Horticulture is a relaxing, rewarding pastime for many and offers a long list of benefits. Whether it is made of vegetables or flowers, there is definitely something highly rewarding about caring for a garden. This article lends a hand and gives pointers about growing plants and horticulture.
Start your plants in containers before transferring them to the garden. This raises the chances of the plants growing until adulthood. The period between plantings will also be shorter. After you remove the mature plants from your garden, you can immediately replace them with the seedlings and start the cycle over again.
Consider planting slug-proof perennials. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time. Snails and slugs like to eat perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if they are young plants. Some perennials are not preferred meals for snails and slugs, especially if their foliage is hairy and tough, or tastes bad. Examples of these include euphorbia, hellebourus and achillea. Others you may want to consider are campanula and heuchera.
Irises should be divided. You can increase your stock of irises by dividing up overgrown clumps. Try to life the bulbous irises when foliage begins to die. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when replanted, will often flower the next year. You should divide rhizomes using a knife. You can trim new pieces away from the outside of the bulbs and then simply throw the old center away. Make sure that every cutting contains a viable offshoot. You also need to make sure that you replant the new pieces as soon as possible.
You can keep your dog away from your garden by spraying perfume or aftershave in the grass. By masking the smells he may be attracted to, he should take less interest in the garden plants.
Organic indoor plants may need additional light sources to make up for the light they miss out on by being indoors. This needs to be considered. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. If you want to grow plants that need a lot of light, consider using artificial lighting.
Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. Use your spade in a slicing motion to cut a flap of turf. Carefully turn the flap over, then cover the area with a three-inch layer of untreated wood chips. Allow the newly turned soil to sit for two weeks, then plant your perennials.
Do not rush when planting seeds. The first step is to moisturize the soil. Then distribute the seeds so that they are evenly spaced and have sufficient room to grow. The seeds should be buried to a depth that is equal to three times the diameter of the seeds. Some seeds you won’t have to bury because they need light in order to grow.
Maximize your time by keeping your tools close. Put them into a basket you carry with you, or use an apron with many pockets and hanging loops. You should always have your gloves, pruning shears and a trowel close to you.
Coat your flower beds with a few inches of an organic mulch. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden. Mulch will also improve the general appearance of your flower beds.
Pine Needles
Pine is a mulch that is great. Some plants have a naturally high acidic level, and therefore like acidic soil. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. Cover soil beds with a few inches of pine needles, and they will disperse acidity to the soil below as they decompose.
Spacing is essential when planting an organic garden. Amateur gardeners often make the mistake of failing to leave enough space for fully matured plants. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. If you put enough thought into your garden, you will enjoy more impressive results.
Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. The laundry basket will function as a makeshift strainer for the fruits and vegetables. When you put your produce in a basket, you can then rinse it off and let it strain any excess water through the laundry basket holes.
Dried Plants
In your compost, use green and dried plants in equal parts. Examples of green plant material are spent flowers, fruit and vegetable waste, grass clippings, weeds, and leaves. You can add dried plants by throwing straw, shredded paper, woody materials and cardboard on your pile. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.
Plant your own garlic with organic methods. Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall. They require soil that is well-drained and moist. Put them an inch or two down into the soil with the pointed end up placed about four inches apart. Cut the green garlic shoots and use them as a substitute for chives or scallions. The bulbs are ready to harvest when the tops start to turn brown. After harvesting, leave the bulbs out in the sun until the skin hardens. This helps them dry out. Store the bulbs separately or tied in loose bunches in a cool place.
To eliminate pests naturally, look for plants and flowers that repel harmful insects and animals without damaging your garden. You can find more power from natural insecticides, as opposed to engineered synthetic pesticides. Natural products will not damage your plants and will disappear quickly. This means you might have to apply your insecticides more often.
As was mentioned earlier in the article, gardening can be a truly rewarding hobby. The benefits you gain from having a garden never end! You will have fresh veggies and beautiful flowers. By applying the tips laid out here, you can take the joys of horticulture to a brand new level.