baking soda

Tips And Tricks On Keeping The Pests Out Of The Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. Get better results in clay by rubbing car wax or floor wax onto the shovel, then buff off and dig.

Organic horticulture is a goal many people have but never actually try to accomplish. The task may seem daunting and complicated to those unfamiliar with it. Peruse the following article to discover some very useful advice that will prepare you for success in this most enjoyable pastime of organic horticulture.

TIP! In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties.

Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. On the first day, put them out in sunlight for about an hour or so. As time goes by, slowly increase the time they spent outdoors. After one week, the plants should be fully acclimated and ready to move outside.

Baking Soda

TIP! When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. They thrive on fruits, citrus, peppers and various beans.

If your plants have a powdery mildew, don’t use expensive chemicals on them. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water. Spray this solution on plants once weekly until the mildew is gone. Baking soda won’t harm your plants, and takes care of the mildew efficiently and gently.

TIP! Bulbs are the best solution to get flowers in spring and in summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year.

If you have a wall or fence that you do not like, plant climbers to mask its appearance. These climbing plants will help beautify an old fence, and they are fast workers too. Climbers can also be trained to grow and cover an arbor, and they will grow through or around existing trees and shrubs. Some require ties attaching them to supports, but others will attach themselves to any surface nearby. Reliable varieties include wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis, and jasmine.

TIP! As fall arrives, it is the time to prepare for planting fall edibles. A pumpkin makes a great container, and costs less than a clay pot.

Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. You can get a soil analysis, and if you find your soil needs a supplement, do it! The cost of the analysis will be easily offset by the benefits of a healthy and vibrant crop.

Stink Bugs

TIP! There are natural materials, and you can also use other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. A border of onions or marigolds around a vegetable garden can repel slug.

While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit. If they are left in the garden, they can do great damage to your plants, so you should do whatever you can to eliminate them.

TIP! Let your children be involved in your organic gardening efforts. A garden can provide a wonderful learning experience for children, and will give you an opportunity to bond with them while you produce healthy food.

Get horticulture knee pads if you have low-growing plants. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day. A set of quality knee pads designed for horticulture can be a world of relief for your central leg joints.

TIP! It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. Slice under the grass with a spade, flip the layer you have lifted over, and spread three inches of wood chips on top.

Learn the best harvest time for each vegetable. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. For example, baby peas and zucchini taste best when they are picked young. Let your tomatoes, however, linger on the vine until they are fully ripe. So, be aware of the best harvest time to pick your veggies.

TIP! Keep your gardening tools close by to maximize gardening efficiency. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a gardening apron that has several pockets.

Another way to help them grow is by watering them with the liquid that is left from cooking vegetables. You may fertilize the soil with tea or coffee for plants that favor acidic environments, like rhododendrons and gardenias. Chamomile tea can be an effective treatment against fungus attacking plants.

TIP! Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. This helps the flow keep going so that you can get into the garden quickly to finish what you’re doing.

Plant items with fall color. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be. When it comes to brightly colored foliage, fall is an amazing time of year. Fall hues of orange, yellow and red can be seen falling from maple trees, and dogwoods and beech trees offer comparable spectacles. Barberry, conaneaster and hydrangea are all wonderful choices in shrubs.

TIP! Do you want to kill weeds without using commercial chemicals? Try using several newspaper layers to control weeds. Weeds can’t grow without sunlight.

Strawberries are a good organic garden choice for families with strawberries, particularly everbearing strawberries. A lot of children not only love to pick out their own fruit but they also love to learn about it as well.

TIP! Organic gardening is more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but you will reap a greater reward. While chemical-based gardening products make bold claims, it is hard to dispute that organic gardening consistently produces superior results.

Using aspirin water will help your plants fight diseases. One and a half aspirin, dissolved in two gallons of water, can be a great addition to your plants. You can simply spray them with the mixture to help aid them in fighting off diseases. Apply at three week intervals.

TIP! When you water too much, then you can actually harm your plants due to the fact that the roots can’t get the nutrients they need. Always be sure to check the weather and keep a tight watering schedule.

Take your seedlings and saplings to a cooler spot once they are established. Move your plants further away from your heat source as they grow. Take off any plastic that is on the containers to keep away from warmth and moisture. Keep an eye on your seeds so you will know when this should be done.

TIP! Garlic can be simple to grow organically. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring.

You need to avoid chores in your organic garden stacking up. There are certain little things to help you keep up with your garden, even if you don’t have the necessary time each day to do everything. For example, if you are playing in the yard with your child, take a few moments to pull some weeds as well.

TIP! If you are wanting to start your own organic garden, it is crucial that you know how to properly make beds. Start off by getting under the grass using a spade.

Organic horticulture can be more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but the end result makes it worth it. Chemicals can be beneficial, but a chemical free organic garden will always produce the best results.

TIP! If you are planning to plant trees or shrubs in your yard, you should pay close attention to the hole that you have dug. If the sides of the hole you dug is packed hard by the shovel, the roots of your plant may have difficulty penetrating the surrounding soil.

Too much water can be harmful to your plants because the excess water can hinder the ability of the roots to acquire nutrients from the soil. Always check the weather forecast for chances of rain before going outside to water your plants. If rain is on its way, you are probably safe to skip watering duties for the day.

TIP! There are all sorts of plants that you can plant in your garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants.

The best feature of organics is that they are pesticide free. This is great for the health of your family, but you will still have to regularly check your plants for bugs and pests.

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.

This will be organic horticulture made easy. You want to plan your landscaping around native flowers, bushes and grasses. Choose plants that are suitable for your climate conditions, soil type and surrounding plants in order to reduce your need for fertilizers or pesticides. Native plants and natural fertilizer work well together. Since the compost is made from native ingredients, plants react strongly to it.

TIP! Different types of bees can be an asset to your garden. For effective pollination, bumble bees are a great help.

Once you understand the advice contained in this article, you will no longer feel so hesitant to try organic gardening. Put this information to work for you in your organic garden and soon your kitchen will have an abundance of fresh, all natural and delicious produce.

How To Grow An Organic Garden The Right Way

~ craigb

TIP! Insects and various garden pests can be avoided by making your soil healthy. Healthy soil encourages vigorous plant growth and makes your garden more resistant to common diseases and insects.

It can be somewhat overwhelming to learn everything there is to know about horticulture. Luckily, gardening can be researched easily, taught and learned. With this list of ideas in hand, you will be armed with a great deal of knowledge and will have the ability to become a terrific gardener in short order.

Healthy Plants

TIP! Cover the fences and walls with climbers. Many climbers are so robust that they can cover an unattractive wall or fence in a single growing season.

The first thing you can do to avoid pests is to start with healthy soil in your garden. If you create healthy plants, they are going to be stronger and therefore, less likely to succumb to diseases and insects. If you start with balanced soil, your garden will produce healthy plants with the best yield. Refrain from using chemicals since these will increase the salt content of the soil.

TIP! When it’s autumn, it’s time to start planting all of your fall edibles. Instead of a clay pot, show some fall spirit by using a hollow pumpkin to plant your lettuce or kale in.

If you have any mildew on the plants, do not go out and buy anything. Instead, combine baking soda with water and liquid soap. This solution can be sprayed onto your plants once per week until the problem is resolved. Baking soda is a good way to get rid of mildew on your plants gently.

TIP! Irises can benefit from being separated. Overgrown clumps of irises can be divided up to increase your numbers of this lovely flower.

Try using climber plants to cover up your fences and walls. Climbing plants are great for hiding hideous fences and walls, and they usually grow within a season. You can also use them in your landscape to cover an existing arbor, or allow them to climb up trees, or through shrubs. There are those that have to be fixed to a support, but others will find a surface to cling to all on their own through twining stems or tendrils. There are many varieties you can choose from. Honeysuckle, climbing roses and jasmine are among the best.

TIP! Using pest-resistant plants or natural materials in your garden is a good way to keep pests away. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs.

Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is essential to the growth of plants because of its role in photosynthesis. Often, plants achieve better growth when they are surrounded by high levels of CO2. The best way to get higher CO2 for your plants is to grow them in a greenhouse. CO2 levels are best kept high, in order to provide optimal growing conditions for your plants.

Knee Pads

TIP! Grow heather so that you can attract useful insects. Bees love heather, and it is a favorite stop when they emerge in early spring.

Knee pads are a gardener’s friend when caring for plants low to the ground. The amount of time that you spend horticulture on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. Buy yourself a pair of knee pads to use in the garden to cushion and protect your knees.

TIP! The ideal temperature to set your thermostat for indoor plants is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit during the daylight hours. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture can be a magnet for disease and parasites on your plants. Fungus infections are common in overly moist plants. It is possible to control fungi by using fungicide sprays. However, these sprays should be used before issues become apparent.

TIP! It’s simple to lay a new perennial bed. Use a spade to dig up some soil, flip the soil over, and finally, sprinkle around 3-4 inches of wood chips on the soil.

Novice gardeners should read the manuals on all horticulture tools and chemicals prior to using them. If you don’t do this, you could cause unnecessary skin irritations, which are very painful. Keep your health intact and follow the directions to the letter.

TIP! Get the most out of what you have, and your property. Landscaping your yard will bring you a big return on your investment.

Make sure any open cuts are completely protected from dirt and chemicals before you go to work in your garden. Your cut could get infected if you’re dealing with grime and dirt when horticulture. You can get bandages that can completely seal your cut.

TIP! Consider solving your weed problem without the use of toxic chemicals. To control the growth of weeds, all you need is last week’s Sunday paper.

Just as when outside, plants kept inside need varying degrees of sunlight, which can be harder to obtain from indoors. If you want indoor plants, choose specimens that can grow in relatively dark places. Otherwise, you could simply use your own lights.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Change how much you water your plants with the changing of the seasons. You should also adjust your watering habits if the temperature or amount of rainfall changes dramatically.

Coffee grounds can benefit many types of soil. They contain nitrogenous nutrients which are essential to plant growth. Nitrogen is a nutrient that will help your plants grow taller and bloom faster, so use those coffee grounds, extra compost, or diluted urea to make this happen.

TIP! Take a look below the surface to get a start. Look out for green starts that are lush that might have bad root systems when you start purchasing tomato seedlings to help your organic garden prosper.

Increase the value of your property! Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective. In fact, you can boost your home’s value by a fifth with the right landscaping, and in the right market. For landscaping your yard, pick out plant species that fit your climate and require little watering.

TIP! You can find a lot of information on how to keep any unwanted pests away by researching local botanical insecticides. These natural insecticides are just as effective as chemicals, sometimes even more so.

Organize the chores for your organic garden so they do not pile up. Even if you’re to busy to focus on your garden’s needs each day, you could do small things that could prevent you from piling up work when you wish to work on your garden. If you put the dog outside, weed a few spots in the garden while your dog goes to the bathroom.

TIP! Weeds are irritating no matter what type of garden you have. This method is much safer for your other plants.

A rule of thumb for when you are planting seeds in containers is to make the hole depth around three times larger than the seed itself. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Typical examples are petunias and ageratum. If you are wondering whether or not the seeds require direct sunlight, you can usually find helpful information online that will answer your question.

TIP! You can mix raked leaves with the soil in your garden to make a great organic compost. Leaves decompose, and this makes a healthy organic compost rich in nutrients for your plants.

Now that wasn’t as terrible as you thought it would be, right? Like most subjects, there is amble information on horticulture available. The key is to simply find a good starting point and get going. With the tips provided in this article, you have the knowledge to start your own garden.

Things To Do To Become Better At Organic Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! Start your plants in some pots and plant its seedlings in the garden. This boosts the chance that the plants can survive to adulthood.

If you wish to have fresh fruits and vegetables at your disposal, you will enjoy gardening. 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. In this article you can learn a lot of tips when it comes to horticulture, and how to be successful at it.

TIP! If you find yourself in love with mint leaves, but not with how they dominate a garden, read on. You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth.

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. This solution can be sprayed onto your plants once per week until the problem is resolved. Your plants will not be harmed by the baking soda, but the mildew will definitely not like it!

TIP! The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. When planting a garden, the best way is to initially start with seeds.

Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive. When you dig up the plant, carefully avoid the roots then place it in a container.

TIP! Carefully read and follow the instructions that come with your chemicals and tools, especially when you’re just starting to garden. If you don’t do this, you could cause unnecessary skin irritations, which are very painful.

Keep the weeds out of your garden by removing them regularly. Weeds can destroy a once promising garden and take away all its potential. To do this, think about using white vinegar. White vinegar is natural, very inexpensive, and can really kill the weeds! Load up your spray bottle with some white vinegar, and spray the weeds away instead of breaking your back removing them by hand.

TIP! Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. Strawberries are a favorite of children due to their sweetness.

Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. Fragile shrubs, that are planted in pots, should be covered to protect them during the cold season. Tie the tops together, and loosely cover the wigwam with a blanket or sheet. This method is much better than wrapping the plant in plastic, as it allows air to circulate, which can prevent rotting.

TIP! You should work efficiently, instead of working hard in your garden, to simplify things. Do not waste your time looking for tools.

Do you like mint, but not how they ruin your garden? Control their expansion by confining them to a large pot. Bury the container so that your plant does not stand out. The container will keep the roots from spreading too far.

TIP! Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. You will be able to go in and out without having to keep taking your shoes on and off.

Take a look at planting berry-producing evergreens in your yard. The evergreens will add some color to your garden or yard, especially during the winter, when other plants have died or lost color. Some evergreens that will provide winter color are the American Holly, Common Snowberry, American Cranberrybush, and the Winterberry.

TIP! Gardening can actually increase the value of your property! One of the best things you can do to increase property value is to have proper landscaping. In fact, you can boost your home’s value by a fifth with the right landscaping, and in the right market.

An easy, inexpensive way to give them nutrients is to pour the leftover water from your steamed vegetables into the soil. Some plants, such as gardenias, azaleas and rhododendrons need acidic soil for proper growth. Increase the acidity of your soil by adding coffee grounds and unused tea bags. A natural cure for plant fungus is chamomile tea. Sprinkle some on the plant, and see if it works.

TIP! Be aware of seasons and climates when you are watering, and change accordingly. There are many variables of how much water your plants need including soil, light, and outdoor temperatures.

In the hottest time of the day, most vegetables are less firm; even the act of harvesting the veggies may cause bruising. You can also protect both your vegetables and the plant they grow on by cutting them off instead of twisting them off.

TIP! One thing that sets organic gardening apart from conventional gardening is that commercial pesticides are not used. While this is great, you still need to check your produce for any bugs or other pests.

If you have children, plant strawberries, especially everbearing strawberries, in your organic garden. For kids, there are few things as fun as picking fruit fresh from the garden. Your children will be much more interesting in helping out if they know they’ll get to enjoy some tasty strawberries.

TIP! Annually rotate your garden. If you keep planting the same thing in a particular area every year, it can cause a buildup of disease in the soil.

Try to work as efficiently as possible when horticulture. Don’t waste your time by looking all over for your tools. Have all of tools you will need for the day before you head out your garden. When you are finished, put them away neatly for the next time. You can keep your garden tools in a tool belt, or in your pockets. Another good idea is to keep them all in a bucket that you carry around with you.

TIP! When you think about how you want to water your garden, look into a soaker hose, this is the best option available to you. Water seeps slowly from a soaker house, and can be aimed right at the roots, leaving leaves dry.

To avoid tracking the mud and dirt that will get on your horticulture shoes, use plastic bags. When you do this, your flow stays going, and you can just get right back out to your garden and finish quick.

TIP! Making a good bed is an important part of organic gardening. To begin this process, cut under the turf and leave a space open.

Pine is a mulch that is great. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too. If your garden contains plants like this, there are few things simpler than spreading some pine needles across your beds. 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.

Laundry Basket

TIP! Cultivating a truly organic garden requires you to pay careful attention to the things that you use to maintain it. Instead of using dangerous chemicals, opt for all-natural alternatives.

When it is time to gather your produce, you should use an older laundry basket. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer. Rinse the produce while it sits in the basket, the extra water will go through the holes in the basket.

TIP! An organic shade garden is a good choice for any beginner. Shade gardens don’t require much work at all, which may surprise you.

If you are building a raised bed utilize stone, brick or wood that is untreated. Choose wood that is naturally resistant to rot and is untreated. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. Take care to avoid wood that has been chemically treated when your garden will hold vegetables, since unknown substances in the wood can make their way into your future food. You may have previously used treated lumber; if so, you should use a plastic liner to cover it.

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

Plant your tomatoes in intervals of three weeks, starting from the original strain and they will grow in a more organized structure. This allows your harvest to grow in stages. This will also prevent the entire harvest from spoiling if there are any problems.

TIP! You know that there are numerous benefits to using compost on organic gardens, but have you ever wondered what it is made up of? Good compost is a combination of grass clippings, produce scraps, leaves, straw and wood chips or small twigs that has broken down into “pseudo-soil.” Compost adds nutrients to your soil without the dangers of commercial fertilizers.

You need to mulch your flowerbed and garden using at least 3 inches worth of organic material. This helps give nutrients to the soil in your garden and holds in moisture. It will also give it a neat appearance because it will help eliminate weeds.

TIP! Plant your landscaping trees in places that will provide shade for your home. Shade provided by those trees will help lower your utility bills as a result of the natural cooling they provide.

As was mentioned at the start of this article the beginning, a garden is a wonderful way to have your own fresh fruit, veggies and herbs at home. Preparing fresh, healthy meals using what you have grown can be a very satisfying experience. Use what you have learned from this article to give yourself the best horticulture experience ever!

The Many Wonderful Benefits Of Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! If you notice powdery mildew on your plants, do not buy an expensive chemical. Mix some baking soda and a very small amount of liquid soap into water.

Depending on the effort you put into it, an organic garden can be a great pleasure or a great pain. The advice in this piece is sure to pave the way to organic horticulture success.

TIP! When it’s autumn, you know what that means. It’s time to plant fall vegetables! Why not plant lettuce and kale inside a hollowed-out pumpkin? To use the pumpkin as a planter, it is important to prevent it from rotting.

In order not to shock your plants, you have to gradually accustom them to the change of temperature and conditions. Leave them outside in sunlight for a couple of hours on the initial day. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. After one week, the plants should be fully acclimated and ready to move outside.

TIP! Irises can be easily divided. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden.

Plant slug-proof perennials. Snails and slugs can quickly wreak havoc on a garden. Certain perennials that don’t have tough leaves are especially tasty to snails and slugs. Some perennials are not preferred meals for snails and slugs, especially if their foliage is hairy and tough, or tastes bad. Consider planting these varieties of perennials to discourage slugs and snails from eating your flowers. Euphorbia and achillea are examples of slug-proof perennials.

Baking Soda

TIP! Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. This will aid in giving your garden great color, even during the winter when other plants have lost their colors.

There’s no need for chemical intervention if you discover powdery mildew on leaves. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water. Once a week, spray this on plants to eliminate the mildew. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. Different vegetables have different, ideal times that they should be picked for best flavor.

Cover fences and walls with climbing plants. Known commonly as climbers, these plants are very versatile, easy to grow, and they will quickly spread out to cover up walls and fences within a single season. They can cover an arbor, or grow through trees and shrubs. A number of climbers need to be attached to a support, but others just take care of their own attachments via tendrils and stems that twine. Wisteria, jasmine, honeysuckle, clematis and some rose varieties are good choices for climbers.

TIP! You can spray scents such as after-shave and cologne around your garden to deter your dog. This can make scents that dogs are attracted to, and make your garden less interesting in general for pets.

In the cold winter months, you can salvage certain plants by bringing them into the house. Perhaps save the most resistant or expensive plants. Dig around roots carefully before transferring to a pot.

TIP! If you want your children to enjoy your organic garden, plant some tasty strawberries. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.

Do a soil analysis prior to planting. Have a soil analysis completed so you can know what you need to add to have soil which will fully support your garden. There are numerous places to find this service, such as your local Cooperative Extension office. The cost is well worth it to avoid a potentially ruined crop.

TIP! It never hurts to keep a few bags around the house to protect your floors from dirty gardening shoes. This allows you to maintain your flow so you can rapidly get back to your gardening.

When you decide to add vegetables into your garden space, be aware that they must be placed where they will receive direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours daily. Most vegetables need this amount of sunlight to grow the right way at a faster pace. This is true of some flowers.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! When it’s harvest time, you should utilize a basket that you put laundry in to carry your veggies. This will be like a strainer for all your produce.

Consider adding coffee grounds to your soil if it contains high levels of alkaline. The coffee grounds provide a cheap way to re-supply needed acid to the dirt. When you use them, you will start to notice that your vegetables are tastier and more vibrant in color.

TIP! The simple beer trap is still one of the best methods of ridding your organic garden of slugs. Take a glass jar and bury it so that the soil is even with its mouth.

Irises can be easily divided. Increase your iris stocks by dividing your overgrown clumps. If you notice a dead foliage, lift the bulb. The bulbs will automatically split in you hand, and will likely flower the year after being replanted. Rhizomes may need to be divided by using a knife. Cut several new pieces out of the outside and get rid of the old center. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Replant them immediately.

TIP! Depending on the season and weather, adjust your watering habits. The level of necessary watering turns on the type of water you use, the kind of soil in your garden and the amount of direct sunlight you have.

Create your own garden from scratch with seeds, rather than plants. When you begin a garden, it’s most eco friendly to do so with seed. The plastics used in nurseries are rarely recycled and ends up in landfills, so it is best to start with the seeds or buy from nurseries who use organic materials in packaging their plants.

TIP! One way to help maintain healthy soil is to incorporate mulch into your landscape. A couple of inches of mulch will protect what lies beneath it.

See to it that you fertilize your garden. Manure can be very helpful in growing plants, but it is essential to use a commercial product that has been composted, in order to minimize pathogen risk. There are many fertilization methods out there; the type is not quite as important as actually using something.

TIP! Rotating plots of garden has been done for centuries, and there is good reason for that! When the same plants occupy a spot in your garden for many years in a row, it can lead to the development of fungi and disease. These kind of enemies to plants can stay underground ready for the next year to cause harm to your plants.

Do some research to find out the best time for harvesting your vegetables. Every type of vegetable has a different moment of ripeness. As an example, zucchini and baby peas both have the best flavor when they are harvested at a young age. By contrast, it’s best to wait until tomatoes are fully ripe before picking them. So, make sure you do some research, and find out when the best time to harvest your vegetables is.

TIP! When preparing to plant a shrub or tree in your garden, consider digging a hole that looks ugly for planting them. If the hole has surfaces smoothed by the shovel, it may prove difficult for the roots to penetrate through the soil.

Choose one plant and make it the focal point of your garden. A focal point can help direct a viewers gaze. Usually this is a big plant that is somewhat different from the other plants in the garden.

TIP! When the soil is healthier, the plants are too, and can resist more diseases and damage that’s caused by insects. You won’t be killing off large amounts of insects, but good practices can help avoid the damage they can cause.

Dress to protect your skin from sun damage when you garden. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. By protecting yourself from the sun’s rays, you lower your risk of getting sunburns or skin cancer.

TIP! Using a good amount of mulch is a wonderful method to conserve water in your garden at home. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants.

Now that you’ve read this article, you can see that there is much more to do with organic gardening than meets the eye. Doing it successfully entails a good amount of patience and dedication, but achieving a productive organic garden is a worthwhile endeavor indeed. By using the tips and techniques found here, you can have a healthy, productive garden in no time.

Helpful Organic Horticulture Tips You Can Use

~ craigb

TIP! Sod should be laid correctly. Before the sod can be laid, you should prepare the soil.

Organic gardening is an activity that a lot of households want to do and think about, but never tackle. The thought of starting a garden can be intimidating for many people, due to the fact that it is not something a lot of people are familiar with, and it does seem complicated. Peruse the following article to discover some very useful advice that will prepare you for success in this most enjoyable pastime of organic gardening.

TIP! So that you don’t shock your plants, try gradually accustoming them to conditions and temperature. Leave them outside in sunlight for a couple of hours on the initial day.

To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. The first day you transfer your plants, you should only allow them to sit in direct sunlight for a few hours. As you continue the first week of the project, gradually extend the duration of sun exposure. After a week’s time, the plants should be fine staying outside.

TIP! Starting seedlings in pots before planting in your garden is a smart idea. This insures that the plants will grow and thrive into adulthood.

Plants that result in a larger yield should be higher on your priority list when planning the garden. Hybrids are usually hardier in terms of disease and weather resistance, and are designed to produce more.

Baking Soda

TIP! Do a soil analysis prior to planting. You can get a soil analysis, and if you find your soil needs a supplement, do it! You can often find Cooperative Extension offices that provide this service, which can help to make your garden flourish.

You don’t need a costly chemical solution to deal with powdery mildew in your garden. All you need to do is mix baking soda with a tiny bit of liquid soap in with some water. Once a week, spray this on plants to eliminate the mildew. Baking soda won’t harm your plants, and takes care of the mildew efficiently and gently.

TIP! A certain amount of CO2 is necessary for plants to maximize their growth potential. Most plants will grow better with more CO2.

All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. For a tiny fee, a soil analysis may be done, and based on the results, the soil can support a growing garden by you enriching it as necessary. Before you ruin any crops, make sure you do this. Soil can be analyzed at a lot of cooperative extension offices, so make sure you plan accordingly.

Stink Bugs

TIP! It is possible to use natural materials as well as other plants to help keep pests away from your garden. Onions and marigolds can help to deter slugs.

Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. Stink bugs like to reside in tomatoes, beans, and pepper plants, as well as many fruits. If left unattended, your garden could be ravaged by these bugs, so you need to proactively keep their population under control.

TIP! Put a couple of inches of organic mulch around each of your vegetable plants. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch.

Pre-soak your seeds through the night in a dark area. Simply place a handful of seeds in a container, cover the seeds up with water, and stash it away. The seeds will get the hydration they need to start growing. Your seeds will then have the best chance possible to survive to maturity.

TIP! When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides.

When you mow your lawn, do not mow it close to the ground. Cutting your grass at a taller height allows grass roots to grow deeper and stronger, which helps lessen the chance of your lawn drying out easily. Grass that is shorter has a root system that is easier to dry out.

TIP! Dress to protect your skin from sun damage when you garden. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen.

The best gardens from an environmental standpoint originate from seeds, instead of plants. The most “green” way to create a new garden is starting from seeds. Many nurseries use plastic growing pots that are very seldom recycled. Try buying from organic nurseries and farms so your garden is not using anti-environmental products.

TIP! To create an attractive, quintessentially English garden, you need to use a mixture of different plants that all grow to varying heights in each bed. Plants that grow to be the same height end up uniform and flat looking.

Natural materials or some other plants can be used in your garden for keeping away pests. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.

TIP! Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some garden plants are high in acidity, and do better with acidic soil.

Get a wheelbarrow, and a stool so that you can kneel down while horticulture. 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. In addition, maintaining a garden typically means moving around heavy dirt and other objects, which makes buying a wheelbarrow a very smart purchase.

TIP! Coffee grounds work great mixed in with your soil. Coffee grounds are filled with nutritional elements plants need, such as nitrogen.

Pest control is very difficult if you are dealing with your veggie garden. Since you are growing the vegetables for your own consumption, you want to stay away from pesticides. One way to control horticulture pests is to be vigilant. When you catch a potential infestation early, the solution may be as simple as picking the pests off of your plants with your fingers.

Organic Garden

TIP! If you need to prove to customers that your produce is legitimately organic, you can become certified as an organic grower. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious.

If you’re thinking about growing your own organic garden, then you might want to consider keeping a bit of your property undeveloped; this way wildlife can flourish. Most likely, you will find your organic garden producing better once your property is home to the insects, birds, and other wildlife that plants rely on for pollination and the production and dispersal of seeds.

TIP! Using organic produce from organic gardens which are free of pesticides is a great benefit. While this is good for your family’s health, you will want to be sure to check even more for bugs and other pests.

If you keep these various tips in mind, gardening should not be so daunting. Add the information you’ve read here to your horticulture strategy to create an amazing oasis to enjoy every day!

Helpful Organic Horticulture Tips You Can Use

~ craigb

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

Holistic lifestyles are becoming more and more popular as the organic trend starts to spread out. People who are living this kind of life actually need to grow different types of herbs, as well as other healthy plants which need to be organic. Focus on the fantastic organic gardening tips laid out below.

TIP! You should make sure to divide your irises. Overgrown clumps of irises can be divided up to increase your numbers of this lovely flower.

Learn the proper way to lay sod. The soil requires preparation before sod can be laid. Pull any weeds and break up any clods of soil. Make sure your soil is flat and compacted. Make sure you work with a moist soil. Stagger your sod so that each joint offsets from joints in adjacent rows. Make sure that the sod forms an even, flat surface, and if you have any gaps show between the sod, fill them with a little bit of soil. Water the sod for two weeks and then you can safely walk on it as it will have had time to properly root.

When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. Frequently, a hybrid plant will produce a higher yield because of its disease-resistant properties.

Baking Soda

TIP! If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. If you were to plant them inside first, the seeds should germinate better.

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water. Then, spray this mixture onto all of your infected plants once each week till the mildew is gone. Baking soda is safe for use on your plants and is a gentle, but effective way to care for your plants.

TIP! Protect cuts from dirt and chemicals, and think about staying away from gardening until they heal. Cuts have a much higher likelihood of getting infected if they are in contact with dirt when you garden.

Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. For a tiny fee, a soil analysis may be done, and based on the results, the soil can support a growing garden by you enriching it as necessary. A Cooperative Extension office can provide you with this service, saving you learning on your own by trial and error.

TIP! To be most efficient in your gardening, always keep your tools close at hand. You can keep them in a good sized bucket, or wear utility pants that have plenty of large pockets.

Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. They enjoy tomatoes, peppers, beans, and many different varieties of fruits. If not managed well, they can wreak havoc on your garden.

TIP! A good thing to know when it comes to your organic garden, and running it, is to, a couple times a day, lightly ruffle the seedlings with cardboard or your hand. This will make your plants grow faster and they will get bigger than they would have without this practice.

For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. A pot of boiling hot water can be one of the most safe weed destroyers. Literally pour the water on the weeds, avoiding any wanted plants near them, and watch the weeds die over time. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.

TIP! If you wish to honestly proclaim your produce to be truly organic, you need to secure organic garden certification. This should improve sales and attract customers who are environmentally conscious.

Irises can benefit from being separated. Take clumps that have become overgrown and divvy them up into separate plants. When you see the foliage is definitely dead, lift up the bulbous irises. The bulbs will split up naturally in your hand, and when replanted, will often flower the next year. You can divide rhizomes 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. All that is left to do is immediately replant the pieces you have created and let the cycle begin anew.

TIP! Organic gardening is harder than relying on chemicals, but the results are worth it. Chemicals can be beneficial, but a chemical free organic garden will always produce the best results.

There are natural steps you can take to keep garden pests at bay. For example, planting a border consisting of marigolds or onions can repel slugs. Wood ash, when used as mulch, can help keep insects away from trees and shrubs. You can avoid using pesticides that contain harsh chemicals if you employ these techniques.

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.

Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point, in a strong garden design, will attract eyes and hold them there. Focal points in gardens are normally a plant specimen that no one else in the neighborhood has in their landscape.

TIP! You should rotate your garden every year. Planting the same family of plants in the same area over and over can cause disease and fungus to start growing.

To defend your garden from errant dogs, spray something with a strong scent, including aftershave or old perfume around the perimeter of the garden. Your dog will be less attracted to your garden when these scents overpower compost scents and other smells dogs like.

TIP! You can find a lot of information on how to keep any unwanted pests away by researching local botanical insecticides. Sometimes natural insecticides are more efficient than the synthetic pesticides you can buy.

You should add a two to three inch layer of organic mulch to your flower bed. Using this much mulch retards weed growth, locks in moisture, and ensures that your plants are well-nourished. Your flower beds should also look beautiful all year long.

TIP! As you prepare to plant shrubs and trees in the organic garden, make sure your holes are rough, not smooth. If the shovel “glazes” any sides of the hole, leaving a smooth and compact surface, the roots may have trouble breaking through the soil in that area.

Store a few plastic bags near your garden to slip on over your dirty horticulture shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

TIP! There are many options when growing an organic garden. Most acid-loving plants enjoy mulch.

Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build up. While you may not be able to spend time in the garden on a daily basis, there are still many things you can do to keep things from snowballing out of control. You can pull a few weeds when you take your dog outside.

TIP! See to it that you know how to buy the plants you wish to add into your organic garden. This is especially important when buying annual or perennial plants.

When creating a compost pile, use dried plant materials and green plants in equal parts. Green plant material comprises leaves, weeds, spent flowers, grass clippings, and fruit and vegetable waste. Dried materials are things like hay, wood shavings, cardboard and paper. Never put meat in your compost or even the waste from your family pets. These can harbor diseases that won’t be killed by the composting process.

TIP! Planting trees in such a way that your home is in the shadows of the trees is a good idea. Doing so will reduce your energy usage and save you money, since the trees will shade your home and cool it naturally.

The more you fill your brain when it comes to gardening, the more you have at your disposal throughout the whole process. Reading this article was the perfect way to set the ball in motion.

How To Succeed With Your Own Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! If you start to notice some powdery mildew growing on your plants, there is no need to waste money on expensive chemicals. Mix a solution of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dishwashing liquid.

If you daydream about have a thriving garden filled with luscious green plants, colorful flowers and bustling wildlife, you need to consider what is required in order to turn your dream into reality. The hard work involved in gardening is usually offset by the fun and enjoyment it can offer. Here are a collection of nifty little gardening tips that will make the your time spent outside more fun and less demanding.

Pick your plants with an eye to maximize the yield you can get. Frequently, a hybrid plant will produce a higher yield because of its disease-resistant properties.

TIP! Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. Have a soil analysis completed so you can know what you need to add to have soil which will fully support your garden.

Starting seedlings in pots before planting in your garden is a smart idea. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. You will then be able to lessen the time between planting your seeds. The seedlings are ready to go, once you remove the mature plants.

TIP! Plants all need a good supply of C02 to grow properly! Plants tend to grow better when the CO2 levels are higher. Growing plants in a greenhouse is the best way to contain CO2 for use by your plants.

Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools that can be used for more than one task are quite handy to own. Lay the handles of said tools on the ground where it is flat and there is no interference, such as gravel, and stretch a measuring tape along one side. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. When the need arises to measure something while in your garden, the measuring tool you need will literally be “on hand,” sketched into the handles of your tools.

TIP! If you want your garden full of flowers spring through summer, plant bulbs. These are hearty choices, choices that will reward you for years despite the little effort that is involved in their care.

Healthy soil will also assist in your battle against pests. Healthy plants can better ward off pests and diseases. Healthy, rich soil with fewer chemicals will increase the yield of your plants, and reduce accumulated salts.

Baking Soda

TIP! Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Damp leaves can lead to plant disease and parasites.

If you see mildew that is powdery, stay away from expensive chemicals to treat it. Try mixing a little liquid soap with some baking soda in water. Once weekly, spray this mixture to the affected areas of your plants, and the mildew should be eliminated shortly. Baking soda is safe for use on your plants and is a gentle, but effective way to care for your plants.

TIP! Divide irises. Splitting up overgrown groups of irises will allow you to easily increase the number of irises in your garden.

Try using climber plants to cover up your fences and walls. Climbing plants can cover a wall after one growing season only. They may also grow through tress and shrubs that are already grown, or you can train them to cover your arbor. Sometimes the plants will require being tied to supports, but some climbers will attach themselves naturally. Some of these plants include, wisteria, jasmine, climbing roses, clematis, honeysuckle!

TIP! Don’t count the fall season out. That doesn’t have to be, however.

Make sure to pre-soak seeds, preferably in a dark location. Place a couple seeds in each container, then fill it close to full with water. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. This will also give your seeds a much better chance to survive and mature.

TIP! You can spray scents such as after-shave and cologne around your garden to deter your dog. Your dog will be less attracted to your garden when these scents overpower compost scents and other smells dogs like.

Protect your plants from moisture on a daily basis. Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. You can control fungi with the application of fungicide sprays. However, the area should be treated before you see the onset of any problems.

TIP! Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. All you need to do is use a garden spade to slice under the turf, flip it over, then spread wood chips over the area about three to four inches deep.

Don’t forget to use a good fertilizer in your garden. Manure can be very helpful in growing plants, but it is essential to use a commercial product that has been composted, in order to minimize pathogen risk. It is important that you use some sort of fertilizer, although it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose.

TIP! Be sure your new compost pile contains roughly the same proportion of dried and green plants. You can use all types of green material in your compost pile, including cut grass, dead flowers, fruit peels and cores, and much more.

Plant with the colors of autumn in mind. This might not be the reason why. If you plan properly, you can make your fall garden the most colorful time of the year. You can find beautiful maple and beech trees in many different fall colors. When you choose shrubbery, try hydrangea, barberry, or cotoneaster.

TIP! A beer trap can help to eradicate slugs. Dig a hole just deep enough for a glass jar to be placed in it while the jar still has its rim in line with the surface of the ground.

Use smarts when watering your garden. Consider a soaker hose as a way to water multiple plants while saving time. Use low water pressure with your soaker hose so that the force of the water does not harm sprouts and seedlings. Just use it on your foliage for a few hours.

TIP! Try planting your organic garden in the shade. These gardens are not high maintenance at all.

Take your time when planting seeds. A key first step is to add moisture to your soil. Then, evenly spread the seeds according to the type of plant and how much room they require for good growth. Bury them three times as deep as the size of the seeds. There are some varieties of seed that are not planted underground since they require light to grow.

TIP! Save your rainwater and use it to keep your plants happy. Water from rain can be trapped in many contraptions, from simple buckets to large rain barrels.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature. If you used plastic wrap to insulate your seedlings, you should now remove it. Watching your plants as they grow will give you the insight on when to employ these tactics.

TIP! If you plant things in your organic garden during the winter, construct a garden tent using materials you can find around the house. Take a few bean poles and place them at the corners of your plant beds.

Pine is a mulch that is great. Some garden plants are high in acidity, and do better with acidic soil. If you have acid loving plants, use pine needles as a mulch. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.

TIP! Use ample mulch to help your plants to retain enough water. Using mulch will allow the soil to retain humidity more efficiently, and your garden will not have to be watered as frequently.

You should always take spacing into account when placing plants in your organic garden. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. Plants don’t just need enough space for their physical size; they also need enough space for the air in your garden to circulate properly. Keep this in mind when appropriating spots to plant your seeds.

TIP! Among the most effective of all gardening techniques is mulching. Mulch keeps the water in the soil from evaporating too quickly and keeps the weeds away.

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.

Quick Tips To Help You Get More From Your Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller.

You are committed to the idea of planting a garden that works well with the environment. Congratulations on making the right decision. Keep reading for tips any beginner will find useful.

Baking Soda

TIP! Set your mower blades higher, so you don’t cut the grass too short. If you leave some of the grass when you mow, the roots grow further into the ground, which makes the grass less prone to drying and other hazards.

If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Mix plain baking soda with a small bit of liquid soap and water. Spray this mix on your plants every week and the mildew should go away. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.

TIP! For areas with high alkaline, mix coffee grounds into the soil. The coffee grounds are a very inexpensive way to add acid back into the dirt.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. Find out which plants will be able to thrive despite the transplanting and different indoor conditions. Carefully dig near the roots and transfer those plants into a flower pot.

TIP! Make sure that your deciduous shrubs are protected. Delicate shrubs that are sitting in pots should be sheltered from the cold weather.

If you’re like many gardeners, autumn means that it’s time to get some delicious fall edibles growing in your garden. Try something different by planing kale or lettuce inside a pumpkin, instead of using the planter pots you traditionally use. After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring. Once you’ve done that, you can plant!

TIP! 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. 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.

Soak seeds overnight, preferably in a cool, dark place. Place some seeds into a small container, then fill it with water until it is almost to the top. This way, your seeds are well-hydrated and can start growing with a head start. Seeds that are cultivated this way are more likely to survive and mature properly.

TIP! All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. The mulch help keeps the soil that is around the plants much more moist for much longer.

Irises should be divided. Divide any overgrown clumps to increase your stock. After foliage is no longer alive, remove the flowers with bulbs. These bulbs will divide into several parts naturally when you pick them up. You can then replant them, and watch them flower the following year. Rhizomes, however, need to be divided by using a gardening knife. Cut out new pieces from outside the bulb and throw away the old center. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Do this cutting beside your garden bed, so that you can place your new groupings into the ground immediately.

TIP! You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Be consistent with garden fertilization. Manure can help grow plants, but to eliminate risk of pathogens, try using a type of commercially composted product. There are numerous types of fertilizers available. What type you select is less of a concern; any kind of fertilizer is better than none.

TIP! Give them a nutritious drink by using the water that you boiled your veggies in. It is also possible to utilize coffee ground or tea to make the soil more acidic for gardenias, rhododendrons and other plants that prefer acidic soil.

There are several all-natural ways to keep pests out of your garden, including certain plants. Slugs are repelled by bordering your vegetable garden with either onions or marigolds. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. With these natural methods, there is no need to purchase expensive, harsh pesticides.

TIP! Plant items with fall color. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be.

You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees. Also having a garden usually requires moving heavy dirt and objects, so investing in a wheelbarrow is a very sound investment.

TIP! Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A good garden design will have a focal point which captivates attention.

Beautiful insects are attracted to heather when you plant it. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring. Heather doesn’t usually require a lot of tending, so spiders, ground beetles and other good bugs like to call it home. With this in mind, be sure to prune your heather while wearing horticulture gloves.

TIP! During the hottest hours of each day, your vegetables become too soft, and even gentle harvesting will cause damage and bruising. Also ensure that you use a tool to cut the vegetables off at the vine.

It’s crucial for you to protect knees when doing gardening work. Bending over while horticulture can be painful and unhealthy for your back. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

TIP! It is simple to prepare your garden for perennial flowers. With a garden spade, slice under the dirt then flip it over.

Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. When you do this, your flow stays going, and you can just get right back out to your garden and finish quick.

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.

When planting your organic garden, spacing is an important thing to keep in mind. It’s common to not think about how much space a plant will need once it’s full grown, and you don’t want to crowd your garden. Space is necessary for the plants, but air circulation is also important. It is, therefore, important for you to plan accordingly and allow for enough room between your seed rows.

TIP! Creating a trap with beer can help reduce the number of slugs in your garden. Dig a hole just deep enough for a glass jar to be placed in it while the jar still has its rim in line with the surface of the ground.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need sunlight and should not be buried. Petunias and ageratum are two examples of seeds that require sunlight. If you are unsure as to whether or not your seeds should be covered or not, try to read the package or find the answer online.

TIP! Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. There are many variables of how much water your plants need including soil, light, and outdoor temperatures.

While horticulture organically requires more work than horticulture with the help of chemicals, the rewards are worth it. Chemicals can be beneficial, but a chemical free organic garden will always produce the best results.

TIP! While all kinds of gardening can help you feel more connected to the planet, gardening organically is especially good for this. Approaching gardening in this way will enlighten you in the entire process from beginning to end.

Throughout the year and in different climates, it may be necessary to vary your watering schedule. Depending upon whether it is morning, noon or night, the chemical composition of your local water supply and soil type may determine your water usage needs. Gardeners in warm, moist climates should avoid watering leafy plants as this makes them more vulnerable to fungal growths. Instead, water the root system well.

TIP! Plant your organic garden in the shade. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people.

Overall, a layer of mulch is beneficial for the soil. The soil will be efficiently protected. On hot days, mulch will offer protection to a plant’s root system by cooling the soil. The layer of mulch will also minimize evaporation, reducing your need to water as frequently as you would a garden without mulch. Mulch is also excellent for keeping weeds at bay.

TIP! There are many options when growing an organic garden. Acid-loving plants really like mulch.

With these tips still fresh in your mind, you should be feeling more confident about your knowledge of organic horticulture methods. By reading and applying the information you have learned, you can go from a novice gardener to an expert-level organic gardener in no time at all. Remember to apply these tips as you plan and take care of your garden.

What Is All Of The Buzz About Organic Gardening?

~ craigb

TIP! Start your seedlings in pots inside and then transplant them into your garden. This increases the chance that your plants will survive to adulthood.

A garden makes a home look great but does even more than that. It is more than just an activity for the green-thumbed hobbyist. It can give a gardener a feeling of peace. When one is good at gardening, the rewards are outstanding.

TIP! Slug-proof your garden with smart perennial choices. If slugs or snails find their favorite perennials in your garden, they’ll snack all night.

Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. Doing this will increase the survival rate of all your outdoor plants. This also helps tighten time between plantings. As soon as you harvest the mature plants in your garden, your new seedlings will be large enough to plant outside!

TIP! Plant annuals and biennials to make your flower beds brighter. These fast growth plants make flower beds vibrant, and they let you alter the appearance seasonally and annually.

If you have any mildew on the plants, do not go out and buy anything. All it takes is a liquid soap, water, and baking soda mixture. Spray this mix on your plants every week and the mildew should go away. No damage will occur to your plants, and the baking soda is mild and efficient.

TIP! If mildew is forming on your plants, you should not purchase an expensive chemical. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. If you have some tender shrubs that are in planters, you need to protect them from cold weather. Tie the tops together, and loosely cover the wigwam with a blanket or sheet. In contrast to wrapping the plant with plastic, this method promotes air circulation, which stops the plant from rotting.

Knee Pads

TIP! Stink bugs can damage your garden, especially if you garden in the fall. They like fruits, as well as peppers, beans and tomatoes.

If you have many low-growing plants in your garden, get yourself a pair of gardening knee pads. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. A pair of good horticulture knee pads can cushion your knees for more comfort.

TIP! If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Most people have no trouble successfully growing bulbs, and their flowers will return each and every year.

A quality garden must be grown from seeds. Not only is this more of an effective method for horticulture, but it’s also more environmentally-friendly. 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! Autumn not only means colder weather but new vegetables to plant. If you want to find an interesting container for your lettuce or kale, try a pumpkin! Simply cut the pumpkin open at the top, so you can remove the seeds and insides.

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. Many times good bugs will be more sensitive to harmful pesticides than the ones you are trying to get rid of. If your good bug population goes down, your problem will only get worse. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.

TIP! If you want a strange, yet successful, green answer to getting rid of weeds, boil them to death. One of the safest “herbicides” you can find is a pot of boiling water.

Water containing some aspirin helps your plants fight illness. An aspirin and a half, dissolved in about two gallons of fresh water, is great for your plants. You simply have to spray the solution on your plants to assist them in warding off diseases. Use this method every three weeks.

TIP! Broad-spectrum pesticide is not a good garden choice. This particular type of pesticide will also kill the useful insects that consume the pests.

Pay attention to how much light your indoor plants are getting. 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 still are unable to get enough light to your plants, consider purchasing grow-lights.

TIP! Efficiently water your 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.

Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. 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. Let the area sit for a fortnight, then turn the earth and set up your new perennial bed.

TIP! Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. There are many ways to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays such as wearing sunglasses, sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage. Make sure you remember to remove any plastic films that were on the plant containers to repel humidity and warmth. Watch your seeds closely to know how to go about this.

TIP! If you plan to raise organic plants inside, you need to think about how much light they will get. Ideally, these plants should be kept in a room that offers natural light from a window or glass door.

Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This is a good way to keep weed growth at bay and add nutrients that you need in your garden. As an added bonus, a nice mulch can help make your garden look more finished.

TIP! Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Doing this keeps weeds down, keeps the moisture in your plants, and gives more nutrients to the plants.

Pine can make for a great type of mulch. Certain plants are acidic, and thrive in acidic soil. If you have acid loving plants, use pine needles as a mulch. 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! Try using coffee grounds on the soil. Coffee beans are loaded with nitrogen, which offers nourishment for plants.

It is possible to control weeds with natural methods. Take newspapers and layer them for controlling weeds. Weeds must have sunlight in order to grow. When you cover weeds with newspaper layers, they suffocate due to lack of light. Because newspapers decompose well with the passage of time, they make great additions to compost. One way to enhance the appearance of your garden if you are using newspapers is to add an additional layer of mulch.

TIP! A good tip for an organic garden with tomatoes, is to plant an additional set of tomatoes once three weeks have passed since you planted the original ones. If you plant everything at the same time, you will have an overabundance followed by nothing.

You can get rid of slugs with a simple beer trap. Start by burying a wide-mouth jar in the soil, ensuring that the rim of the jar is just at the soil’s surface. Fill it with beer to about one inch below the top of the jar. The beer attracts these slugs, but traps them in the jar.

TIP! Be sure you know how you should buy plants that you want to add in your organic garden. Keep this in mind when you are purchasing annuals, biennials, and perennials.

To make a credible claim that your crops are organically grown, you should be certified as organic by a credible organization. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

TIP! Keep your leaves and use them in your organic compost pile. When you put leaves into your garden, the soil can take advantage of nutrients as the leaves decompose.

Use these tips to bring life back to your garden. Your plants and shrubs will thank you from the bottoms of their roots. Horticulture could become your new hobby and be a real source of happiness for you.

Grow And Take Care Of Healthy Plants With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! If you work with clay soil, you have probably found using a shovel very frustrating and exhausting. Use a thin coat of floor or car wax on your shovel, then buff it with a nice clean cloth to make dealing with clay soil easier.

To have the most success with your garden, you need to take care of it. This is where you need to think smart about organic gardening. By employing your knowledge you will be able to more efficiently and reliably produce healthy, tasty food. Read on to learn the basics of managing your organic garden.

TIP! Choose plants that will give you the most yield at harvest time. A lot of times a hybrid that will tolerate cold weather or disease will give you a higher output than heirlooms.

Learn the proper way to lay sod. Be sure to get your soil prepared before you start laying the new sod. Be sure to get rid of any weeds, and then proceed to break up the soil to get it ready to use. Lightly, but firmly compress the soil, making certain it is flat. The soil should always receive adequate moisture. The optimum layout of sod rows is to stagger them with offset joints. After the sod has been flattened to an even surface, you can use soil to fill any remaining gaps. Water the sod every day for a couple of weeks. Then it should be rooted well and ready for foot traffic.

TIP! Keep an eye open for stink bugs in your garden, especially during the fall months. Stink bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and all sorts of fruit.

Shoveling soil that is mostly clay can be difficult because of the hardness of the soil, and because it sticks to the shovel. One way to get around this problem is to coat the shovel with wax. Use a clean cloth to spread the wax evenly. The wax will prevent any rusting, and the shovel will cut through the soil with great ease.

TIP! When it’s autumn, it’s time to start planting all of your fall edibles. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead.

Start your plants in containers, and then transplant the seedlings into the garden later on. This can give your seedlings the advantage they need to survive and reach adulthood. In addition, it offers you a smaller time frame between plantings. You will have healthy seedlings that are ready to be planted when you get rid of old plants.

Baking Soda

TIP! When you are gardening out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Put on some sunglasses, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.

You do not need store-bought chemical treatments for plant mildew. A great home remedy is to mix baking soda with water and a little bit of liquid soap. Spray this onto your plants about once per week or until it subsides. Baking soda will effectively remove the mildew without damaging your plants.

TIP! Top all your garden beds with several inches of organic mulch. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weeds, reduce watering needs and fertilize your garden.

When you’re out and about in the garden, particularly in the fall, keep an eye out for sink bugs. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. 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! A rule of thumb for when you are planting seeds in containers is to make the hole depth around three times larger than the seed itself. But, is important to realize the some seeds ought not be covered, as they need complete exposure to sun.

If you want your garden to blossom with flowers throughout the spring and summer, plant some bulbs in it. Bulbs are one of the easiest plants to grow and are hardy perennials that return each year. Different bulbs will bloom during different time periods. Therefore, if you select your bulbs correctly, you could have blooms in your garden for all of spring and summer.

TIP! If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. If you choose wood, it needs to be naturally rot resistant and untreated.

Make sure air can circulate around your plants, and keep leaves moisture-free. Excess moisture on a plant will invite unwanted parasites or diseases to the plant. An example of a common plant parasite is fungi. Proactively treat fungi through the use of fungicidal sprays and treatments.

TIP! Organic gardening may sometimes require more effort than resorting to chemicals, but the payoff in the end is well worth the work. While the chemical companies claim great benefits, organic gardening will always provide the most rewarding and healthy crops.

Separate irises. You can create additional irises by splitting up irises that are growing into each other’s space. When the foliage dies it’s time to lift the bulbous irises out of the ground. You will be able to split the bulb easily and replant it to get more flowers next year. Use a knife to divide the rhizomes. New pieces should be cut from the outside, then the old center you want to discard. Be sure to retain a sturdy offshoot on every piece that you intend to plant. The quicker you can replant your cuttings, the better chances they will reappear next season.

TIP! One thing that sets organic gardening apart from conventional gardening is that commercial pesticides are not used. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

Place a few inches of organically based mulch around your vegetable plants. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. That helps you save a great deal of effort and time in weed eradication.

Involve your children in horticulture. An organic garden will help your child learn more about plants and insects, and it’s a wonderful bonding time while growing healthy produce.

TIP! Using a soaker hose to water the garden is probably your best choice. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet.

Strawberries are a good organic garden choice for families with strawberries, particularly everbearing strawberries. You will find that they enjoy participating in horticulture if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

TIP! Think carefully about any product you buy to use in your garden. Make use of organic compounds or natural solutions instead of commercial fertilizers.

Gardeners who are intrigued by the ideas of organic and sustainable methods should think about designating a portion of their landscape to support native plants and animals. You will then find that the wildlife that can help you create a garden that can flourish become present; from birds to insects, they’ll be around your garden and help your produce grow better.

TIP! The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. Using this much mulch prevents plants from drying out too quickly, which in turn lowers your water bill, while also preventing overuse of our municipal water supplies.

Organic gardening is a great way to improve your diet naturally. It is a good source of fresh vegetables and fruits and can improve your health markedly. It requires a good work ethic, but an organic garden is indeed worth the effort.