How To Achieve A Beautiful Organic Garden

~ craigb

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

More and more people are finding out how great it is to have an organic garden. By using the right tips for the job, anyone can go from knowing little about organic horticulture to developing a reliable green thumb. Follow our tips and reap the rewards.

TIP! Use climbers if you want to cover any fences or walls. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only.

Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. Make your shoveling job easier by lightly coating a shovel with a layer of wax, then buffing the surface. Either car wax or floor wax will work just fine. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.

TIP! Before you start planting your garden, plan it out. Use this to remind you where certain things were planted, later when they start sprouting.

Keeping your garden soil rich and healthy is the best way to discourage garden pests. Healthy plants are stronger and more able to resist both pests and disease. For the most vigorous and healthy plants, start with high-quality soil, and stay away from chemicals. These can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! If you plan on growing peas, you should consider starting them indoors instead of beginning them outside. Planting them inside helps the seeds germinate better.

Use both biennials and annuals to add color to your flower bed. Fast growing biennials and annuals will brighten a garden and permit you to change looks from one season to another. You can also use these flowers to fill gaps between shrubs or perennials. There are plenty of varieties including petunia, marigold, cosmos, sunflower, hollyhock, and rudbeckia.

TIP! Plant items with fall color. That need not be the case though! The foliage of autumn makes for perhaps the most colorful season of the year.

Long plants that run up or around a fence or wall are often useful for masking ugliness. You can hide an unsightly wall or fence, in as little as one growing season, with the right selection of climbing plant. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. Some climbers will attach themselves to a support using twining stems or tendrils, while other varieties need to be held up by tying them in place. Excellent varieties include honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses and clematis.

TIP! Try mixing various plants that have different heights to create an interesting garden setup. If you want a more organized look, select plants that will grow to the same height and put them in the same bed.

Tempt your cat away from the plants he has been bothering by planting catnip or wheat grass near them. You can also put something on top of the soil around the plants that has an offensive smell to cats, such as mothballs or citrus peel.

Knee Pads

TIP! Always completely protect any cuts, or wait until they are healed before attempting any gardening, as this can introduce dirt or chemicals into the wound. Open wounds can easily get infected while gardening because you’re exposing yourself to dirt, bacteria and germs.

Knee pads are a gardener’s friend when caring for plants low to the ground. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. This practice is an easy way to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and add valuable nutrients to your garden.

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. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with horticulture, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.

TIP! Your compost pile should contain green plants and dried ones in equal amounts. Examples of green plant material are spent flowers, fruit and vegetable waste, grass clippings, weeds, and leaves.

Pest control can be very difficult when dealing with a vegetable garden. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. Staying on top of the problem will ensure that pests don’t take over your garden. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.

TIP! A rule of thumb followed by many planters is to bury the seeds in soil to a depth of around three times the diameter of the actual seed. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried.

To keep your dog out of your garden, spray old perfume, aftershave, or other scented items in the grass around it. 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! If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. This will up your sales and prove to your loyal customers that what they have been getting is only the best that you possibly could get.

Plant heather to attract beneficial insects. Bees are naturally attracted to heather for its nectar. Spiders, ground beetles and other useful insects are drawn to heather beds because they don’t tend to get jostled around. Keep this in mind and remember to always wear appropriate horticulture gloves.

TIP! If you over-water your plants, they can’t get all the nutrients they need from the dirt. Before watering your plants outdoors, check to see if there is rain in the forecast.

Using a solution of aspirin and water can prevent certain plant diseases. Try dissolving around one and one half aspirins into around 2 gallons of water for your plants. Simply spray your plants with the mixture, and this will help them fend off various diseases. Apply at three week intervals.

TIP! Plant some organic garlic. Plant organic cloves in spring or fall and use moist, drained soil.

Keep your gardening tools close by to maximize gardening efficiency. You have several options including using a bucket to hold your tools or wearing pants with lots of sturdy pockets. If you have your pruning shears, spade, trowel and gloves handy, you will be able to get your gardening chores done much more quickly.

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.

Organic material piled three inches deep is an effective mulch in your flower gardens. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden. It also adds a uniform and cohesive look to the garden.

TIP! For an easy, organic garden option, try a shade garden. These types of gardens are incredibly low maintenance, which many people will be relieved to hear.

It is more rewarding to have an organic garden even though it is often more work. 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! Be specific about the things you desire to grow when it comes to your organic garden. Some flowers and vegetables require specific types of soil, a certain moisture level, and direct or indirect sun exposure.

Over-watering your plants can be harmful, because roots that are drowning in water cannot effectively pull nutrients out of the soil. You should always check the weather forecast, in advance, for chances of rainfall before you water the plants. If rain is in the forecast, it is best not to water that day.

TIP! Plant high-value crops in your garden. Think about the different types of grasses, vegetables and flowers that you enjoy most.

This advice you just read should show you that with a bit of work and perseverance, you can get your organic garden into full bloom. Use what you learned today, and apply it to your garden to see how much of a difference it makes. The tips in this article will lead to great success no matter which varieties you choose to grow.