Horticulture 101: The Best Tips For A Thriving Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Learn the proper way to lay sod. Before laying sod, you have to make sure the soil is accurately prepared.

There is no better time than now. You likely have plenty of questions about what to do and how to begin; this article is going to help. This article includes a few tips and tricks that can help you begin horticulture.

TIP! Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. In many cases, a disease-resistant or cold-tolerant hybrid will produce a higher yield than a traditional variety.

Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night. Young plants with susceptible leaves are favorite meals for slugs, including those with smoother or thinner leaves. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Several good choices include heuchera, campanula, achillea, and euphorbia.

Baking Soda

TIP! Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. Healthy plants are stronger and more able to resist both pests and disease.

If you start to notice some powdery mildew growing on your plants, there is no need to waste money on expensive chemicals. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. Baking soda will not damage your plants and treats the mildew gently but efficiently.

TIP! If you want your garden to sport flowers in the spring as well as 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 couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top. This hydrates your seeds and jump-starts their growth. This way, the seeds will have a much better shot at survival once they are planted.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs should be protected from the elements. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. This is better than using plastic to wrap the plant, as more air can circulate.

TIP! 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.

If your plants do not grown very tall, try buying some knee pads used for horticulture. The time that you will have to spend on your knees in your garden can cause you unnecessary knee pain. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! Tend to a garden as a way to relax. There are a variety of ways to find peace and relaxation on a personal level.

If you decide to grow peas, think about planting them indoors when you first start them off, as opposed to planting them outdoors. Planting them inside helps the seeds germinate better. They will also be stronger, and better equipped to resist disease and insects. Once they are strong enough, you can transplant them outside.

TIP! Vegetables are softest during the warmest hours of each day, so picking them then, no matter how gently, runs the risk of damage. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine.

Protect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. Mulch is used to keep extra moisture and provide nutrients for your plants. It will also prevent the growth of weeds. You’ll find this is a time saver since you won’t have to pull them later.

Beneficial Insects

TIP! Use this simple tip to get your perennial garden ready in a flash. You just need to use your garden spade for slicing underneath the turf, then flip it, and finally spread about three or four inch deep piles of wood chips.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. These strong pesticides are non-selective, killing beneficial insects as well as pests. The beneficial insects, which kill the pests, are much more sensitive to pesticides than the pests. Using them will reduce your population of good bugs, and increase the bad. This will cause a cycle to start where you will need to keep increasing the amount of pesticide you are using.

TIP! Take the necessary time when planting seeds. The first thing you should do is moisturize the soil.

Take advantage of gardening as a means to unwind. While there are many different ways to relax, choosing the right one for you is key. One of the greatest such methods is the art of horticulture. It requires a small monetary investment and has numerous returns. The best return is the joy and tranquility you can get from growing your very own greenery.

TIP! You can cover your muddied gardening footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. You’ll be able to keep your momentum going without needing to take off your shoes, and stay on track with your gardening project.

The flesh of vegetables gets soft in the heat of the day, making them especially vulnerable to inadvertent damage with even the gentlest picking. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.

TIP! Space is very important when you plant an organic garden. As plants grow and spread out, you will not always know how much space will be required.

To attract insects that will benefit your garden, plant heather. Heather will attract bees early in the spring as well as other beneficial insects. If your heather bed is undisturbed, as it would be in nature, many beneficial insects will make it their home. Bearing this in mind, it is always a good idea to wear gardening gloves when pruning your heather!

TIP! Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer.

Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden. This will also make your flowers appear beautiful and finished all year long.

TIP! Slugs are a nuisance that can be easily remedied with the use of an organic beer tramp. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap.

Get more value out of your property. Landscaping has one of the highest returns you can get from home improvement. You can raise your home value up to 20 percent! It is a good idea to aim for plants that require low moisture to survive and are adapted to thrive within your environment.

TIP! Your soil will be healthier if you add mulch. A layer of mulch can protect the soil beneath.

It is possible to control weeds with natural methods. You will need many layers of newspapers. Weeds need sun for growth, just like any other plant. The newspaper will block sunlight and weeds won’t be able to grow. It’s easy for newspapers to break down over an extended period of time, making them great for compost. To improve the appearance of newspaper, simply spread a bit of mulch over it.

TIP! Using organic produce from organic gardens which are free of pesticides is a great benefit. This is healthier than other alternatives, but you need to still check for diseases and bugs regularly.

Now you are much more prepared when it comes to horticulture. You thought that you were ready before, well look at you now! Hopefully the advice and tips in this article will help give you a good start in your gardening endeavors.