective measures to reduce the population of stink bugs there.

When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. Maybe you could pick out the most expensive plants or the most hardy ones. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

TIP! Yes, you really have to weed. Unwanted weeds fight for the same nutrients that more desirable plants do, and they also are unsightly.

When you are tending your garden in the fall, be on the alert for stink bugs. These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. Proper measures should be taken in order to ensure minimal damage to your crops.

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. Boiling water in a pot is a safe “herbicide.

Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds can truly ruin a good garden. White vinegar can be a good solution. White vinegar kills weeds. Keep a solution of vinegar diluted with water on hand to spray on weeds.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden.

When you are mowing your lawn do not cut it too closely to the dirt. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. Short grass tends to have shallow roots, which can cause dried out, brown patches to occur.

Knee Pads

TIP! Water containing some aspirin helps your plants fight illness. One and half tablets of aspirin in a couple gallons of water will be a wonderful help to the plants you have.

If your garden contains lots of short plants, purchase some gardening knee pads. If you spend a large portion of your horticulture session on your knees, it could create pain over time. Having a pair of excellent knee pads for horticulture can help cushion the knees to provide additional comfort.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. Covering the beds with mulch serves multiple purposes; it helps the flowers by retaining moisture and adding nutrients, and it discourages the growth of unwanted plants.

Gardening can be a relaxing hobby. Peace and relaxation can be found through several different avenues. One of the greatest such methods is the art of horticulture. The returns are huge for a very minute up front investment cost. The best return is the joy and tranquility you can get from growing your very own greenery.

TIP! Make sure you work in your garden every day. Don’t waste your time looking for missing tools.

Vegetables tend to soften during the hottest part of the day, which means they are easily damaged, even when handled with care. Vegetables and fruits should always be cut from the vine, not twisted; twisting subjects a plant to needless stress.

Include your children in your efforts to organic gardening. The benefits for your children will be a closer bond with nature and an understanding of where food comes from.

TIP! While organic gardening takes a little extra work, it is healthier and more gratifying than regular gardening. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.

Make the most of the time spent in your garden. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade. Before you make a trip to your garden, you should gather all tools and items in advance. Afterwards, be sure to return them to their original storage place. Even something like a carpenter’s tool belt or some cargo jeans work well to keep tools organized.

TIP! Organic foods do not possess any pesticides on them. However, although this is a much healthier alternative, it is important to check surfaces of organic fruits and vegetables thoroughly to be sure that no unwanted pests are living in or on them.

Plastic bags are great to cover horticulture shoes when they get muddy. Having these available lets you keep your flow in movement, and helps you return to your gardening fast so you can finish up your day.

TIP! Rotate your garden at least once a year. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas.

When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. It can be easy to underestimate how much space your plants will need once they begin growing. Your plants will need the space not only because of their physical size, but also because the space will provide air circulation for the garden. Think ahead and give each plant room for expansion, by properly spacing the seeds.

TIP! Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? You should plant garlic cloves in either early spring or late fall. Your soils should be well-drained.

You need to avoid chores in your organic garden stacking up. Even doing just a few small things each day can keep chores from piling up and eventually becoming unmanageable. This will save you a lot of time in the long run. You can pull a few weeds when you take your dog outside.

TIP! You have likely heard about the positive benefits of a compost bin for your organic garden, but you may not have a clue what to put in a bin like this. Compost is a mixture of wood chips, straw, leaves, scraps of produce, and grass clippings that have been allowed to sit until they are broken down into mock soil.

Killing weeds the natural way? You need to have many layers of newspapers in order to provide proper weed control. It is a fact that weeds cannot thrive without light from the sun. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. It’s easy for newspapers to break down over an extended period of time, making them great for compost. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! When you rake leaves, keep them to serve as compost for your soil. Leaves quickly turn into organic compost rich in nutrients your plants need.

Try using botanical pesticide products that can keep your insect problem under control. In some cases, natural solutions are much more efficient than the chemicals you can buy. Keep in mind, however, that the biological composition of botanical insecticides can cause them to quickly decay and disappear.

TIP! You can be a bit more environmentally friendly by doing things like saving rainwater. To collect rainwater, use rain barrels or buckets.

When planting tomatoes in your organic garden, a great tip is to plant another set of tomatoes after three weeks of planting the original ones. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time. This will also prevent you from losing an entire harvest if some type of problem arises that kills off a batch.

TIP! For fertilizer in your organic garden, you can develop your own compost pile. You can start off with something small, like a worm composting bin.

Organic horticulture is far more complex than it seems. You need to work hard at it and be patient, and if you can do that then you will see a dazzling organic garden. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic gardening pro.