Author: craigb

Everything You Should Know About Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! You need to consider beginning the plants into pots. Then, you can plant the seedlings into your garden.

With the current organic trend, holistic lifestyles are common these days. In order for someone to live a holistic lifestyle, and obtain the desired health benefits, they usually have to learn to grow their own herbs and plants. They have to know how to start and maintain an organic garden. Read on into the following paragraphs for organic tips you can use.

TIP! Pick the proper soil in order to get the best outcome. Dependent on the type of plants you are choosing for the garden, the soil may not be right for them.

Pick your plants with an eye to maximize the yield you can get. There are genetically modified plants that resist cold and/or disease. These often give higher yields due to higher survival rates.

TIP! It is a good idea to pre-soak your seeds in a dark environment overnight. Place a small amount of seeds in a little container, while filling it to the brim with water.

It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. Perhaps save the most resistant or expensive plants. Cautiously avoid the roots while digging, and put your plant into a perfectly sized pot.

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.

When mowing your lawn do not cut it as short as possible. By leaving your grass a little higher off the ground, it give the roots a chance to grow deep into the soil which makes the lawn stronger, and that helps keep it from drying out. Short grass tends to have shallow roots, which can cause dried out, brown patches to occur.

TIP! A good green garden should start from seeds and not plants. When you grow a new garden, start the environmental way, from seeds.

If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. One of the safest “herbicides” you can find is a pot of boiling water. Pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, just make sure you do not damage the nearby plants. Boiling water kills weeds by destroying their roots. Weeds won’t be able to survive, never mind grow, with damaged weeds.

TIP! Include your kids in growing an organic garden. Helping a garden grow is an excellent learning experience for kids, and it allows your family to spend time together while creating healthy, nutritious foods.

Remember to place a layer of mulch over the soil around your vegetables, approximately 2 inches deep. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. This also helps reduce the appearance of weeds. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.

TIP! If you’re thinking about growing your own organic garden, then you might want to consider keeping a bit of your property undeveloped; this way wildlife can flourish. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.

Invest in a kneeling stool, and a wheelbarrow to work in the garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable. Gardening also usually requires that you transport heavy loads, such as dirt or mulch, and a wheelbarrow will make this much easier to do.

TIP! If you have a cut on your hand, take the time to make sure it is either healed or completely covered before you put your hands in the soil. If dirt and grime get into a cut while gardening, it may become infected.

Vegetables get softer as the temperature goes up, so you could damage your vegetables if you pick them during the hottest hours. Be certain that you cut picked vegetables straight off from the vine itself and not by twisting them off, because you don’t want to harm the plant.

TIP! It is common knowledge that grounds from brewed coffee are good for soil. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use.

While gardening you must make sure your knees are protected. It’s not a good idea to spend much time standing while you are bent over at the waist. To get down to plant level without pain, try kneeling instead. Use a knee pad so that your knees don’t get sore.

TIP! Do you want to kill weeds naturally? Use a lot of layers of newspaper in order to achieve weed control. Weeds require sunlight for growing.

For the best results, properly prepare your garden for planting. Start by getting the soil good and moist. You may then distribute your seeds evenly while being sure that they all have adequate space in which to grow. Look at how big the seeds are, multiply that by three, and plant them down into the earth accordingly. It isn`t necessary to bury all seeds; some of them need light for growth to occur.

TIP! 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.

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

TIP! Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. You should consider water quality and soil type when watering your plants.

You can use something like a laundry basket to gather all of your produce together when the time comes. Most laundry baskets are designed with a multitude of holes. This makes them a perfect strainer for washing your vegetables. Rinse the produce while it sits in the basket, the extra water will go through the holes in the basket.

TIP! Rotate your garden annually. Fungus and diseases will appear if you have the same kind of plants in the same place from one year to the next.

When planting seeds, you should bury them three times as deep as their actual size. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Among the seeds meeting this definition are ageratum and petunias. If you are wondering whether or not the seeds require direct sunlight, you can usually find helpful information online that will answer your question.

TIP! Grow garlic. Take single garlic gloves and plant them in moist but drained soil at the start of spring or fall.

If you want to sell your crops as organic, you should look into obtaining a certification proving that you are an organic garden. 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! You can easily make a new garden for your perennials in just a few steps. Cut into your turf using a spade and then cover the exposed portion with lots of wood chips.

It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.

TIP! Use a few inches of organic materials to mulch your flowerbed or garden. This will help your garden by adding nourishment to the soil, holding in moisture levels, inhibiting the growth of unsightly weeds, and creating a noticeably more professional look.

As you gain more information and tricks, you will find that gardening will become very simple for you to accomplish, and once you know how to garden overall, then organic horticulture won’t be a hard task to learn at all. While these tips primarily cover only the basics, they give you a place to start your organic gardening venture.

Horticulture Is As Simple As It Is Fun

~ craigb

TIP! 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.

When you analyze all of the individual components of gardening, it can be somewhat complex. This is due to the different factors you must learn about when going all natural. Things like pH balance and proper compost and sunlight all take on more importance due to the lack of chemical enhancers. It can be hard for a rookie to grow organic. Be certain you do things the correct way, and get some help from the information offered below.

TIP! If you learn that your soil has a high amount of alkaline, mix some used coffee grounds into it. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires.

Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. Coat the shovel with floor or car wax, and buff it with a clean rag to make the job a lot easier. The clay easily slides off the surface while keeping the end from getting rusty.

TIP! Use natural pest control when possible. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions.

Choose plant strains that will give you the best harvest with the biggest 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.

TIP! Know when to harvest your vegetables at precisely the right time. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking.

Plant perennials that are slug-proof. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them. These garden pests prefer perennials with thin, flat, delicate leaves, particularly if the plant is not yet mature. There are, however, certain types of perennials that slugs and snails hate. Most of these varieties either have tough leaves or taste unappealing. Good choices in this category are plants such as achillea, campanula, and euphorbia. Heuchera and helleborus also work well.

TIP! Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. Toiling together in the garden brings your family closer together and offers many different opportunities to learn new things and instill green values.

Brighten up your flower beds with annuals and biennials. These fast growing flowers let you change how your flower bed looks season to season. Use them to fill gaps between shrubs and perennials in the sun. There are many different varieties to choose from such as daisies, marigolds, impatiens, and lantana.

Baking Soda

TIP! It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. Only a garden spade and woods chips are necessary.

There is no need to purchase a costly chemical if your plants develop powdery mildew. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Spray this solution on plants once weekly until the mildew is gone. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Make gardening efficient. Don’t waste your time by looking all over for your tools.

If you’re planning on horticulture, carefully watch for stink bugs! You should be particularly careful during Autumn. These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.

Knee Pads

TIP! Use an aged laundry basket when you want to collect your produce. An old basket will act like a strainer does.

Knee pads are absolute miracle accessories if you work in a garden with plenty of low-growing plants. Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable; you don’t want to finish every gardening session with aching, throbbing knees. Buy yourself a pair of knee pads to use in the garden to cushion and protect your knees.

TIP! Gardening, especially organic gardening, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. You will learn how to care for you plants from planting the seeds to harvesting your delicious vegetables.

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! Look closely at the seedlings you purchase. For example, tomato seedlings can develop bad root systems that will result in failed plants.

Be sure to split the irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden. Lift bulbous irises when the foliage is dead. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Divide rhizomes with a knife. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. At the least, each piece will need to have one strong offshoot. Replant your pieces right away.

TIP! Make sure you know the specifics about what you plan on growing in that organic garden of yours. Some flowers and vegetables require specific types of soil, a certain moisture level, and direct or indirect sun exposure.

Surround your vegetable plants with organic mulch, a few inches worth. The soil will stay moist thanks to the mulch. It can also prevent weeds from growing. You will be able to save the time you would spend watering your plants and pulling out weeds.

TIP! There are a variety of plants that are possible to be grown in organic gardens. Most acid-loving plants really thrive in mulch.

Broad-spectrum pesticides are really not the optimal choice for pest control in your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Beneficial insects are more susceptible to toxic pesticides than their annoying counterparts, so a broad-spectrum pesticide could kill all of the good bugs first, allowing the population of bad pests to multiply. This may then lead to using even more pesticides to eliminate this new problem.

Protect Yourself

TIP! The watering of organic garden plants should be done with care. Test out a soaker hose in your garden.

Always protect yourself from the sun when you are outdoors working in the garden; you can do this by wearing clothes that will shield you from the sun. Wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunblock. When you protect yourself against the sun’s rays, you are more likely to avoid both skin cancer and sunburn.

TIP! By planting garlic around your garden, you can deter bugs from taking up residence. Garlic plants emit a smell that many pests do not like.

Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. You can provide a good learning experience that your children can appreciate the more they learn on how to grow healthy produce.

TIP! Start your garden by using mulch. Mulch layers also discourage evaporation, which keeps the soil from drying out quickly.

Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. This level of heat is required in order for plants to grow. If you don’t like keeping your home that temperature in the winter, you may wish to consider getting a heat lamp, instead, to keep your organic plants the correct temperature.

TIP! Consider what particular vegetables are most often on your dining room table and include them when you plan your garden. This will lower your monthly grocery bill, and also make the most use of your garden space.

When your plants begin to sprout, they can survive in somewhat cooler temperatures. Take your plants out of the heat once they start to grow. Additionally, remove any plastic films that were on your containers. This will keep out warmth and humidity. You need to read the seeds to know the best time to do this.

TIP! Plant dwarf fruit trees in small gardens. Even the smallest garden has room for dwarf trees.

Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.

Utilize These Tips In Your Personal Garden

~ craigb

TIP! When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.

Gardening is a very fun activity, and it can be very beneficial and rewarding. It does not matter if you grow vegetables or flowers in your garden, growing and caring for the plants in your garden can provide a meaningful and rewarding experience for you. The ideas here can provide some horticulture guidance, and give you a little hand as you get started growing your own special garden.

TIP! Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. This will help the plants make it to full growth.

To achieve the best growing results, plants need sufficient carbon dioxide. With a high level of CO2 plants will grow much better. A greenhouse is the best way to create an environment rich in CO2. To maximize your plants’ growth, make sure to monitor these levels to ensure they’re adequate.

TIP! Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own.

Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. You could also repel your pet by planting rosemary or placing citrus fruit peels around your garden.

TIP! Plants require a good amount of CO2 in order to grow to their maximum height. With a high level of CO2 plants will grow much better.

Set your mower blades higher, so you don’t cut the grass too short. Higher grass sends roots further down, increasing lawn strength and viability. If the grass is too short that will lead to shallow roots, which will cause a brown and dried-out lawn.

Knee Pads

TIP! Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. If you have them in pots, you need to guard them from cold weather that will damage or kill them.

If many of the plants in your garden grow close to the ground, some gardening knee pads will prevent pain and knee injuries. Weeding, watering and picking through your vegetation can cause a lot of damage to your knees if left unprotected. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! Gardening should be a relaxing activity. There are many ways to find personal relaxation and peace.

Your plants need to be kept dry, but sill receiving a good amount of air. Moisture on the surfaces of your plants is an invitation to pests and illness. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. There are many effective fungicide products that will prevent fungi growth and clear up any existing problems as well.

TIP! When gardening, remember to take care of your knees! Many people find it difficult to bend over for extended periods of time when standing up. Kneeling is a good way to reach plants without causing back stress.

Make sure to fertilize your garden. Composted manure is effective in raising healthy plants, and commercial fertilizer products are safer and more convenient. 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 can’t wait for a cut to heal before digging in the dirt, then at least protect your cuts from exposure. The dirt and grime you come into contact with while gardening can cause even a small cut to become seriously infected.

You should be cognizant of the peak time for harvesting your vegetables. Each variety of vegetable has a specific time to be harvested so that you may enjoy its fullest flavor. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. By contrast, it’s best to wait until tomatoes are fully ripe before picking them. So, it is good to learn about the best time to harvest your vegetables.

TIP! To keep your houseplants happy during the day, your thermostat should be set anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees. This level of heat is required in order for plants to grow.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests. Beneficial bugs are usually several orders more sensitive to the things you spray than the pests you are trying to kill, so you might wind up dropping the good bug populace and open the door to pest population growth. This can cause you to use an additional amount of pesticides in order to attempt to fix this problem.

TIP! If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. If your dwelling does not enjoy a great deal of natural sunlight, it makes sense to grow only those varieties meant to thrive in such environments.

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. Your dog will find more interesting scents to explore elsewhere and leave your garden alone.

TIP! Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. Take your spade and work up a thin layer of soil.

During the hotter parts of the day, vegetables are softer, which means even picking them gently can cause them damage. Do not twist the vegetable to remove it from the vine; instead, cut the stem to avoid damaging the plant.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This will discourage weeds from growing, add nutrients, and retain the moisture in your garden.

When helping organic plants flourish inside, it is vital to keep in mind how much light is reaching them. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps. If this is not an option, or you have your heart set on a particular type of plant, consider adding additional growing lights instead.

TIP! Coffee grounds work great mixed in with your soil. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth.

Take your time when planting seeds. A key first step is to add moisture to your soil. You should then spread the seeds evenly, and make sure they have room to grow. Bury them 3 times as deep in relation to the seed’s size. Some seeds you do not want to bury because they require light in order to grow.

TIP! If slugs are a problem in your garden, use a beer trap to kill them naturally. Start by burying a wide-mouth jar in the soil, ensuring that the rim of the jar is just at the soil’s surface.

Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need. Organize the tools you will need before you head to the garden, and put every item away when you finish your work. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while horticulture.

TIP! Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. When you are purchasing tomato seedlings for your organic garden, you should watch out for lush green starts with bad root systems.

As you now realize, the rewards of horticulture can be great. It can be from the beauty of having flowers growing, or the satisfaction of producing fresh vegetables, horticulture has high benefits that never end. By adopting some of the recommendations in this article, you can bring the joy of horticulture to another level.