Ideas To Help You Start Organic Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! The first thing you can do to avoid pests is to start with healthy soil in your garden. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects.

There is a lot of information you must learn before taking your garden and turning it into a masterpiece. Even though gardening takes effort, it is also loads of fun! The following hints and tips can reduce the effort and increase the fun!

TIP! Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. Your best bet would be try to save the best or most hearty plants.

If you have a wall or fence that you do not like, plant climbers to mask its appearance. 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. They may grow up through some existing shrubs and trees, and can even be worked to grow around an arbor. Some may need to be attached to a support, and others will attach themselves to any surface using their twining stems or tendrils. If you’re looking for the most reliable varieties available, choose from clematis, wisteria, and climbing roses.

TIP! Make sure to pre-soak seeds, preferably in a dark location. You then want to place a small amount of seeds in a container that’s smaller and then fill it up with water to the top.

Use the correct type of soil for best results. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose. You can simply use one type of soil to make an artificial area.

Carbon Dioxide

TIP! Make sure air can circulate around your plants, and keep leaves moisture-free. Moisture on plants is sure to attract disease and parasites.

Your plants will reach maximum growth if they have a sufficient supply of carbon dioxide. Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2. Greenhouses typically provide plants with high levels of CO2. To achieve optimal growing conditions, keep the levels of carbon dioxide high in your plants’ environment.

TIP! You can use natural materials or other plants in your garden to keep away pests. Plant marigolds or onions around other vegetables to keep slugs away from them.

You must be sure to remove all of the weeds that grow in your garden. Weeds can truly ruin a good garden. For this task, try using white vinegar. White vinegar is a weed killer! Putting white vinegar on your plants gets rid of much of the need to pull out the weeds.

TIP! Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time.

Using natural materials in the garden will keep pests away. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs. Using wood ash as mulch around the base of trees and shrub seedlings will also help keep away insect pests. Using these methods eliminates your need of chemical pesticides.

TIP! Invest in a quality wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool if gardening work is going to happen often. Gardening can be very tough on the knees as you spend much time leaning near the ground, so a portable stool can make all the difference to your comfort.

Take the time to place organic mulch in the area around your vegetable plants. Mulch has a nice moisturizing effect on the soil it’s spread over. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. You will be able to save the time you would spend watering your plants and pulling out weeds.

TIP! When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. If you grow rhododendrons, azaleas or gardenias, increase the acid in your your soil by working in coffee or tea grounds.

It is important to follow the instructions on your chemicals and tools closely, especially if you are new to horticulture. If you miss this easy step, you run the risk of harming yourself due to the chemicals that can irritate your skin. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.

TIP! Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. These pesticides can also kill useful insects that eat your pests.

Every good gardener knows when the best time is to begin harvesting one vegetable or the other. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. Many vegetables are best when picked young; baby peas are a prime example. Contrarily, tomatoes should be left on the vine until maximum ripeness has occurred. It’s best to learn when the harvest time is for your vegetables.

TIP! Use care when you are watering the garden. Use a soaker hose to save time so that you do not have to water each plant individually with a hose nozzle, or a watering can that needs to be refilled repeatedly.

Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If you wish to keep your house cooler than that, you may want to use a heat lamp just for the plants.

TIP! If you have recently sustained a cut, you should allow it to heal entirely before toiling in your garden. If you simply cannot wait to get back to gardening, you should at least cover the cut to protect it.

After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. Move your plants away from the heat as they grow. Make sure you remember to remove any plastic films that were on the plant containers to repel humidity and warmth. Check on your seeds often so you catch them when they are ready.

TIP! If you want to start a small organic garden indoors, evaluate the amount of natural light that is present. If your apartment or home does not receive a huge amount of sunlight, you might want to grow plants that adapt to medium and low light environments instead.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. Spread the needles over the beds in a layer that is approximately 2-inches deep. Over time, the needles will begin to decay, supplying the soil with acid as they do.

TIP! It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. Use a spade to dig into the turf, turn the turf over, then spread the area with approximately three inches of wood chips.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. You will most likely underestimate how much space plants will need as they grow. Space is necessary for the plants, but air circulation is also important. Make sure that you map out your garden layout beforehand and place your seeds with an adequate amount of space in between each.

TIP! When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Don’t waste time searching for lost tools.

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. This type of basket can double as a large colander for the fruits and vegetables you pick. You can clean and rinse the harvest when it is the laundry basket and the water will go out of the holes.

TIP! Garlic is an excellent choice to grow organically. Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall.

With these tips, you’re better equipped to grow the most beautiful garden you can imagine. In learning how to create your dream garden, you’ll also be growing as a person. That’s because learning how to nurture your plants will not only help you reach the goal of having a great garden, but it will help you learn to nurture yourself.