Author: craigb

Great Tips And Advice For Giving Your Garden A Much Needed Lift.

~ craigb

TIP! Start your plants in some pots and plant its seedlings in the garden. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood.

Meticulous attention to your garden is one of the primary tenets of the green gardening movement. In order to get good results in an organic garden, you need to use smart gardening techniques. Nurturing your organic garden ensures that your veggies are bigger and your flowers are more beautiful. Use this information to make the best organic garden that you can.

TIP! Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! Healthy soil leads to healthy plants with more strength to deflect those insects and various diseases. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

Using a shovel in clay soil is a lot of work, not only is the clay hard, but it will stick to the shovel and make it twice as hard to handle. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.

TIP! Transplanting plants and bringing them indoors can protect them from harsh winters. You should probably save the most resistant or expensive plants.

Starting seedlings in pots before planting in your garden is a smart idea. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood. This also enables you to close gaps between planting cycles. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.

TIP! Pull all the weeds in your garden. Weeds steal nutrients from plants, robbing a garden of its potential harvest.

Utilize your garden tool handles as convenient makeshift rulers. You can use larger tools, like rakes, 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! For showy flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant plenty of bulbs. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just one 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. 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. Wisteria, jasmine, honeysuckle, clematis and some rose varieties are good choices for climbers.

TIP! When you go to mow your lawn, make sure you don’t mow it too closely to the ground. If you let your grass grow, the roots will go deeper and make your lawn more resistant to dryness.

When winter comes around, save some plants by putting them in the house. Your best bet would be try to save the best or most hearty plants. Dig carefully around the roots, then transfer the plant into a pot.

TIP! Before you start planting your garden, plan it! This way, you will remember the places you planted your seeds when they start sprouting. You are also less likely to lose smaller members of the larger garden in the overall mix.

Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. They like fruits, as well as peppers, beans and tomatoes. Proper measures should be taken in order to ensure minimal damage to your crops.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth.

If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as summer, plant bulbs. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year. You can select bulbs that bloom at many different times, so with a little work, you could have flowers popping up all the way from the start of spring to the end of summer.

TIP! Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. Each type of vegetables has its own ideal time for picking for the best flavor.

A good but unusual organic solution for weeding your plants is try “boiling” your weeds way. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil. Literally pour the water on the weeds, avoiding any wanted plants near them, and watch the weeds die over time. This can cause enough damage to the roots of any plant to kill it.

TIP! To keep dogs from disturbing your garden, spray some old aftershave, cologne, perfume or other strongly-scented products in the dirt or grass surrounding it. Using this will cover up the odors that your dog likes and will cut down on the intrigue of your landscaping for your furry friend.

Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. Mulch is used to keep extra moisture and provide nutrients for your plants. This is also efficient in preventing weeds from growing. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.

TIP! During the day, when the weather is hot, vegetables tend to be softer, which causes them to be damaged even if you gently pick them. Cut them with a tool rather than pulling or twisting, otherwise you could damage the plant itself.

You should be cognizant of the peak time for harvesting your vegetables. Individual vegetables have distinct windows of time to pick for getting the greatest flavors. For instance, zucchini and baby peas will taste a lot better if you pick them when they are young. In contrast, tomatoes are best when left on the vine as long as possible. It’s best to learn when the harvest time is for your vegetables.

TIP! Organic gardening is a safe hobby to share with your children. Gardening helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.

If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. Doing so shields the scents that your dog might pick up on and be drawn to, causing their potential interest in your garden to drop dramatically.

TIP! Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves.

Ward off certain diseases that plague plants with the use of aspirin. Three aspirins per four gallons of water will help keep your plants healthy. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Plants should be sprayed once every two to three weeks.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! When you’re making a compost pile, you should use fresh and dried plants to get it started. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste.

Coffee grounds are a great addition to soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. Nitrogen is often the most important nutrient when it comes to plants thriving, and a solid source of nitrogen, like coffee grounds, urea, or compost, can boost growth speed and increase height.

TIP! Add mulch to keep your soil healthy. Mulch acts as a protective covering for the soil.

Consider the climate and season when watering your plants. 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. Overzealous watering in an already humid climate can lead to leaf fungus. The important thing is to make sure the plant’s roots receive sufficient water.

TIP! There are all kinds of plants that can grow in your organic garden. Treat plants that thrive in acid to some mulch.

Since you’ve reached the end of this article, you can see now that organic gardening makes a huge difference in the taste and healthiness of the product. It takes a lot of work and tons of patience, but it is all worth it in the end to have a successful organic garden.

Compost Your Own Fertilizer For A Better Garden

~ craigb

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.

Organic horticulture has gained popularity from people who no longer wish to consume produce that has been treated with chemicals and pesticides, which can damage the environment and a person’s health. Additionally, most organic gardening techniques cost very little money. Here are some essential tips to help you become an expert organic gardener.

TIP! Having healthy soil in your garden is your number one defense against pests! If you are producing healthy plants, they will be stronger and better able to resist bugs and diseases. For the most vigorous and healthy plants, start with high-quality soil, and stay away from chemicals.

Plant perennials that are slug-proof. 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. They often enjoy feeding on perennials with very smooth and tender leaves. Young plants are a special favorite of theirs. Perennials that have thick, furry leaves and unpleasant tastes are less likely to attract slugs and snails. Some varieties of these plants are campanula, helleborus, heuchera, or euphorbia.

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant.

You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.

TIP! Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. Cold weather significantly affects these plants, especially if they are in pots.

Pick the correct soil to get the best results. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate. You can also create an artificial area with only one kind of soil.

TIP! Always fertilize your garden. Manure is probably the best fertilizer.

If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as summer, plant bulbs. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. If you choose your plants carefully, you could have flowers in blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer.

TIP! Carefully read and follow the instructions that come with your chemicals and tools, especially when you’re just starting to garden. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations.

When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. Cutting your grass at a taller height allows grass roots to grow deeper and stronger, which helps lessen the chance of your lawn drying out easily. Cutting your grass too short will cause it to dry out and turn brown in patches throughout your yard.

TIP! Be smart when you water your garden. A soaker hose can save valuable time by watering all of your plants simultaneously, removing the need for hauling a watering can or hose around to each plant.

Protect your tender deciduous shrubs. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold. Tie the tops tightly together, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped loosely over it. Doing this is a lot more effective than wrapping up the plant with plastic because it lets air circulate, which could avoid any rotting.

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. Your cultivated garden spaces will benefit from the various insects and wildlife that will inhabit and pollinate the undeveloped space.

Always 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 wide variety of fertilizing options available, although which type you use is not that important; just make sure to use something.

TIP! If you cut your hand, you can use a glove to protect it from germs and chemicals until it heals. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening.

Gardening is an incredible method of relaxing. Countless methods of unwinding from the stresses of life exist. Of these, horticulture is by far one of the most enjoyable and easiest to start. Horticulture does not require a lot of dollars to start, and yields tremendous benefits. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is the sense of peace and calm that comes from nurturing your plants.

TIP! Do not rush planting seeds in your garden. Start by getting the soil good and moist.

Pick one plant to serve as your garden’s focal point. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze. Frequently, it will be a plant that’s very different from others in the neighborhood.

TIP! Add three inches of mulch to your flower beds. Using this much mulch retards weed growth, locks in moisture, and ensures that your plants are well-nourished.

Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets. Keep your trowel, pruning shears and gloves handy so you can do your garden work quickly and easily.

TIP! Use coffee grounds on your soil. Plants can use the nitrogenous nutrients found in coffee grounds.

Learn to work efficiently. Don’t waste your time by searching high and low for that packet of seeds or spade. Get all of your tools together before you go into your garden, then place them in a safe spot when you are finished with them. A good way to keep your tools at hand is to buy a tool belt or utility pants with many large pockets.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! It is a good idea to get organic garden certification so as to reaffirm your claims that your products really are organic. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

Using coffee grounds as part of your soil mixture in your garden is often advised for healthy plants. Coffee beans are loaded with nitrogen, which offers nourishment for plants. 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! Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. Evaluate each tomato and check for green starts, as they generally have bad root systems that impede growth.

Gardening can actually increase the value of your property! Landscaping your property provides one of the best returns on home improvement. A few select plants can raise your property value dramatically. Different plants thrive in different environments, so be sure to invest in plants that are low in moisture, and will flourish in your garden.

TIP! You need to be very specific about what organic plants you plan to grow in the garden. There are a variety of environments that certain vegetables and flowers thrive in to grow.

It is a good idea to get organic garden certification so as to reaffirm your claims that your products really are organic. That way, you will realize greater sales volume and demonstrate the value of your produce to potential and returning customers.

TIP! Weeds are a problem in any garden, even organic ones. This organic weed killer is safer for the environment and you and your family.

Add mulch to keep your soil healthy. A thick layer of mulch offers protection to the soil underneath it. This protective effect is especially important during the summer, as it protects the roots from the effects of the heat. The soil will also stay moist longer because it reduces evaporation. Mulch is also great for controlling weed growth.

TIP! Remember to buy plants for your organic garden in an intelligent manner. You should definitely keep this in mind when you buy perennials and annuals.

Organic foods do not possess any pesticides on them. This is great for the health of your family, but you will still have to regularly check your plants for bugs and pests.

TIP! Among the most effective of all gardening techniques is mulching. Mulching also works to slow water evaporation and limit weed growth.

By taking advantage of the advice you’ve read in this article, you’ll be able to have a garden free of pesticides and full of healthy produce. When you are organic gardening and working with nature, you will also see a lot of wildlife coming to visit!

Everything You May Have Wondered About Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. 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.

Organic gardening is very relaxing and will help you connect with nature. It is a good way to grow healthy fresh foods in an environmentally friendly, chemical-free way. Are you intimidated? Throughout the article below, you will read some expert advice on organic gardening that can assist you in becoming a skilled gardener.

TIP! Consider starting your plants in pots and then planting the seedlings in your garden. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood.

Choose perennials that slugs are not attracted to. It is alarming to see how quickly slugs, and their cousin snails, can annihilate a plant. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Perennials that have thick, furry leaves and unpleasant tastes are less likely to attract slugs and snails. Excellent varieties include heuchera, achillea, euphorbia, campanula, and helleborus.

TIP! A garden with a foundation of healthy soil is the best defense against pests. If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease.

If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water. Use a spray bottle to apply to your plants weekly until the issue clears up. Baking soda treats the mildew effectively and gently and it won’t damage your plants.

TIP! Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. Using a variety of flowers allows your flower garden to have a different look each season.

You could try to boil weeds if you are trying to remain organic. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don’t have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Just pour boiling water directly on top of the weeds cautiously to avoid damaging your plants. The extreme heat of the water will cause damage to the weeds’ roots, which will stop them from growing any more.

TIP! During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. You may be able to save your most resistant or expensive plants.

Split up the irises. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. If you split the bulbs that you pull up, and replant them, they will bloom the following year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. Cut the new pieces from its outside and dispose of the older center. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. Replant them immediately.

TIP! The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee.

Purchase an inexpensive horticulture kneeling pad, as well as a wheelbarrow or wagon. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.

TIP! All plants need an adequate supply of carbon dioxide in order to thrive. Often, plants achieve better growth when they are surrounded by high levels of CO2.

Pest control is tough when you have a veggie garden. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals. Frequently check your garden for pests. When you are vigilant, you can simply remove the pests from your plants manually as soon as you notice them. Early detection is the best solution to ridding your garden of pests.

Grass Clippings

TIP! One way to correct your soil’s alkalinity is by amending your soil with used coffee grounds. Coffee grounds add acidity to the soil and are very cheap.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Grass clippings, vegetable and fruit leftovers, and grass clippings are all examples of green plant material. Paper and straw are dry plant materials. Never use ashes, meat, charcoal, diseased plants or carnivorous animal manure in your compost pile.

TIP! Try to have a plan with your garden. This way, you will remember the places you planted your seeds when they start sprouting.

Do you want to kill weeds without using commercial chemicals? Put down old newspapers in several layers for controlling weeds. Weeds cannot grow without light. When you put newspaper on top of weeds they will suffocate because they are not getting enough light. Old newspapers are a valuable addition to your compost heap. Add a layer of mulch on top to make it look more attractive!

TIP! Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. When these tender shrubs are kept in pots, cold weather can be very damaging.

If you’re planning on selling crops to people and labeling them as organic, you will need to receive an organic horticulture certification. This will increase sales and shows your customers they’ve been buying from the best.

TIP! Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier.

Over-watering plants is counterproductive, as too much water reduces plants’ ability to absorb nutrients from the surrounding soil. Check the weather forecast before watering plants to see if there is rain in the near future. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.

TIP! The water that is leftover from the steamed vegetables is great to pour over them. To add acidity to the soil of your rhododendrons and gardenias, use coffee or tea grounds.

Annually rotate your garden. Planting the same family of plants in the same area over and over can cause disease and fungus to start growing. These kind of enemies to plants can stay underground ready for the next year to cause harm to your plants. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

TIP! If you want to spend more quality time outdoors with your children, why not allowing them to help you with your gardening? Small kids enjoy picking fruit themselves out of a garden. Because of this, they’ll be more likely to provide you with some assistance in your garden if they feel like they’re receiving something out of this.

Look closely at the seedlings you purchase. For instance, if you buy tomato seedlings for an organic plot, be cautious if you find green, lush-looking starts that have underdeveloped root systems. The reason that these starts will still look green with bad roots is because the seedlings will not grow until the starts are gone.

TIP! To avoid tracking the mud and dirt that will get on your gardening shoes, use plastic bags. This allows you to work steadily and without distractions, making you a happier and more productive gardener.

It’s best to plant tomatoes in an organic garden on a three-week cycle. Staggering the planting times ensures that you are able to consistently enjoy ripe tomatoes. Additionally, should something happen to during one of your harvests, your tomatoes will not all be ruined.

TIP! Add used coffee grounds to your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nitrogen, that is a nutrient required by plants.

Pay attention to which products you can use in your garden. Experiment with organic and natural fertilizers instead of the usual chemical, commercial ones. One way to naturally feed your plants is through the use of compost. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

TIP! Be aware of the location you are in, and the seasonal and climate changes that occur. Make sure that you adjust your watering cycles to match these changes.

You need to be very specific about what organic plants you plan to grow in the garden. Some flowers and vegetables require specific types of soil, a certain moisture level, and direct or indirect sun exposure. For instance, there are many different varieties of roses. However, only some will grow properly in you garden. Make sure you select the varieties that will adapt well to your garden.

TIP! An excellent feature of organic vegetables is that they contain no pesticides. This will improve your family’s overall health, but it does mean you have to be extra vigilant about checking for pest infestations.

Organic horticulture is a hobby incorporating nature, hard work and patience. It makes use of empty land to produce something tasty and healthy. But, if you are ready to dedicate yourself and stick to the advice in this piece, you are sure to be a successful organic gardener.

Anyone Can Garden With The Following Advice

~ craigb

TIP! When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. You will need to prepare your lawn soil before laying the sod.

When you have the option, organically grown produce is almost always far superior to the other choices in the grocery store. You can grow your own produce instead of heading to the supermarket. Read the following article to find out more about organic horticulture.

TIP! A great gardening tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high yield. It is quite common to find that hybrids, which are often able to resist disease and withstand cold climates, produce yields much larger than their conventional counterparts.

When winter comes around, save some plants by putting them in the house. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Be careful not to damage the root system as you dig up the plant, and place it in a pot.

TIP! Use annuals and biennials to enliven your flower beds. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year.

Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds and gardens do not mix; they will destroy your garden. Try using white vinegar to get rid of weeds. The acid in white vinegar kills weeds. You may also be using plants that need that very same acid. Use a spray bottle full of white vinegar and you won’t have to use your hands.

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants indoors to rescue them from the winter frosts. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

For showy flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant plenty of bulbs. Most bulbs are extremely hearty and grow easily. They also come back year after year. Include a variety of plantings to get a full season of flowers, from early bloomers to late-season varieties.

TIP! 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.

Pre-soak seeds overnight in a dark place. Place a small amount of seeds in a little container, while filling it to the brim with water. This will allow your seeds to be hydrated and get a head start when growing. This will also give your seeds a much better chance to survive and mature.

TIP! When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. If you’d like to change things up a bit this season, put away your standard clay pots and plant your lettuce and kale inside of a pumpkin instead! Scoop the insides out of the pumpkin, and don’t forget to spray the inside with Wilt-Pruf.

When you are mowing your lawn do not cut it too closely to the dirt. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out. The shorter the grass, the shallower the roots, which makes the lawn more likely to develop brown patches.

TIP! One natural method of weed removal is called “boiling”. Boiling water is a safe herbicide which won’t damage your garden or your body.

Divide irises. You can increase your stock of irises by dividing up overgrown clumps. When the foliage has died off, it is time to harvest the iris bulbs. As soon as you pick up the bulb, it’ll split into pieces. That’s okay – in fact, it’s desirable. You can replant the bulb pieces and next year you’ll have a healthy bed of new irises. Make use of a knife to split up rhizomes. Throw out the center and cut pieces on the outside that are new. Each new piece you cut should possess at least one healthy offshoot. The quicker you can replant your cuttings, the better chances they will reappear next season.

TIP! Be vigilant about keeping moisture off your plants. If your plants get too moist, they may get sick or infested with parasites.

Fertilizing your garden is essential. Use commercially composted products in your garden to help your plants grow. This will reduce the chance of pathogens. There are a lot of different ways to fertilize plants; make sure you actually take the time to do it.

TIP! Invest in a quality wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool if gardening work is going to happen often. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees.

Pest control can be very difficult when dealing with a vegetable garden. You want to avoid spraying harsh chemicals since the vegetables are meant for consumption. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. If you catch the pests early, the best removal technique is just to take them off your plants by hand.

TIP! Be sure to plant using the colors of Fall. That doesn’t have to be way it is though! When it comes to vibrant color, the bright foliage of fall beats all the other seasons.

If you have an organic garden and children, plant some everbearing strawberries for them. Strawberries are a favorite of children due to their sweetness. And since they’re so easy and fun to pick, it’s also a healthy, productive, safe activity that children can assist adults with.

TIP! If you like the concept of organic gardening, then why not take it one step further by leaving some of your land undeveloped for the area’s wildlife? Certain wildlife can be good for an organic garden; birds and insects can help your plants reproduce and be as healthy as they can be!

Make sure you protect your knees well while you are gardening. It’s difficult for most people to bend while standing, especially at the waist. Kneeling can relieve pain in your back, but can instead be painful to your knees. Place a cushioning kneeling pad on the ground or wear knee pads to make kneeling more comfortable.

Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. You will be able to go in and out without having to keep taking your shoes on and off.

Green Plant

TIP! If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals.

Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Green plant material includes grass clippings, spent flowers, vegetable and fruit waste, weeds and leaves. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.

TIP! Grow your plants in different areas of the garden 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.

A useful technique for organic horticulture, is to gently disturb your seedlings by using your fingers or a piece of cardboard one or two times daily. You may think it odd, but studies show that this action results in plant growth that is more substantial than would otherwise be achieved.

TIP! Water your organic garden using a soaker hose. These hoses let water out slowly at a regular rate.

While organic horticulture takes a little extra work, it is healthier and more gratifying than regular horticulture. Growing organic is healthier and just overall better for you. Make sure you try your best to grow organic as opposed to adding chemicals to your garden.

TIP! Try planting your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people.

You will need to know the correct way to create planting beds if you want to make an organic garden. Start off by getting under the grass using a spade. Once you do this, flip it upside down and cover this area with around three or four inches of wood chips. You can cut and plant after a couple weeks.

TIP! Leaves make for a good organic compost pile which you can mix in with soil. As the leaves rot, they create a nutrient dense compost that will keep your garden healthy.

When preparing to plant a shrub or tree in your garden, consider digging a hole that looks ugly for planting them. If you create holes that have “glazed” sides created by shovels, it’s possible that one of those holes will restrict any root from getting into the soil nearby.

TIP! Rainwater should be saved. You can trap the water in barrels to use in your garden.

Keep the soil healthy for optimum plant health so they can combat disease, and even destruction caused by insects. You won’t be killing off large amounts of insects, but good practices can help avoid the damage they can cause.

Do not keep on buying low quality produce. Use the tips you just read to start growing your own organic fruits and vegetables.

Try These Great Gardening Ideas Even If You Don’t Have A Green Thumb

~ craigb

TIP! To keep your plants from getting shocked, you need to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature and conditions. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day.

Vegan, vegetarian and other holistic practices have become increasingly popular as millions turn to organic foods for nourishment. When you choose this form of lifestyle, then you opt for growing herbs and other things solely for beneficial reasons and you always aim for organic growing techniques. Read through this article to learn what you need to do when it comes to organic gardening.

TIP! Trying to shovel through clay soil can be extremely difficult and tiresome. To make working in clay easier, rub the shovel with floor or car wax and then buff it with a cloth.

Pay attention to how you lay sod. The soil requires preparation before sod can be laid. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. Lightly, but firmly pack the soil down, and make sure that it is flat. The soil should be adequately moistened. Lay the sod in rows, and make sure the joints do not overlap. Cut away extra sod and save it to fill in gaps you may create later. The sod needs to be watered daily for two weeks, by which time it will be rooted and ready to walk on.

TIP! Get a slug-proof variety of perennials. These mollusks are capable of consuming an entire garden full of flowers in a single night.

Be vigilant about keeping moisture off your plants. If you have excess moisture, this can attract bugs or diseases. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. Fungi can be controlled with fungicide sprays, but it is important to treat your area with the spray, before you see any problems.

TIP! When the fall season approaches, you must prepare to plant your favorite fall veggies and other edibles. Instead of using regular clay pots this year for planting lettuce and kale, try a pumpkin container instead! To use the pumpkin as a planter, it is important to prevent it from rotting.

If you find yourself in love with mint leaves, but not with how they dominate a garden, read on. Stunt their growth a little by planting your mint into a garden container or large pot instead. Plant the container in the ground, but its walls will hold those roots captive, and will prevent the plant from engulfing your garden!

TIP! If you are considering planting a garden take the time to plan it out. This will assist you in recognizing your tiny plants when they start to pop up.

Split up irises. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. When the foliage has died off, it is time to harvest the iris bulbs. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Divide up the rhizomes with a knife. Cut rhizomes from around the outside then throw away the remaining center. Make sure that every cutting contains a viable offshoot. Replant your pieces right away.

TIP! Place at least an inch of mulch that is organic in with your veggies! Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over. It will also prevent weeds from growing.

Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Different vegetables have different, ideal times that they should be picked for best flavor. For example, zucchini and baby peas are best picked young. At the opposite end of the spectrum, tomatoes are at their best when mature. So, find out the best time to harvest your vegetables.

TIP! When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias.

Keeping pests out of a vegetable garden can be difficult. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals. You can prevent pests from appearing in the garden by adopting a vigilant attitude. When you see bugs, remove them by hand before they have a chance of spreading.

TIP! A typical English garden combines various plants of differing heights in a single bed. Using plants of all the same kind or size, can result in a boring, and unoriginal garden.

Plant things that will give you color for the fall. That idea is actually far from the truth. The brightest season of the year when it comes to foliage is fall. Maple trees, Dogwood, and Beech trees exist in lots of Fall colors that range from deep crimson to yellow. Barberry, conaneaster and hydrangea are all wonderful choices in shrubs.

TIP! You never want to do any gardening with open wounds, so make sure everything is completely healed up before you begin; otherwise, you run the risk of your cut being exposed to dangerous chemicals and dirt. Open wounds can easily get infected while gardening because you’re exposing yourself to dirt, bacteria and germs.

Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Children find it fun to pick strawberries and love to assist with the harvest if they get some yummy treats as they work.

TIP! Keep your tools handy to work more efficiently. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets.

Aspirin water has disease-prevention properties that can protect plants. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water. Spray your plants with the water if they have a disease. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

TIP! Want to kill weeds naturally? Pile newspapers on top of each other to kill weeds. In order to grow, weeds need sunlight.

You can cover your muddied gardening footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. 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.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Dig a hole just deep enough for a glass jar to be placed in it while the jar still has its rim in line with the surface of the ground.

You can use something like a laundry basket to gather all of your produce together when the time comes. An old laundry basket makes an excellent strainer for cleaning your produce. You can clean and rinse the harvest when it is the laundry basket and the water will go out of the holes.

TIP! Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic gardening remains the best way to observe natural cycles. This kind of gardening shows you the entire progression of planting from beginning to end.

Keep your compost pile balanced with a combination of dried and green plant mulch. Green plant material includes grass clippings, spent flowers, vegetable and fruit waste, weeds and leaves. For the dry end of the spectrum, think of things like paper and cardboard, sawdust, hay, etc. Avoid using animal manure, charcoal or diseased plants in your compost.

TIP! Plant your own garlic with organic methods. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall.

Lightly ruffle your seeds by hand or with cardboard, twice daily in your organic garden. However odd this may sound, research shows that this touching encourages seedlings to grow better than they would without touching.

TIP! It’s not what’s on the surface that counts. Even if the plant looks lush on the upper leaves, the root system can have problems.

Mulch your garden to keep the soil nourished. Mulch can give your soil some additional protection and nourishment. It protects roots because it helps the soil stay cooler when it’s hot outside. The layer of mulch will also minimize evaporation, reducing your need to water as frequently as you would a garden without mulch. As an added bonus, weed growth will be stunted.

TIP! Use a soaker hose to water your organic garden. The water slowly seeps from these hoses and is positioned so the roots get the water, and the leaves remain dry.

Get to the root of the matter! After planting tomatoes, for example, you must closely monitor the soil for the first signs of green shoots. Don’t get attached–these hints of green are hiding an underdeveloped root system below the surface of the soil. These starts will stick around on the main plant for several weeks, hindering the growth of the seedling as long as they are present.

TIP! Here is a great way to make organic gardening fun and easy. Bushes, native grasses, and flowers should be the essentials of your landscaping needs.

The more organic gardening tips you are able to pick up, the easier horticulture will eventually become for you. Keep in mind that the tips in this article are only intended as a starting point.

Grow Your Organic Garden With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! 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.

The odds are fairly good that you have heard about organic foods or have seen them at the grocery store. Distinguishing which foods are organic is really quite simple. The organic products cost more, and they often come in distinctive packaging. Continue on for some great organic horticulture tips, so you can learn how to grow one at home.

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants indoors to rescue them from the winter frosts. It’s a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat.

Consider starting your plants in pots and then planting the seedlings in your garden. They are then more likely to survive and to become thriving, mature plants. In addition, it lets you tighten the time in between plantings. Once you’ve removed the previous group of plants, your seedlings can go into the ground.

TIP! Plants all need a good supply of C02 to grow properly! Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2. The best way to expose your plants to a high level of carbon dioxide is by growing them in a greenhouse.

Check the soil before you plant anything in your garden. You can do a soil sample analysis for an affordable fee and then know what you need to properly treat your soil with so you can grow the best plants. A lot of Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and you can prevent ruining a few crops by identifying the specific steps to take.

TIP! If you’re planning on gardening, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans.

If you want to grow vegetables in you backyard, it is vital that you place them in an area where they could get roughly six hours of sun on a daily basis. Most vegetables that can be grown need that much sun to grow well and quickly. Some flowers need the same thing.

TIP! It is best to aerate and dry your plants daily. Damp leaves can lead to plant disease and parasites.

Your plants should always be kept in an aerated, dry area. If your plants get too moist, they may get sick or infested with parasites. Fungi are parasites that are common in the plant world. It is possible to control fungi with sprays, but the key is to treat your garden before any problems arise.

TIP! Use plants to get some autumn color. It doesn’t have to be this way, however.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. It is wise to limit the use of harsh chemicals, because the vegetables will be eaten. Remain vigilant to control your garden pests. By noticing them at an early stage, you can simply pluck them away from your plants with your fingers.

TIP! Make sure you have some plastic bags around so that you can cover any muddy gardening shoes you have. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your gardening project.

Try to plant an English garden with a mix of plants with different heights, all within the same garden bed. If you only use uniform plants, your bed will look boring and flat.

TIP! Do not underestimate pine as great mulch. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity.

Include your kids in growing an organic garden. Gardens are a wonderful place for kids to learn, and working side by side with them can strengthen the bond that you have.

TIP! For claiming your crops are credible and truly organic, get organic garden certified. This also does several things to boost your business.

If you have a high priority for sustainability in your organic horticulture, try leaving a corner of the property undeveloped as a mini wildlife refuge. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

TIP! If you’d like to improve the health of your soil, try adding some mulch. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it.

It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. Let the area have about two weeks, then dig it and plan the new perennials.

TIP! Have you ever given any thought to using organic gardening methods to grow garlic? Plant organic cloves in spring or fall and use moist, drained soil. Plant your garlic cloves around 1-2 inches into the ground, making sure the end is pointed up and they are four inches from each other.

As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. Uncover your containers; the plastic wrap traps humidity, so you need to remove it to stop your plants from overheating. Watching your plants as they grow will give you the insight on when to employ these tactics.

TIP! You may be able to find botanical insecticides locally, which are often very helpful for preventing pest infestations. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety.

Work efficiently in your garden. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them. 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. If needed, purchase a tool belt or heavy duty pants with plenty of pockets.

TIP! You must be sure to mulch your garden or flowerbed with about three inches of materials that are organic. Mulch adds nutrients to soil, maintains moisture and prevents weed growth.

You can get rid of slugs with a simple beer trap. Start by burying a wide-mouth jar in the soil, ensuring that the rim of the jar is just at the soil’s surface. Fill that with beer just under an inch from the top of your jar. Slugs are attracted to beer. They will crawl into the jar and be trapped.

TIP! Many organic gardeners get the best results from watering with a soaker hose. The water seeps slowly out of these hoses and can be directed straight to the roots so that the leaves stay dry.

Your authenticity as an organic grower is solidified when you obtain the organic horticulture certification. With this, you and your crops are credible and 100% legitimately organic. This is important for your business and to your customers. This will improve your sales and show your faithful customers that they are getting the best possible food that is grown.

TIP! This tip greatly eases your organic gardening attempts. You want to plan your landscaping around native flowers, bushes and grasses.

Change your garden beds 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. The next year, when you plant the same plants in the same area of your garden, they’ll be exposed to these problems. If you change things up by planting things in different places, you can naturally prevent fungus and disease from taking over.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not take a lot of work, people love to hear this! You will not have to water them as often, which will save you a lot of time.

Many organic gardeners get the best results from watering with a soaker hose. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. This type of hose uses less water in comparison to a sprinkler and takes the time and work out of watering your plants by hand.

TIP! No matter what kind of garden you have, weeds are a pain. You can use this to kill weeds in your garden and keep it organic.

When adding a new tree or shrub to your garden, remember that a ragged planting hole is best. If the shovel “glazes” any sides of the hole, leaving a smooth and compact surface, the roots may have trouble breaking through the soil in that area.

TIP! It’s important to know the right way to buy plants for your garden. Be careful with perennials or annuals.

You are aware of how helpful compost is in growing your organic garden, but do you have any idea what is actually in it? It is a mixture or combination of leaves, grass clippings, wood-chips, produce scraps, straw, and some small twigs that had the chance to break down into a “pseudo-soil.” You can use a compost instead of a commercial fertilizer and save money.

TIP! You can use the leaves out in your yard to mix and make an organic compost with when you combine it with your soil As the leaves rot, they create a nutrient dense compost that will keep your garden healthy. You will find this to be a great no-cost method of getting organic compound for your garden.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.

Top Three Gardening Tools For Easy Maintenance

~ craigb

TIP! A handy trick is to turn the handle on a tool that you use often into a makeshift ruler. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks.

You may find organic gardening to either be a source of great relaxation, or a frustratingly difficult enterprise. The following advice will show you how to grow an organic garden successfully.

TIP! Try to plan a variety of perennials that are slug-proof. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time.

Fill your garden with bulbs if you want to enjoy beautiful flowers through the spring and into summer. Bulbs are easy to grow and hearty, and they keep growing in years to come. 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! When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit.

When you grow veggies in a garden, you need to ensure they get at least six hours of good sunlight each day. Most vegetables need that much sun to grow rapidly and successfully. This is also true for some flowers.

TIP! Keep the weeds out of your garden by removing them regularly. Weeds steal nutrients from plants, robbing a garden of its potential harvest.

A good fertilizer is important to add nutrients to your soil. 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. It is important that you use some sort of fertilizer, although it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose.

TIP! Do you enjoy fresh mint leaves though hate how they grow so fast and take over your entire garden? Stunt their growth a little by planting your mint into a garden container or large pot instead. You can simply put the container below the soil level.

Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color. Some plants provide color during the winter like the Winterberry, and American Holly, the American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Be sure your garden is fertilized. Manure is an excellent fertilizer, but it needs to be combined with a synthetic compost to stop diseases from infecting your plants.

Gardening should be a relaxing activity. Countless methods of unwinding from the stresses of life exist. Working in the garden is among the simplest. It requires a small monetary investment and has numerous returns. The biggest perk of horticulture is the sense of satisfaction you get from what you grow with your own two hands.

TIP! Apply organic mulch generously around your vegetable plants. The mulch will help keep the soil moist for longer periods of time.

Try using aspirin water for fighting plant diseases. Dissolve three aspirin in four gallons of water. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Be sure to repeat this process every two or three weeks.

TIP! Think about adding some berry-producing evergreens to your landscaping. Your yard will then have bright spots of color all year round, which is especially cheerful in the winter when all of your other flora is bare or colorless.

As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. It is not good to bend from a standing position for a long period of time. If you kneel, you can easily work on your plants without placing stress on your back. A kneeling pad can be placed under your knees to help reduce the pain from compression.

TIP! You can create a great English garden by mixing types and sizes in one bed. A uniform and flat bed is created by using plants that are the same height.

Have plastic bags on hand so that you may cover your muddy horticulture shoes. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.

TIP! Consider planting strawberries, especially ones that are everbearing, for your garden if you have small children. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Be aware that some seeds shouldn’t be covered, as they need sunlight. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you are not sure whether your seeds need to be exposed to sunlight, resources are usually provided with the seeds or can be found online.

TIP! You can help your plants resist disease by spraying them with aspirin water. Three aspirins per four gallons of water will help keep your plants healthy.

Try using untreated stone, brick, or wood to create a raised bed. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. The best varieties include cedar, locust and cypress wood. Don’t use treated wood in a garden for vegetables because the chemicals contained in them can leak into the ground. You may have previously used treated lumber; if so, you should use a plastic liner to cover it.

TIP! You should utilize around three inches of mulch that is organic in your flower beds. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden.

Horticulture, especially organic horticulture, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. Any form of gardening gives a basic outline for all others; teaching you the general methodology behind sewing, planting, and harvesting properly.

Commercial Fertilizers

TIP! You need to avoid chores in your organic garden stacking up. If you’re too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you.

Always think about what alternatives to chemicals you can use to solve problems in your garden. Remember that chemicals have no place in organic gardening and should not be used. Make use of organic compounds or natural solutions instead of commercial fertilizers. Compost is a great example of what to use. 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.

TIP! If you’re planning on selling crops to people and labeling them as organic, you will need to receive an organic gardening certification. This can increase your sales and also prove to your customers that they are getting the best produce out there.

Here you have organic gardening, simplified! Plan your landscaping based primarily on native bushes, flowers and grasses. By choosing plants that coexist easily with your soil types, climate and neighboring plants, you will reduce the need for additional fertilizers and natural pesticides. Native plants will thrive if you encourage growth with organically made compost.

TIP! Throughout the year and in different climates, it may be necessary to vary your watering schedule. The amount of water a plant needs depends on the soil type, time of day and the water’s quality.

The healthier the soil the healthier your plants are, and when they are healthy they become that much more resistant to insects and disease. This won’t get rid of insects, but it does make them less harmful, which should make most people happy.

TIP! Drowning your plants with water can kill them! It will stop your plant’s roots from being able to obtain any nutritional goodness out of its surrounding soil Before watering your plants outdoors, check to see if there is rain in the forecast. You can skip watering for an entire day if rain is on the way.

You know that there are numerous benefits to using compost on organic gardens, but have you ever wondered what it is made up of? Compost includes natural ingredients and by-products, such as grass clippings, small branches, plant materials and even leftover veggies from the dinner table. It is much better to use this in place of chemicals and fertilizers.

TIP! Look up local botanical insecticides; they can be very useful in keeping the pest population at bay. You can find more power from natural insecticides, as opposed to engineered synthetic pesticides.

Organic horticulture is far more complex than it seems. While creating a lovely organic garden takes a lot of effort, the results are more than worth the work. By using the advice you learned here, you will be well on the path to becoming an organic gardening pro.

The Garden Of Your Dreams Is Within Your Reach – Read On!

~ craigb

TIP! Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water.

While organic horticulture is normally extremely enjoyable and relaxing, it can also cause you major problems if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. Use the tips presented here to make the most out of your earth friendly organic garden.

TIP! Try using climber plants to cover up your fences and walls. Climbing plants are known to be very versatile, and can help hide any ugly wall or fence, and this often only takes one growing season.

So that you don’t shock your plants, try gradually accustoming them to conditions and temperature. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day. As time goes by, slowly increase the time they spent outdoors. At the end of a week, they should be accustomed to the outdoors and ready to transition to outside safely.

TIP! For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Bulbs are usually very hearty and very easy to grow, and bulbs will grow year after year.

Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood. In addition, it offers you a smaller time frame between plantings. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.

TIP! In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top.

For flowers throughout the spring and the summer, be sure to plant some bulbs. Since bulbs are easy to grow and resistant to poor weather conditions, they will grow without fail year after year. Bulbs bloom during different seasons, if you pick them carefully you will have flowers almost all year.

Grow some wheat grass or catnip for your cat to eat instead. You may also place something offensively smelly atop the soil, like citrus peel or mothballs.

TIP! If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. Coffee grounds are an affordable means of adding acid to the soil so that it is pH-balanced.

When you go to mow your lawn, make sure you don’t mow it too closely to the ground. If you let your grass keep some height after mowing, it will be able to absorb more sun and moisture resulting in a lusher, greener lawn. Short grass is more prone to getting dried out and turning brown.

TIP! Don’t over-water your plants, and keep the soil around them aerated. Parasites and pests are attracted to excess moisture on the plants.

Do you love fresh mint leaves but hate how they quickly grow to take over your garden? You can stunt the growth of mint by planting it inside a container or super-sized bowl. You can even plant the container in the ground. That way, the roots won’t be able to escape the container, and the plant won’t overrun your garden.

TIP! The best gardens start with seeds, as opposed to plants. When you grow a new garden, start the environmental way, from seeds.

Place organic mulch close to your vegetables. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time. It also prevents weed growth. That helps you save a great deal of effort and time in weed eradication.

TIP! If your gardening plans include pea plantings, try starting them off indoors rather than planting the raw seeds in outdoor beds. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination.

Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. Tomatoes, however, are best picked from the vine later when they are very ripe. So, be aware of the best harvest time to pick your veggies.

TIP! If you are gardening for the first time ever, read and follow all directions and instructions that come with your chemicals and tools. If you use your gardening chemicals wrong, you can abrade or even burn your skin.

Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. This includes wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Protecting yourself from the sun will lower the possibility of sunburn and skin cancer.

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

If you pick vegetables around high noon when it is very hot, you are likely to damage them. Use garden shears to remove your vegetables from the vine to avoid damaging the plant.

You can create a great English garden by mixing types and sizes in one bed. Plants that grow to be the same height end up uniform and flat looking.

TIP! Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. It makes a great strainer for your vegetables.

If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. If your house or apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light, one option is to grow something that only requires medium or low light. If you still are unable to get enough light to your plants, consider purchasing grow-lights.

TIP! Want to get rid of weeds naturally? You can place newspaper in several layers, and it will help control your weeds. Weeds need sun for growth, just like any other plant.

Take the time needed to plant your seeds. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist. Then distribute the seeds so that they are evenly spaced and have sufficient room to grow. Bury them three times as deep as the size of the seeds. Some seeds should not be buried at all as they need light to grow.

TIP! A great tip when running your own organic garden, is to lightly ruffle your seedlings with your hand or cardboard, around once or twice per day. This probably sounds like an odd recommendation, but research has shown that this technique encourages more plant growth, than no petting at all.

Do you want to kill weeds naturally? Take newspapers and layer them for controlling weeds. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight. When you cover weeds with newspaper layers, they suffocate due to lack of light. Because newspapers decompose well with the passage of time, they make great additions to compost. Add visual appeal by placing some mulch over the top.

TIP! One way to profitably sell products from your organic garden is to be a credible organic gardener. Get organically certified.

It’s time to plant some organic garlic. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring. Each clove should be planted end-up, four inches apart and between one and two inches below the surface of the soil. Green garlic shoots can be cut as they grow, and used in place of chives or scallions. When the tops of the bulbs become brown, it is time to harvest them. Allow the skin to harden by letting your bulbs sit out in the sun. Store the bulbs separately or tied in loose bunches in a cool place.

TIP! Any form of gardening helps you get in tune with the environment, but organic gardening takes this concept to the next level. This kind of gardening keeps you more involved in planting, cultivating and harvesting, giving you a clearer picture of the entire life cycle of each plant.

While gardening, be careful of what products you use. Use organic or natural alternatives in the place of the typical chemical fertilizers. Compost is a great example of what to use. A benefit to using organic over inorganic methods is that inorganic fertilizers are causing toxic chemical buildups to occur in soil and in drinking water!

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people.

As stated in the above article, many people do not realize how much more there is to organic gardening. Doing it successfully entails a good amount of patience and dedication, but achieving a productive organic garden is a worthwhile endeavor indeed. Follow the tips and you can increase your horticulture skills.

What You Have Always Wondered About Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! So that you don’t shock your plants, try gradually accustoming them to conditions and temperature. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day.

Organic gardening is the alternative to using toxic products such as fertilizers or pesticides on the food you are going to eat and the environment you live in. There is also the fact that maintaining an organic garden is inexpensive. The following tips will help turn you into a successful organic gardener in no time at all.

TIP! Use biennials and annuals to beautify your flower beds. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year.

When laying sod, it is important that you do it correctly. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod. Weed the soil well, and till the entire lawn area. Gently compact the soil until it is flattened. Be sure the soil is thoroughly moist. Then lay the sod in staggered rows so the joints are offset. After the sod is in place, go over the surface to ensure everything is level. Use loose soil to fill in any gaps between seams. According to your climate, you will likely need to water the new sod daily over a period of a couple of weeks. This will insure proper root formation and establishment.

TIP! Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just one season.

So you don’t shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. Over one week, gradually build up the amount of hours you leave the plants outside. At the end of a week, they should be accustomed to the outdoors and ready to transition to outside safely.

TIP! In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

Digging in clay soil with a shovel can be very difficult. The clay isn’t easy to work with and will adhere to the shovel, which only makes the problem worse. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

TIP! When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits.

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. On the floor, simply lay out the handles, then take a tape measure and run it next to them. A permanent marker can be used to label distances. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.

TIP! Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Bulbs are hearty and will continue to grow every year.

Use annuals and biennials to enliven your flower beds. Fast growing biennials and annuals will brighten a garden and permit you to change looks from one season to another. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. Some plants to get you started include petunia, marigold, sunflower, rudbekcia, and cosmos.

Baking Soda

TIP! Try growing wheat grass or cat grass in the area of the plants your cat wants to eat. Alternatively, you can try putting mothballs, citrus peel or anything else with an odor that cats find distasteful in the soil surrounding the plants.

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Baking soda will bring no damage to your plants, and will treat the mildew in a gentle and efficient manner.

TIP! Do not mow your lawn close to the bottom. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper.

Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

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. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace.

Start your garden off right with seeds, not plants. It’s better for the environment to begin from seed. Seeds eliminate the waste of plastic containers from nurseries which rarely get recycled. There are some nurseries, however, that send their plants out in organic potting materials.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs need protection from the cold. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season.

If you are just starting out, follow all the guidelines and rules on your chemicals and tools. Garden chemicals can cause skin irritation and eye injury. Stick to the rules and safeguard your health.

TIP! Try placing evergreens that grow berries around your garden. These types of trees can offer your garden a splash of color, especially during the winter when all other plants and trees have lost their hues.

Take advantage of gardening as a means to unwind. There are a wide variety of things you can do to release stress and relax. Of these, horticulture is by far one of the most enjoyable and easiest to start. It doesn’t require a lot of cash up front, but pays major dividends. Growing your own garden brings a feeling of tranquility and joy to you.

TIP! If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth.

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 vegetables to remove them from vines rather than twisting and pulling them. Twisting vegetables off vines damages them.

TIP! When you plant a seed, take your time. A key first step is to add moisture to your soil.

To create a unique English garden, use a variety of plant types and lengths in the same flower bed. Using plants that all grow the same height result in a flat and uniform looking bed.

TIP! After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature.

Gardening can be hard on your knees. Bending over from a standing position is something many people cannot do. Concentrate on kneeling. This will still make it easy to reach plants as well as minimize back stress. You can pick up a knee pad for you to rest on so that your knees are at ease on the ground.

TIP! Organize your gardening so that you can work efficiently. Don’t waste your time by looking all over for your tools.

By implementing the advice that is in this article, you can expect to have a healthy, toxic free, productive garden in the very near future. You can also look forward to a boost in the volume of wildlife inhabiting your nature-loving garden.

Gardening Woes? Read This Useful Advice For Help!

~ craigb

TIP! You will need to properly lay sod. Get your soil ready before you lay the sod.

Gardening is a relatively inexpensive, relaxing hobby. It can also be a great occasion to bond with your family and friends. Children usually take interest in seeing plants grow or by catching bugs. This also teaches them about appreciating outdoors and nature. By reading this article, you will learn some tips which will make enjoying your garden easier. If you’re enjoying gardening, you’re more apt to invite others to join you in the activity.

TIP! Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. You can use shovels or rakes as measuring sticks.

Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. To make the clay soft so you aren’t working as hard, take floor or car wax and rub a light coat on the surface of the shovel using a clean cloth, then buff the surface. The clay won’t stick to it, and the end will not rust as an added bonus.

TIP! For the right results, get the right type of soil. Depending on the type of plants you desire in your garden, your natural soil may or may not be appropriate.

Turn the handles of your garden tools into measuring rulers. You can use larger tools, like rakes, as measuring sticks. Place the handles on the ground and measure them. Mark your distances with a permanent marker. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

TIP! Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Plants tend to grow better when the CO2 levels are higher.

Healthy soil will also assist in your battle against pests. If you are producing healthy plants, they will be stronger and better able to resist bugs and diseases. If you want to get the best plants, begin with a soil that has hardly any chemicals, and that will bring salts.

Flower Beds

TIP! Divide your irises. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps.

Use biennials and annuals to add color to your flower beds. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another. In an area that is sunny, they make good plants to place in the gaps found between shrubs and perennials. Some flowers you can use are rudbekia, petunias, cosmos, marigolds, or sunflowers.

TIP! Get a wheelbarrow, and a stool so that you can kneel down while gardening. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Use climbers for covering fences and walls. Climbers have many different uses and spread quickly. You can direct them over certain branches or boards, or you can send them through plants you already have. Some varieties will climb and attach using their tendrils or branches, but some will need to be trained or supported with ties. Excellent varieties include honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses and clematis.

TIP! Wisely water your garden. Put down the watering can or garden hose, and spread out a time-saving soaker hose instead.

If you want flowers in spring and summer, plant bulbs in the garden. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year. If you choose your plants carefully, you could have flowers in blossom from the first weeks of spring to the end of the summer.

TIP! To keep your dog out of your garden, spray old perfume, aftershave, or other scented items in the grass around it. Your dog will be less attracted to your garden when these scents overpower compost scents and other smells dogs like.

Deciduous shrubs need protection from the cold. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. You want to then tie the tops of the canes together, and cover them with a sheet or blanket. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

TIP! Heather is a magnet for friendly insects. Bees love heather, and it is a favorite stop when they emerge in early spring.

Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Parasites and pests are attracted to excess moisture on the plants. Fungi is very common. Although fungi can be treated with sprays, it is possible to preempt the problem and very important to plant health that you do so.

TIP! Use equal parts dried and green plant material for your own compost. Add grass clippings, waste from fruits and vegetables, leaves, and weeds for the green materials in your compost pile.

Annually rotate your garden layout or plan. When plants of the same family are planted in the same spot year after year, it can encourage the growth of fungus and disease. The problems leech into the soil, staying there for the next year’s crop. Rotating the types of plants that you grow will help to keep the fungi and diseases from gaining a foothold.

Plant Garlic

TIP! If you want to sell your crops, you should become a certified organic gardener. This will increase your sales, and it will prove to your customers that they have quality products.

Try cultivating organic horticulture. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall. Plant garlic in moist soil with good drainage. Space the clove about four inches apart, with the pointy end up and about one or two inches deep. As your garlic shoots grow, you can cut them and use them instead of scallions or chives. When your garlic tops are turning brown in color, they are ready to be dug. Dry the bulbs in the sun in order to harden their skin. Store the cloves in a cool area. They can be tied or left loose.

TIP! Take the season and weather conditions into account when determining how much water to give your plants. There are many variables of how much water your plants need including soil, light, and outdoor temperatures.

Do some research on the botanical insecticides that are available in your area, many of which are extremely helpful in preventing pests from invading your garden. You can find more power from natural insecticides, as opposed to engineered synthetic pesticides. Natural insecticide are more environmentally friendly, in part, because they decay quickly and become harmless.

TIP! The best feature of organics is that they are pesticide free. Although this is great for your health, you need to make sure that you check all the produce careful for any bugs or pests before consuming.

You could simply make a new perennials garden in a couple easy steps. Dig into the existing turf with a shovel or spade, flip it, and then layer the entire area with wood mulch. Wait a few weeks and then plant your perennials into the brand new bed.

TIP! Plant some organic garlic. The best time to plant garlic is either early spring or in the fall.

Using a soaker hose to water the garden is probably your best choice. This will allow the water to seep slowly into the soil straight to the plant’s roots. These use much less water than the sprinklers and are less time-consuming than hand-watering your plants.

TIP! Dig a large hole in the organic garden when you want to plant a shrub or tree. If, after digging a hole, you notice the sides look “glazed” from the action of the shovel, this could restrict plant roots from growing through to the surrounding soil.

Try making a shade garden that is organic. Shaded gardens require very little upkeep, making them ideal for many amateur gardeners. They don’t require as much watering, and that can save you a lot of time and effort. Although your plants will grow slower because of this, there also won’t be as many weeds to pull.

TIP! When you are mulching, use three inches of organic materials. This is an earth-friendly mulching method that will conserve water and make your water bill much lower.

In conclusion, no matter what you reason for horticulture is, whether you do it alone or with others, these tips will be of assistance. Regardless of whether gardening is something that you do on your own, or an activity that you enjoy and share with your family and friends, utilizing the advice in this article will prove to be very useful.