baking soda

Tips For Great Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Shoveling clay is very difficult and lots of work because the clay is hard and sticks to the shovel, making it tough to handle. Rub a thin layer of floor or car wax over the surface of the shovel, and then buff the surface using a clean cloth.

Depending on the effort you put into it, an organic garden can be a great pleasure or a great pain. If you want to be a great organic gardener, follow these hints.

TIP! A good way to ensure that your seeds sprout effectively is to start them in smaller pots and then transplant them once they reach the seedling stage. Your plants will have a better chance of getting big and healthy! The period between plantings will also be shorter.

Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day. Over the week, try gradually increasing the time they’re left outside. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.

TIP! Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them.

Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! The hearty plants that will grow in a garden with rich soil can resist the bugs and diseases that weak plants can’t withstand. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful.

Brighten your garden with biennials and annuals. 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. Some examples include sunflowers, marigolds, petunias, hollyhocks, cosmos, and rudbeckia.

Baking Soda

TIP! When fall has arrived, it is time to plant the edibles for the autumn. Rather than using clay pots or planters for your lettuce and kale, plant them in a pumpkin! Simply carve open the top of a pumpkin so you can remove the innards, and then spray inside and out with something like Wilt-Pruf to prevent pumpkin rotting.

If you see mildew that is powdery, stay away from expensive chemicals to treat it. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Spray this mix on your plants every week and the mildew should go away. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

Plant bulbs if you want spring and summer flowers. These are hearty choices, choices that will reward you for years despite the little effort that is involved in their care. The types of bulbs you use will determine the time of year your flowers will bloom, giving you the pleasure of blooms from spring to summer, if you plant them right.

TIP! When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias.

If your garden includes vegetables, make sure you plant them in a location whether they are exposed to sunlight for a minimum of six hours each day. Most members of the vegetable family need this minimum of light for proper growth. This is true of some flowers.

Knee Pads

TIP! Take care of your knees while working in the garden. Many people experience back pain and stiffness from bending over and working in the garden for extended amounts of time.

If your plants do not grown very tall, try buying some knee pads used for horticulture. Kneeling on the ground as you garden will eventually cause serious discomfort for your knees. Using a pair of quality knee pads designed for gardening can provide your knees with cushioning and support, preventing any discomfort.

TIP! Use plastic bags to cover muddy gardening shoes. This way, you can maintain your momentum and head right back to your garden so that you can finish what you were doing.

Make sure air can circulate around your plants, and keep leaves moisture-free. Moisture can be a magnet for disease and parasites on your plants. A common parasite to plants is fungi. Sprays and liquids exist that are perfect for killing the fungi, but be sure you use it on the area before the fungi actually appear.

TIP! Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content.

Controlling pests in your vegetable garden can be extremely difficult to deal with. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies. One way to control gardening pests is to be vigilant. If you catch them early, you can take them off the plants by hand.

TIP! Increase your property value with landscaping. One of the best things you can do to increase property value is to have proper landscaping.

Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention. The focal point should be a plant totally different from the others around it.

TIP! If you sell your crops and label them organic, you should get an organic garden certified seal. Having this certification will create a lot of trust with customers.

In order to maximize the efficiency of your horticulture, ensure your horticulture tools are kept close by you. Keep the tools in a big bucket, or store them in strong pockets in your pants. Have shears, a trowel, gloves and other commonly used garden tools portable and easy to access.

TIP! A biologically diverse garden is one of the most interesting and rewarding kinds. The more types of plants you have, the more kinds of wildlife you’ll have.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. People often underestimate how much space plants will need when once they’re grown. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. Plant the plants appropriately when it comes to spacing the seeds.

TIP! For the best results when gardening, the hole you dig for your plants should be very rustic; think jagged, rough and unappealing. When holes you have dug end up with slick sides due to the shovel you used, it is possible that the roots may not be able to sink into the soil properly.

To be able to say you have legitimate organic and credible crops, you will need to be certified as having an organic garden. This will improve your sales and show your faithful customers that they are getting the best possible food that is grown.

TIP! For flowers and trees, use three inches of organic material as mulch. By using mulch, you will be able to save money on your water bill and help your plants grow.

When choosing plants, dig a little deeper. Oftentimes, tomato seedlings that show verdant green starts have poor roots. The first start remains attached to the developing seedlings for many weeks. Until these sneaky starts fall away, the plant will not grow.

TIP! Weeds are a recurring issue in both organic and traditional gardens. This will help kill off weeds without harming you or the environment.

Before putting shrubs or trees in an organic garden, dig an uneven hole in which to place them. If the hole that you create for them has any “glazed” sides that were caused by a shovel, then it may restrict the root from penetrating into the nearby soil.

Even organic gardens can have trouble with weeds. This organic weed killer is safe for the environment and you.

TIP! Leaves make a great organic compost that you can mix with soil. When the leaves decompose, they turn into a nutrient rich organic compost, providing a healthy addition to your garden soil.

You should put a lot of thought into selecting the plants that will go in your all-natural garden. This is especially true when buying annuals or perennials. Avoid getting ones that are in bloom. You only want ones that have become budded and nothing more. The root system will grow stronger in budded plants than in blooming plants.

TIP! Use plenty of mulch so that your home garden can save water. A greater amount of mulch means less frequent watering of the garden.

Know your organic garden and when the plants are needing water. Obtain a soaker hose to use for the watering. Soaker hoses can provide water directly to your plants’ bases. This stops the water from evaporating, which causes plants to lose moisture and become dehydrated after being watered. Try to do your watering early in the morning before the sun is at its strongest.

Organic Gardening

TIP! Plant dwarf fruit trees in small gardens. Many gardens have tight space requirements, especially if you live in a large city.

As this article has demonstrated, organic gardening is more complex than some may think. While creating a lovely organic garden takes a lot of effort, the results are more than worth the work. Utilizing the advice provided in this article will definitely help you improve your organic gardening techniques.

Tips And Techniques For A Great Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Start your plants in containers before transferring them to the garden. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood.

Tending a garden is a relaxing past-time that can also serve as therapy. Before planting your garden, research the proper type of soil, the garden tools you will need and what time of the year your seeds should be planted. Continue reading to get some handy guidance that can help you in your horticulture efforts.

TIP! When winter arrives, you can save some plants by placing them in your home. Maybe you’d like to save the most expensive plants you have or the most resistant.

Try planting seeds in pots, and then transferring the seedlings to your garden. Doing this betters your odds of your plants making it to adulthood. This will also allow you to stick to a tighter, cleaner planting schedule. The seedlings are reading for planting immediately after you remove older plants.

TIP! For the best results, select the right kind of soil. You should choose your soil depending on the plants that you are going to plant.

You do not need store-bought chemical treatments for plant mildew. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil.

In order for plants to grow, they must have enough CO2. More CO2 generally produces more luxurious plant growth. The best way to get higher CO2 for your plants is to grow them in a greenhouse. Here the CO2 can be increased, as it cannot be outdoors, and can give your plants the best conditions for rapid growth.

TIP! Allow enough room between plants for air to circulate, so that plants do not stay too wet. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant.

Be sure to get rid of the weeds growing in your garden. If you’re not careful, weeds can take over your beautiful garden, ruining it. White vinegar can be used as a natural herbicide. That’s right, you have safe way to get rid of weeds right there in your kitchen cabinet. If you don’t want to take the time to remove the weeds by hand, simply spray them with a white vinegar solution.

TIP! You should get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool for garden work. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Make sure that your deciduous shrubs are protected. Any potted shrubs should be sheltered in the winter from cold weather. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. People sometimes use plastic to wrap their plants, but plastic can cause the plants to rot because it impedes air circulation.

Knee Pads

TIP! To give them a boost, pour out any leftover water from steaming or boiling vegetables on the plants or soil around them. Add coffee grounds or tea leaves to the soil of acid-loving plants like rhododendron and gardenia.

A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. The time that you will have to spend on your knees in your garden can cause you unnecessary knee pain. Knee pads offer your knees the extra cushioning they need to stay comfortable during extended periods in the garden.

TIP! Plan your garden, and plant with fall colors in mind. That idea is actually far from the truth.

Are you one of the millions who loves some fresh mint leaves, yet you absolutely hate the way they tend to take over any garden they are planted within? Instead of planting mint in your garden, keep it in a large container or pot to prevent it from spreading. You can plant the container into the soil if you want to, but the container will restrict the roots, and make sure that the plant doesn’t run rampant in your garden.

TIP! Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. Dissolve three aspirin in four gallons of water.

Broad-spectrum pesticide is not a good garden choice. These pesticides will also kill any beneficial insects that consume the pests you are trying to get rid of. Bugs that provide a benefit to your garden are more easily killed by these broad-spectrum pesticides, you may simply end up with a bigger pest problem. This will leave you using even more pesticides to fix the problem.

TIP! Before you start any gardening, make sure that you do not have any open wounds on your hands. If you do, you need to wear protection from dirt and chemicals so that they do not get into your cut.

You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. That doesn’t have to be, however. The foliage in the fall probably exudes more color than any other season. Maple, beech, and dogwood display colors ranging from dark crimson to light yellow. There are practically as many types of shrubs chosen for their fall colors are there are gardeners! Barberry, hydrangea and cotoneaster are particularly popular choices.

TIP! Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty gardening shoes. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Add some heather plants to your garden, to attract good insects. Bees like it because it gives them nectar in the springtime. Since a heather bed is normally left undisturbed, ground beetles, spiders and other beneficial insects tend to live inside it. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing gardening gloves.

TIP! When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. Do not underestimate the space that plants need to develop their root systems.

Asprin will actually help your plants out by killing diseases. One and half tablets of aspirin in a couple gallons of water will be a wonderful help to the plants you have. All you need to do is spray the plants with the solution in order to battle common ailments. Your plants should be sprayed one time each three weeks.

TIP! Avoid allowing chores in your organic garden stack up. If you’re too busy to do all those little things each day, there are some small steps you can take to not have all that work build up on you.

Make sure any open cuts are completely protected from dirt and chemicals before you go to work in your garden. Cuts have a much higher likelihood of getting infected if they are in contact with dirt when you garden. You can now purchase bandages to seal the cut completely.

TIP! Killing weeds the natural way? You should layer some newspaper to get weeds under control. Weeds cannot grow without light.

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 windows are small or receive little light due to their positioning, a plant that requires little sunlight will be more comfortable and healthy. If you already have plants that need full light and the natural light provided is not sufficient, artificial lights can supplement their needs.

TIP! Any gardening can connect you with Mother Nature, but particularly if you employ organic gardening techniques. Not only does organic gardening provide you with quality food, but also you learn all of the plant’s cycles.

This article has provided information necessary to begin the rewarding activity of horticulture and to do it successfully. As long as you implement the tips and tricks that you learn, you will have great results. A beautiful garden requires the right tools, soil, water and sunlight.

Great Tips For Anyone Who Loves Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Healthy soil will be your best defense against the pests that can invade your garden. Healthy plants are stronger and more able to resist both pests and disease.

When you garden, you can grow delicious vegetables and fruits in your backyard; this gives you plenty of dietary options for the future. Whether you pick your whole salad or enjoy a vine ripened tomato in your favorite recipe, there is nothing more delicious than produce from your own garden. This article will provide a few wonderful gardening tips so you get the most out of your garden.

TIP! There’s no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. The best solution is mixing baking soda, a drop of liquid dish detergent and water together in a spray bottle.

Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of color to your flower beds. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. You can fill any spaces between shrubs and perennials when they are in the sun. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.

Baking Soda

TIP! Tempt your cat away from the plants he has been bothering by planting catnip or wheat grass near them. Try putting mothballs or citrus on your soil to wards pets away.

There’s no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. A great home remedy is to mix baking soda with water and a little bit of liquid soap. Once a week, spray this on plants to eliminate the mildew. Baking soda will bring no damage to your plants, and will treat the mildew in a gentle and efficient manner.

TIP! Try to ensure your plants are dry and have enough air, daily! Moisture on plants is sure to attract disease and parasites. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family.

Climbing plants and vines are great for covering fences and wall structures. Plants that climb are extraordinarily versatile, and can help hide an unsightly wall or fence, usually within one season. You may also be interested in training them over an arbor or trellis. You can also grow them among existing landscape trees and plants. Some may need to be attached to a support, and others will attach themselves to any surface using their twining stems or tendrils. Reliable varieties include clematis, honeysuckle, wisteria, jasmine and climbing roses.

TIP! If you want to draw advantageous insects to your garden, plant some heather. Bees like it because it gives them nectar in the springtime.

As you cut your grass, do not trim it too low to the ground. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper. Short grass tends to have shallow roots, which can cause dried out, brown patches to occur.

TIP! Let your children be involved in your organic gardening efforts. Gardening helps your children learn about biological processes and serves as a social activity that helps the family grow closer while eating healthier.

If little ones live in your home, consider including everbearing strawberries in the garden plot. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.

TIP! Using aspirin water will help your plants fight diseases. Dissolve three aspirin in four gallons of water.

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. A cut may become badly infected if it’s exposed to a lot of dirt or grime when you garden. Now, there are bandages available that will cover and seal the injured area completely, allowing you to continue your horticulture projects.

TIP! You must always take care of your knees when working in the garden. For most people, bending over while gardening is too difficult.

Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty gardening shoes. This helps you stay in the zone so that you can continue gardening when you have completed your tasks in the house.

Pine Needles

TIP! Add coffee grounds to your garden’s soil. These coffee grounds have many nitrogenous nutrients that your plants could use.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some plants are more acidic, and prefer soil that contains higher acidic levels. If you have some of these plants, then pine needles are an easy way to add acid to their bed. Cover up your beds with a few inches of needles. As they start to decompose, they’ll spread out acid onto the ground and soil.

TIP! Do not let your gardening chores add up. Even if you can’t tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it.

Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. 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. Diseased plants, meat and fire-waste like charcoal or ashes should not be placed in your compost pile.

TIP! Would you like to kill those obnoxious weeds naturally? You will need many layers of newspapers. Weeds need sunlight to grow.

One unusual tip in organic horticulture, is to “pet” your seedlings often. Use your hands or a piece of cardboard and lightly ruffle the seedling about one or two times a day. This sounds like total nonsense, but there is research suggesting that it does promote plant growth relative to unpetted plants.

TIP! Do some research on botanical insecticides, as they can be effective in controlling pests. In many cases, organic insecticides work even better than commercial products that are full of chemicals.

Plant twice- three weeks after planting tomatoes in the organic garden, plant more seeds. You will not have to harvest the tomatoes at the same time. If you have something go wrong during a single harvest, it will prevent all of your tomatoes from being ruined.

TIP! Mulch your garden rather heavily. Remember, the mulch will compact and break down over time.

It only takes a few simple steps to whip up an amazing garden for all of your perennials. Simply use a spade to cut underneath your turf, then flip the turf over and spread a few inches worth of wood chips across the area. After about three weeks, you may cut into this bed to plant your perennials.

TIP! Use rainwater to keep your plants well hydrated, and feel confident that you are staying friendly to the environment. Using a specialized barrel, or any other container that works to collect rainwater, saves money on your monthly water bill, and makes good use of natural resources.

The hobby of gardening not only gives you something enjoyable to do, but produces tasty vegetables, herbs and fruit right at home. If you use these ingredients when you cook, you will have a sense of pride in your dishes. Keep the tips you just read in mind when planting those seeds.

Advice For Making Gardening More Enjoyable And Fruitful

~ craigb

TIP! Learn the proper way to lay sod. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod.

Horticulture can be therapeutic and stress relieving. Before planting your garden, research the proper type of soil, the garden tools you will need and what time of the year your seeds should be planted. Spend some time relaxing in the sun, tending your garden.

TIP! Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. You can obtain a soil analysis for a nominal fee.

Trying to shovel through clay soil can be extremely difficult and tiresome. To make your digging project easier, apply a coat of automobile wax to your shovel first and then buff it lightly. This causes the clay to slide rather than stick, and prevents rust as a side effect.

TIP! Plants need to take in CO2 to grow and thrive. Typically, the higher the levels of carbon dioxide present in a plant’s environment, the better it will grow.

Consider planting slug-proof perennials. These mollusks are capable of consuming an entire garden full of flowers in a single night. Snails and slugs have a good time destroying perennials that are young and have tender and smooth thin leaves. Perennials that have thick, furry leaves and unpleasant tastes are less likely to attract slugs and snails. Some of examples of these are achillea, heuchera, campanula, helleborus, and euphorbia.

TIP! For showy flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant plenty of bulbs. Not only are bulbs hearty and easy to grow, but they’ll continue to grow as time goes on.

Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases. High-quality soil that is low on chemicals is key. It’s the first thing you should think about when planning on growing your garden.

Baking Soda

TIP! Try placing evergreens that grow berries around your garden. These year-round berries will give the rest of your yard a much-needed pop of color, especially in the winter.

You don’t need a costly chemical solution to deal with powdery mildew in your garden. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture. Once a week, spray this solution on your plants and your mildew should disappear in no time. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. If your pesticide has too wide a range of targets, it can kill off useful insects that fight off other pests.

Be sure to do some weeding on a regular basis. Those nasty weeds can turn your beautiful garden into a scruffy version of its former self. White vinegar can be a good solution. White vinegar is a weed killer! If you’re annoyed with pulling up weeds manually, douse them with a white vinegar solution.

TIP! Are you a parent? If you are, try planting some strawberries like everbearing strawberries in your garden. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden.

Grow some wheat grass or cat grass next to the plants your cat seems to prefer. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

TIP! Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. This fights weeds, retains moisture, and gives your garden valuable nutrients.

There is always a best time to pick your garden’s vegetables, and you should know them. Different vegetables and fruits have their ideal seasons and months where they flourish, survive, and are harvested at the highest quality. Peas, for instance, should be harvested rather young if you wish to obtain the best flavors and texture. The opposite is true of tomatoes. They taste their best if you allow them to ripen on the vine as long as possible. You should know the proper time to pick vegetables.

TIP! Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content.

Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. Ideally, these plants should be kept in a room that offers natural light from a window or glass door. You could also consider using grow-lights for this exact purpose.

TIP! Use alcohol to help control the slugs in your garden by fashioning a beer trap. Place a jar into the soil so that the top of it’s mouth rests parallel with the soil.

Do not plant your seeds in a rush. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. Lay out your seeds, and make sure that they will have enough room to grow. Plant them depending on how big the seeds are. Also keep in mind that there are some seeds you should not bury, as light is essential for their growth.

TIP! Every year, rotate your organic garden. Repeatedly planting the same greenery in the same place can cause fungus and disease.

You’ll save time and energy if you keep tools nearby while working in your garden. Keep the tools in a big bucket, or store them in strong pockets in your pants. Have gloves, shears, a trowel and anything else you need handy for quick use.

Pine Needles

TIP! Try making a shade garden that is organic. Shade gardens do not take a lot of work, people love to hear this! You’ll save a lot of effort since they don’t require as much watering.

Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too. Pine needles are an excellent form of mulch for these types of plants. If you spread a few inches of pine needles around your garden beds, when they break down, the acid they contain will leach into the soil.

TIP! Determine which plants you want to grow in advance when planning an organic garden. Each plant needs a specific environment to blossom.

If you are building a raised bed utilize stone, brick or wood that is untreated. Any wood you use needs to be untreated and resistant to rot. Good choices are cedar, locust and cypress. In order to avoid toxic substances from getting into the ground and perhaps into your vegetables, avoid using treated wood to enclose or demarcate different sections of your vegetable garden. If you have already used lumber that is treated, you can line it with plastic or another type of barrier.

TIP! To mulch your trees and flowers, use a minimum of three inches of organic mulch. This will make the soil richer and help it retain moisture more efficiently – which should help you reduce your water bills.

Keep the soil healthy by adding mulch. The mulch will protect the soil underneath it. It will keep the soil cool in the summer, which protects the roots. Mulch also slows the rate at which water evaporates, which improves your soil’s ability to retain moisture. This also helps all the weeds you have stay under control, relieving stress from your shoulders.

TIP! Weeds are annoying to any garden, organic or otherwise. This organic weed killer is safer for the environment and you and your family.

As you have learned from this article, gardening can seem like quite the task, yet is manageable if you know what you’re doing. As long as you implement the tips and tricks that you learn, you will have great results. Simply use the advice presented here and wonderful garden will be growing from your land.

Make A Wonderful Garden With These Tips!

~ craigb

TIP! Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. To make digging clay soil easier, try applying a light coating of wax, either car wax or floor wax, and then buff off and commence digging.

A garden is not just something you do to decorate. There are many benefits that gardening can provide you, besides the satisfaction of seeing your garden looking its best. It plays a significant part in a gardener’s life by bringing calmness, accomplishment and a connection to nature. The harder you work at it, the more benefits gardening will bring you.

TIP! Consider planting slug-proof perennials. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night.

If you see mildew that is powdery, stay away from expensive chemicals to treat it. Put a little baking soda and some dish soap in water. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Take the time to remove weeds. Weeds can be extremely detrimental to your garden.

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! Tempt your cat away from the plants he has been bothering by planting catnip or wheat grass near them. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

Good green gardens begin from seeds, not plants. Starting with your own seeds is more environmentally friendly than buying plants from a nursery. Many of the plastics used for horticulture simply end up going in the trash and clogging land fills. An environmentally-friendly garden is started with seeds or plants grown in organic pots.

TIP! When mowing the lawn, don’t mow the grass all the way down to the root. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out.

Try to pour a bit of leftover water from your steamed veggies on them. For gardenias and rhododendrons, try putting your used coffee grounds or tea bags in the soil so they may acquire the acid they need for proper growth. If you are having problems with fungus, you may find that sprinkling Chamomile tea on the plant is effective.

TIP! Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. This allows the vegetables to grow quickly and healthily.

Choose a plant as a focal point. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design. Usually this focal point is a luscious plant that is distinctly different from the plants and scrubs that surround it.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Cold weather significantly affects these plants, especially if they are in pots.

A mixture of aspirin and water can help your ailing plants. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water. Simply spray your plants with the mixture, and this will help them fend off various diseases. Use this method to spray your plants every three weeks.

TIP! Plant for fall color. This does not have to be so.

Coat your flower beds with a few inches of an organic mulch. Mulching is the perfect way to lock in moisture, nourish soil, and to keep away weeds. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.

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.

Slugs are a nuisance that can be easily remedied with the use of an organic beer tramp. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil. Next, fill the jar with beer until there is only one inch left below the mouth of the jar. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, and will then become trapped within the jar.

TIP! When planting seeds, make sure to take your time. Begin by adding moisture to the soil.

A raised bed can be built with untreated wood, brick or stone. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals. Cypress, locust and cedar are all very good choices. Consider the chemicals that will leach out of the wood before choosing anything that has been treated. Remember the affect that such chemicals will have on your plants and soil. If you must use treated wood, consider using a liner to keep chemicals out of the soil.

TIP! As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. As they begin growing you can move them farther away from heat sources.

Mulch is necessary for a healthy soil. The soil can be greatly enhanced by adding a good layer of mulch to it. Mulch will keep the soil at an ideal temperature and protect the roots. Mulch also slows the rate at which water evaporates, which improves your soil’s ability to retain moisture. It also doubles as weed control.

TIP! Be efficient when working in your garden. Don’t waste thirty minutes looking around for a tool.

One of the benefits of organic produce over commercial produce is that it is not spayed with any toxic pesticides. This is healthier than other alternatives, but you need to still check for diseases and bugs regularly.

TIP! Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Gardening is not only a great hobby, but also a way to feel at peace with the earth. Organic horticulture will accomplish that feeling even more so. When you garden organically, you see the entire process from the beginning to the end. The whole process becomes more clear, and you appreciate all the earth offers you.

TIP! Pine can be a wonderful mulch. Some plants are more acidic, and prefer soil that contains higher acidic levels.

You should rotate your garden every year. Fungus and diseases will appear if you have the same kind of plants in the same place from one year to the next. These things can get into the ground, and attack plants the next year. Changing your planting layout will allow you to avoid costly problems and have large, bountiful plants.

TIP! Consider the climate and season when watering your plants. Other factors that influence how much you need to water include time of day, soil factors and how hard your water is.

Grow garlic that is organic. Wait until early spring or the fall to plant cloves in a moist soil. Plant your garlic cloves around 1-2 inches into the ground, making sure the end is pointed up and they are four inches from each other. While they are growing and still green, the shoots can be used like scallions or chives. The bulbs of the garlic are ready for harvesting when the very tops of them begin to brown. You should dry them outside in a sunny spot for a couple of days to harden the skin. They could be stored in an area that is cold, tied or loose in bunches.

TIP! Excessive amounts of water makes it harder for plants to get the nutrients they need from the soil. Don’t go ahead and water your garden if the weather report predicts rain that day.

An organic shade garden is a lovely idea. These gardens are low maintenance, which will make many happy. They require little watering, and not much work or time. Although your plants will grow slower because of this, there also won’t be as many weeds to pull.

TIP! A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. This special type of hose allows water to slowly ooze out; the water then directly targets the roots and spares the leaves.

Take the information you’ve gleaned from the tips presented here, and make your garden live again. You’ll be glad you did when you see your plants alive and blooming. Horticulture is something that can change your life, if only you will let it, so get to it.

Horticulture Advice For A Healthy And Beautiful Garden

~ craigb

TIP! To prevent your plants’ systems from becoming shocked, you need to gradually transition them from higher to lower temperatures. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day.

There are so many natural alternatives available to you if you want to turn your garden organic. All that is needed from you to have a great organic garden is to learn what they are, and to put them into practice.

Baking Soda

TIP! Plant slug-proof perennials. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden.

If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture. Then, spray this mixture onto all of your infected plants once each week till the mildew is gone. Baking soda is a good way to get rid of mildew on your plants gently.

TIP! Starting a garden which is pest-free is easy, if you have healthy soil. Healthy plants are naturally more resilient against pests and disease.

Check the soil before you plant anything in your garden. Consider getting a soil analysis and working on enrichment techniques for giving your garden a vibrant and healthy environment. Several Cooperative Extension locations offer this service, and it’s advantageous for you to know what type of soil you have, in order to avoid growing faulty crops.

TIP! CO2 is essential for growth. Most plants grow better in higher levels of CO2.

Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. Stink bugs like to reside in tomatoes, beans, and pepper plants, as well as many fruits. If kept unchecked they can certainly do a ton of a damage to your garden so you should do what you need to to reduce their population.

TIP! If you find that you have soil that has high amounts of alkaline, mix used coffee grounds throughout the soil. Used coffee grounds will add acidity, helping to optimize the soil’s pH.

Do you enjoy fresh mint leaves though hate how they grow so fast and take over your entire garden? That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden. If you prefer, you can even place the container in the ground, but the pot’s walls will prevent the mint from spreading and being a nuisance in your garden.

TIP! Instead of leaving clumps of irises intact, divide them so that your flowers can grow in a more healthy manner. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps.

The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery. Packaging materials for many plants utilize plastics that are not recyclable, so avoid these containers and choose instead to sow your garden with seeds or utilize organic pots.

TIP! Look for targeted pesticides instead of using popular but damaging broad-spectrum products. Broad-spectrum pesticides will kill insects that are helpful to your garden as well as the harmful ones.

If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. Failure to follow instructions can be dangerous or painful. For example, some chemicals will irritate your skin if you don’t follow safety rules. Prevent issues, and use your garden chemicals safely.

TIP! Use plants to get some autumn color. Fall, though, can still be an interesting time for trees.

If you have problems keeping the dog out of the garden, spray things like aftershave, perfume or other scents on the grass surrounding the garden. Using this will cover up the odors that your dog likes and will cut down on the intrigue of your landscaping for your furry friend.

Flower Bed

TIP! Coffee grounds are a great addition to soil. The grounds contain essential nitrogen, which will benefit your plants in many ways.

To create a beautiful English garden use various plants and differing plant heights in one flower bed. You should avoid using plants of the same height so that your flower bed doesn’t look flat and uniform.

TIP! Do you want to kill weeds without using commercial chemicals? A layer of newspaper, several pages thick, placed over the ground will do the trick. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow.

It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. 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. After a few weeks, you may then utilize the area to plant your flowers.

TIP! Some advise passing your hand gently over your newly planted seedlings each day. Even though it sounds strange, it will help plants get bigger.

Include both green and dry plant refuse in your compost. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds. Dried plant material, however, can include items such as cardboard, sawdust and shredded paper. However, stay away from meats, manure from carnivores, charcoal and other potentially harmful substances.

TIP! Rotate where you plant each type of plant each year. For example, if you usually plant corn in one area of your garden and flowers in another, switch which plant is planted in each section.

A good way to plant seeds is in containers. Plant them three times as deep as their overall size. There are exceptions to this rule though, as some seeds need direct sunlight to grow. These seeds include petunias and ageratum. If you’re not sure if your seeds need sunlight, you can find out online or through the seeds’ package.

TIP! Before you start your garden, learn how to properly construct garden beds. To do this, slice under the turf with a space.

If plants are inundated with too much water, it becomes more difficult for roots to pull nutrients out of the soil. Before watering your plants outdoors, check to see if there is rain in the forecast. When showers are on the way, you can save yourself the chore of watering.

TIP! Go ahead and dig a hole so that you can plant a shrub or tree for your organic garden. If there are any glazed sides in the hole, it restricts the growth of the roots.

Any form of horticulture helps you get in tune with the environment, but organic gardening takes this concept to the next level. Organic horticulture allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

TIP! Weeds are a problem in any garden, even organic ones. This organic weed killer is safe for both you and the environment.

Research the local botanical insecticides which can be useful in deterring the pest population. You can find more power from natural insecticides, as opposed to engineered synthetic pesticides. Keep in mind, however, that these insecticides have very short half lives. Since they are made out of all natural ingredients, they may decay and disappear soon after you use them.

TIP! You need water for a healthy garden. Plants require water to survive, just like people.

The ideal way to water your organic garden is with a soaker hose. This type of hose allows you to water roots directly without wetting the plants’ leaves. These are more efficient than sprinklers, which use more water, and can save you the trouble of hand watering.

TIP! You can be friendly to the environment by using rainwater to water your plants. You can collect the rainwater in a barrel or other container.

When working in the garden, know exactly what you are using. Try to use natural and organic alternatives rather than common chemical fertilizers. One of the best substances is simple compost. Organic materials hold many advantages over chemical methods. Chemicals tend to build up in the soil, which can leach into the drinking water.

A garden can be planted by anybody. However, those who have taken time to do research will gain the most from their crops. Simply follow this handy organic advice.

Read This Piece For The Best Gardening Tips

~ craigb

TIP! So you don’t shock the plants, you should gradually get them use to a change in the temperature and conditions. On the first day, place them in the sun outside for only an hour or so.

Your organic garden can provide you with many essential nutrients. However, it can be difficult to grasp its intricacies and to know what type of equipment you need to purchase. There are a multitude of seeds and starter plants available. Read on for a handful of tips and tricks for nurturing your garden with an organic approach.

TIP! Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. Your flower beds will look different from one season to another.

Clay soil is hard and will also stick to a shovel, making it difficult to work with. Get better results in clay by rubbing car wax or floor wax onto the shovel, then buff off and dig. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.

TIP! Pull all the weeds in your garden. Unwanted weeds fight for the same nutrients that more desirable plants do, and they also are unsightly.

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time. These pests gravitate to young perennials with smooth, tender, thin leaves. There are perennials that slugs do not want to eat, the ones that they hate have hairy leaves, or are unappealing to their taste. These varieties include achillea, helleborus, heuchera, euphorbia, and campanula.

Baking Soda

TIP! If you’re growing veggies in the garden, they need to be in a spot that lets them get about six hours of sun daily. Many vegetables need about this much sun to grow quickly.

If you start to notice some powdery mildew growing on your plants, there is no need to waste money on expensive chemicals. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water. You then want to spray this mixture on your plants one time a week until you notice the mildew disappear. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! If you plan on growing peas, you should consider starting them indoors instead of beginning them outside. Seeds are more likely to sprout when started indoors.

You may be able to re-pot some plants to bring indoors for the winter. Choose the plants that are most likely to survive. Dig carefully around the roots, then transfer the plant into a pot.

TIP! Get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool to work in your garden. 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.

Be sure to weed your garden. Weeds can turn a thriving garden into a total wasteland. White vinegar can be used as a natural herbicide. White vinegar will kill those pesky weeds. By placing a white vinegar solution in a spray bottle, you can spray the weeds away instead of having to pull them out manually.

TIP! When gardening, try not to use broad-spectrum pesticides. Broad-spectrum pesticides not only kill pests, but also “good” bugs like ground beetles that eat pests.

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. Mulch will retain water so that you won’t have to water your plants as often. It also helps prevent weeds from growing. You’ll save a ton of time if you don’t have to constantly pull out weeds.

TIP! Your children will enjoy the experience of working with you in the organic garden. A garden can be a great learning experience for your children, and it gives you a chance to bond while producing healthy food.

Get a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool to work in your garden. Working on the ground for long periods of time can be painful on the knees, so a small garden stool can really allow you to work in comfort. There is also a lot of heavy lifting involved with horticulture, so a good wheelbarrow is a great tool to have around.

TIP! Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. Use your spade to slice chunks of turf up, then flip each piece over, and spread wood chips on top to a depth of four inches.

There should be no rush when you are planting a seed. Start first by moisturizing your soil. Then, distribute the seeds evenly, and see to it that they have space to grow. Plant them depending on how big the seeds are. Read the seed pack as some varieties shouldn’t be covered with soil because they require light to sprout.

TIP! When your seeds sprout, they will not be in need of the warmth they needed to germinate. As your baby plants grow, you can move them from their heat source.

Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This is a simple method of discouraging weeds, retaining moisture, and adding excellent nutrients into the garden. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.

Pine Needles

TIP! Consider using botanical pesticides to keep the pest that plague your garden under control. Sometimes natural insecticides are more efficient than the synthetic pesticides you can buy.

Pine can be a wonderful mulch. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. If you have these plants in your garden, keep them healthy by using pine needles as mulch. Simply add a layer of pine needles a couple of inches deep to the plant beds. The needles will decompose over time and provide the soil with acidity.

TIP! You can easily make a new garden for your perennials in just a few steps. Flip up the turf using a spade or shovel, then cover the exposed area with a thin layer of wood chips, about three or four inches.

Horticulture can actually increase the value of your property! Landscaping has one of the highest returns you can get from home improvement. Certain plants could increase the value by 20%. Different plants thrive in different environments, so be sure to invest in plants that are low in moisture, and will flourish in your garden.

TIP! You must be sure to mulch your garden or flowerbed with about three inches of materials that are organic. In addition to adding aesthetic beauty, the mulch will nourish your soil and help it retain water more easily while preventing weeds from growing.

Though organic farming can present challenges that traditional farming with the use of chemicals does not, harvesting the crops is reward itself for the hard work. While chemical companies may make astounding claims about their products, growing organically is the most rewarding option for you and those who consume your crops.

TIP! When it comes to an organic garden, the types of plants able to grow naturally are virtually endless. Many acid-loving plants love mulch.

You should rotate your garden every year. Fungus and disease are more likely to affect plants if they stay in the same location for long periods of time, especially if they belong to the same family. These diseases can build up in the soil, reinfecting your plants the next year. By using the crop rotation method, you will be able to ward off disease and fungus naturally.

TIP! Make sure your trees are in a location near your house so that they give you a lot of shade. You can create natural shading for your home and save on your energy bills.

It’s time to plant some organic garlic. It’s best to plant garlic cloves in either spring or fall. Make sure the soil is drained well. Plant them an inch or two below the soil line with the pointed end facing the sky. Each clove should be around 4 inches from the one beside it. Cut the green garlic shoots and use them as a substitute for chives or scallions. The bulbs are ripe for harvesting when the tops area turns brown. The bulbs should be allowed to dry in the sunshine for a few days; the heat will harden the skin. Store the dried bulbs loosely or in bunches in a dark, cool area.

Organic Garden

TIP! A great tip to implement when gardening is to plant only what you enjoy to eat. This is a good way to get the most use from your garden space and reduce your food expenses too.

As was stated previously, growing your own organic garden can have an unbelievably positive effect on your eating habits, especially when you understand the sheer number of varying plants it is possible to grow. Start with the tips above to grow the best possible organic garden for your family.

Solid Advice To Make Your Organic Garden A Success

~ craigb

TIP! When partaking in gardening activities, particularly in the autumn months, keep an eye on those stink bugs. Stink bugs enjoy gardens, and are especially fond of fruit, tomatoes, beans and peppers.

When you use the correct organic horticulture products, techniques, and equipment, it shows. People will be able to tell that you love your plants and want them to be healthy. This is a great thing. As with anything, there is always room for improvement. The following advice will help you out.

TIP! Set your mower blades higher, so you don’t cut the grass too short. By leaving your grass a little taller, you are allowing it to become stronger, as the roots grow stronger and deeper.

If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water. Spray this onto your plants about once per week or until it subsides. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. Coffee grounds contain plenty of acid to get the soil back to a good balance.

Use climbing vines or plants to cover fences and walls. Climbing plants are extremely versatile, helping to hide an ugly fence or wall, often within one growing season. They may also grow through tress and shrubs that are already grown, or you can train them to cover your arbor. Some must be tied onto a support, but a number of climbers attach to surfaces with twining stems or tendrils. If you’re looking for the most reliable varieties available, choose from clematis, wisteria, and climbing roses.

TIP! You can use boiling water to get rid of weeds naturally. Water is cheaper than chemical herbicides, and less hazardous to humans and soil.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Try to save plants that are expensive or that are resistant enough to handle the transition. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.

Start Planting

TIP! A touch of organic mulch will boost the potential of the vegetable plants in your garden. The mulch will keep the soil around the plants moist a little longer.

The approach of fall means you need to start planting autumn goodies. Try using a pumpkin as a natural plant pot. You can plant fall vegetables such as lettuce in an empty pumpkin shell. Cut an opening in the pumpkin and scoop the insides out. Then spray the edges and empty inside of the pumpkin with Wilt-Pruf so the pumpkin doesn’t rot. You can start planting now.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticides should be avoided in your garden. Broad spectrum pesticides don’t only kill the offending pests, but the beneficial ones also.

Make sure that you divide your 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. The bulbs should split up normally in the hand, and should flower when replanted for the next year. You should divide rhizomes using a knife. Cut new outside pieces and dispose of the center. Divide your pieces carefully; they should each have one good quality offshoot apiece. Replant each one immediately.

TIP! Select a specific type of plant to be the focal point of your garden. When you design your garden, think of a great focal point that will grab attention and add interest.

Start your garden by planting seed in small pots. As a green-friendly gardener, you always want to use seeds to start your new plot. The plastic used in nurseries often end up in landfills, that is why it is advised to use seeds or purchase from nurseries that make use of organic materials when packaging their plants.

TIP! Make sure that you wear appropriate clothing when you garden so as to avoid any sun damage. Clothing should keep your skin covered, and don’t forget to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Fertilizer in the garden is a must. Manure can help your plants grow quickly, but you must use only commercially created products to reduce the chance of contracting pathogens. You have the ability to choose from quite a large array of fertilizer, however there is not a great difference between them. It is just crucial that you use something.

TIP! Mix various plant heights and plants in the exact same bed for a unique English garden. Plants that are all at the same height makes a garden bed look flat and uninteresting.

If you are horticulture for the first time ever, read and follow all directions and instructions that come with your chemicals and tools. Garden chemicals can cause skin irritation and eye injury. Keep yourself safe and always follow instructions.

TIP! If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

When deciding on which plants to include in your landscaping projects, consider evergreens which produce colorful berries. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color. Other winter plants include the American Holly, Winterberry, The American Cranberrybush and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Make sure you protect your knees well while you are gardening. Bending from a standing position for excessive amounts of time can be difficult for many people.

You can create the look and feel of an English garden by mixing different plants of varying heights throughout your flower bed. Using plants of all the same kind or size, can result in a boring, and unoriginal garden.

TIP! One way to encourage an organic garden to be sustainable and healthy is to put aside a section to stay undeveloped, thus encouraging wildlife to approach it. A natural area will allow beneficial birds and insects, many of which pollinate plants, to live on your property and help your garden grow stronger.

If you choose to use organic methods to care for your houseplants, you should bear in mind that certain plants require more sunlight than others. If you want indoor plants, choose specimens that can grow in relatively dark places. Using UV lamps is a great way to grow an organic garden anywhere.

You can cover your muddied horticulture footware easily by keeping plastic bags around. This allows you to maintain your flow so you can rapidly get back to your gardening.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Work efficiently in your garden. One of the biggest time wasters is not keeping track of your tools and having to look for them every time you need them.

Coffee grounds are good for your soil. These coffee grounds have many nitrogenous nutrients that your plants could use. Nitrogen is generally a way to make your plants grow bigger, better and faster.

TIP! Get every last drop of value from your land. You can get a great return on investment from landscaping.

Increase the worth of your investment. Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective. Adding certain plants to your yard can raise the resale value to as high as 20% or more. Look for hardy, low moisture plants that are naturally suited for your region.

TIP! Healthy soil translates to even healthier flowers, grasses and vegetables. If the soil is nutrient-rich, plants will be able to ward off disease and damage caused by common garden pests.

If slugs are problematic in your garden, you can use an all-natural beer trap to do away with them. Place a container in the ground so that the lip is even with the soil surface. Fill the jar with beer about an inch lower than the top. Slugs are attracted by the beer and won’t be able to exit the jar once they enter.

TIP! If you’ve spent even a little time gardening, you’re probably well aware of how beneficial compost can be, but how much do you know about what it contains? Compost is a mixture of organic matter such as grass clippings, dead leaves, scraps of produce, eggshells, straw, and small twigs that all break down together into a soil-like consistency. It is much better to use this in place of chemicals and fertilizers.

Now you know more about organic gardening. This is absolutely fantastic! What you have just read can help you get the most from your garden. Hopefully, this article has provided you with a new technique that you can utilize in your organic garden.

5 Best Vegetables To Grow In Your Backyard

~ craigb

TIP! Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. The annuals and biennials are usually fast growing because they only last one season, and this will let you change the garden every season for a nice change of pace.

Organic gardening will require some extra research and active avoidance of chemicals. If you decide to go the natural route, you may have to know about things like the pH balance of soil and natural bug-fighting concoctions. Organic horticulture can be a bit tricky for those who are trying it for the first time. Keep reading to find out how the professionals do it.

TIP! When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

Shoveling clay soil is tiresome since clay is hard, and it can also stick to your shovel for twice the difficulty. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff. The shovel will glide through the clay and as a bonus, your shovel will be resistant to rust.

TIP! The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly.

If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. Mix a little liquid soap and baking soda in water. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Baking soda is safe for use on your plants and is a gentle, but effective way to care for your plants.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties. Dig carefully around their roots and place them into a pot.

TIP! Good tools for the gardener include a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier.

Pre-soak seeds overnight in a dark place. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. The young plants will survive better, and get a boost toward maturity.

TIP! Plant with autumn colors in mind. But, that does not have to be the case! The foliage in the fall probably exudes more color than any other season.

Place organic mulch close to your vegetables. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It also prevents weed growth. Your plants will receive extra water and nutrients, and you’ll spend less time dealing with weeds.

TIP! Identify a plant that will be the most prominent object of the landscape. You need a focal point that can catch your eye in garden design.

Being a novice gardener, you should ensure that you follow the directions carefully for tool and chemical use. If you fail to follow the directions, you expose yourself to safety hazards or a risk of experiencing adverse reactions. So make sure you take precautions, follow the simple directions and be safe.

TIP! Dress to protect your skin from sun damage when you garden. Pair sunglasses with wide-brimmed hats and a dab of sunblock.

Be sure to buy a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool that you can use for your garden. Spending a lot of time near the ground working is very hard on the knees, so a lightweight and portable garden stool will make gardening more comfortable. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.

TIP! Plant heather to attract beneficial insects. Heather attracts bees, and when they come out in the spring, this provides an early nectar source.

Be smart when you water your garden. Take advantage of a soaker hose so that you don’t need to water every single plant individually, or have to keep filling up your watering can. Lower your water pressure on the soaker hose to avoid harming tender plants. It can water the plants for two hours so that you can do other things.

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.

Young children will love it if you plant strawberries that bear continually, and organic gardens are the perfect place to do it. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

TIP! It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. This will also benefit your cultivated gardens as it will attract more bugs and birds to pollinate your other plants.

TIP! When you sow seeds in your garden, try not to rush the process. You need to start by adding moisture to the soil.

Maximize your time by keeping your tools close. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. Have gloves, small shears, a trowel and any other tools you may need on hand to make it simpler to maintain your garden.

Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. Doing this prevents lengthy work interruptions, and allows you to finish the job quickly.

TIP! Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? You can place newspaper in several layers, and it will help control your weeds. Weeds cannot grow without light.

Space is very important when you plant an organic garden. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. The plants need space due to sheer size and also for air circulation. It is, therefore, important for you to plan accordingly and allow for enough room between your seed rows.

TIP! Feeling in harmony with the earth is a benefit of gardening as a hobby, and this holds especially true when it comes to organic gardening. This method of gardening will give you a deep understanding of the way plants grow, from beginning to end.

Organize the chores for your organic garden so they do not pile up. If your busy life prevents you from tending your garden every day, do small tasks to avoid having so much work when you do have some time. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

Laundry Basket

TIP! When you garden, be aware of what you can use. Instead of using dangerous chemicals, opt for all-natural alternatives.

When it is harvest time, use a laundry basket. The laundry basket is a perfect strainer for any produce run off. If you hose off your produce in the laundry basket, the water will leave the basket through the holes in the sides.

TIP! Find crops that are of a high value to grow in your garden. Of course, the value of a particular plant is going to be different to each person.

It can be hard at times to grow your own organic garden, yet it is so much more rewarding in the end. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.

TIP! Plant trees so they can shade your home. Shade provided by those trees will help lower your utility bills as a result of the natural cooling they provide.

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.

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Plant a variety of foliage native to your region for the best garden. Wildlife will be attracted by different varieties of plants, so make sure you have a wide choice for them. Adding a variety of plants to your garden will mimic the look of a natural environment. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you’ll have done a little something for the environment.

TIP! Save your leaves after raking your yard. You can use them as organic compost in your garden.

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.

How To Have A Garden You Can Be Proud Of

~ craigb

TIP! Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as shovels, hoes and rakes can be made into measuring sticks.

Gather some ideas for planning your garden, whether it will be for home or commercial use. If you ascertain beforehand exactly what you need, you will not be throwing away money on unnecessary items, or plants that are not suited to your environment.

Baking Soda

TIP! Annuals and biennials are an excellent way to add a splash of bright color to your flower gardens. By utilizing quick-growing biennials and annuals, not only will you be brightening up your flower bed, you can also alter its look each season and each year.

When powdery mildew appears on your plants, you should not rush out to purchase a costly chemical treatment. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. Spray this onto your plants about once per week or until it subsides. Baking soda treats the mildew effectively and gently and it won’t damage your plants.

TIP! Bring some plants into your home to protect them against winter weather. You may want to save the most beautiful or expensive ones.

When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.

TIP! You can plant wheat grass or cat grass near the plants that the cat eats. You could also place something that will cause your cat to go away from your plants, such as citrus peels or mothballs.

Don’t mow your grass too short. Keeping grass with a little more height makes it healthier. This allows the roots to grow more deeply and makes the blades of grass more resistant to becoming dry and discolored. Short grass leads to more shallow roots and will result in more brown, dried-out patches.

TIP! If you have many low-growing plants in your garden, get yourself a pair of gardening knee pads. Spending lots of time on your knees while gardening can injure them and create lasting pain.

Before you plant a garden you should plan it out. Having a planting plan will help you correctly identify the young plants once they start to sprout. Another benefit is that you won’t lose the little plants in a big garden patch.

TIP! Using boiling water to kill weeds is both efficient and organic. Boiling water can be considered as an herbicide, and it is a safe one.

Tender deciduous shrubs are very fragile, so protect them. If you have a few potted shrubs, they should be shielded from the wintry weather. The tops should be tied together, and the wigwam should be loosely covered with a sheet or blanket. This method is preferred to wrapping a plant in plastic, since it promotes circulation and prevents rotting.

Gardening Knee

TIP! To keep dogs from disturbing your garden, spray some old aftershave, cologne, perfume or other strongly-scented products in the dirt or grass surrounding it. This will help to cover the scents that are attracting the dog, and make it less of an appealing place for your dog to be.

If your garden contains lots of short plants, purchase some gardening knee pads. Long hours tending your garden can leave your knees sore and achy. Cushion your knees with a pair of gardening knee pads.

TIP! Heather can be planted to attract useful insects. Bees like it because it gives them nectar in the springtime.

Instead of leaving clumps of irises intact, divide them so that your flowers can grow in a more healthy manner. Increase your iris population when you divide up overgrown clumps. Once the foliage has died off, lift out your bulbous irises. The bulbs will automatically split in you hand, and will likely flower the year after being replanted. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. Get rid of the center and keep the new pieces you cut from the outside. There needs to be a minimum of one healthy offshoot on each of the new sprout sections. Replant your new rhizome pieces as soon as you have finished the cuttings.

TIP! Plant strawberries for your children. Children love to pick their own fruit right out of the garden, and will be more willing to help with the process if they get something out of it.

Natural materials or some other plants can be used in your garden for keeping away pests. For example, slugs can be deterred by the presence of marigolds or onions. Wood ash also makes a great insect deterrent; simply use it as mulch around your shrub and tree seedlings. You can avoid using pesticides that contain harsh chemicals if you employ these techniques.

TIP! While gardening you must make sure your knees are protected. Bending over from a standing position is something many people cannot do.

Be aware of the optimum time frame for harvesting vegetables. Each kind of vegetable should be picked at a specific point for maximum flavor. For example, baby peas and zucchini taste best when they are picked young. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. It’s best to learn when the harvest time is for your vegetables.

TIP! Take the necessary time when planting seeds. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting.

The water that is leftover from the steamed vegetables is great to pour over them. For gardenias and rhododendrons, try putting your used coffee grounds or tea bags in the soil so they may acquire the acid they need for proper growth. Chamomile tea can be used as an effective fungicide for potted plants.

TIP! Try to keep plastic bags on hand to cover shoes that are muddy. This allows you to keep going, getting back to your garden quickly.

You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. But, that does not have to be the case! When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. Maple trees produce yellow and red leaves, just like Beech and Dogwood trees. When choosing shrubs, think about cotoneaster, hydrangea or barberry.

TIP! Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Green plant mulches include everything from fresh grass clippings, to unwanted vegetables, to recently pulled weeds.

Use gardening as a way to relax and recuperate. A plethora of paths to individual relaxation and inner peace exist. Of these, horticulture is by far one of the most enjoyable and easiest to start. The cost is low and the reward is often high. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is the sense of peace and calm that comes from nurturing your plants.

TIP! One unusual tip in organic gardening, is to “pet” your seedlings often. Use your hands or a piece of cardboard and lightly ruffle the seedling about one or two times a day.

Indoor plants need an environment that is between 65 and 75 degrees. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If your thermostat is normally kept lower in winter, you can use a heat lamp to keep your plants warm enough.

TIP! Gardening is not only a great hobby, but also a way to feel at peace with the earth. Organic gardening will accomplish that feeling even more so.

If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. If your windows are small or receive little light due to their positioning, a plant that requires little sunlight will be more comfortable and healthy. You can also get special lamps if you want a different kind of plants.

TIP! You need to mulch your flowerbed and garden using at least 3 inches worth of organic material. This affects your garden in a variety of ways, including enriching the soil, locking in moisture, and improving the overall appearance of the garden.

When a seed actually sprouts, it doesn’t need to be in as warm an environment. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. Plastic films should be removed on the containers, as that helps to keep out humidity and warmth. Watch the seeds so you can know when you do this.

It simply requires some research, some work, and some patience. All your hard work will be worthwhile when things start to grow.