clay soil

Handy Advice For Gardening The Organic Way

~ craigb

TIP! Find some plants that will give you a higher yield. Frequently, a hybrid that is able to deal with extreme temperatures will bring higher yields than the more traditional variety of a plant.

Gardening has been an enjoyable past-time for centuries. Horticulture can simply be a pleasurable hobby, or a primary focus to feed the family. You can get even more joy out of gardening after reading this article.

TIP! Use your tool handles as rulers in the garden. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks.

Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Put them outdoors in the sun for no more than two hours the first day. Gradually increase the the time they spend outside over a one week period. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.

TIP! Having healthy soil in your garden will help your plants avoid insect pests. The healthier the plants you grow, the more resistant they’ll be to illness, fungus, or bugs.

Clay soil can be very hard to work with, and you will often find that it sticks to the shovel. 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. You will be able to work with the clay more easily, and it will not stick to your shovel.

TIP! You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Creatures like snails or slugs can destroy a plant in a single night. Young plants with susceptible leaves are favorite meals for slugs, including those with smoother or thinner leaves. Perennials that are unappetizing in taste, or that have hardened and hairy leaves, are not a favorite of slugs or snails. Examples of these slug-proof plant varieties include achillea, euphorbia, and helleborus, to name a few.

Flower Beds

TIP! Be sure to plant using the colors of Fall. However, you can still maintain your gardening hobby throughout the fall months.

Plant annuals and biennials to make your flower beds brighter. These usually grow quickly, and provide an easy-to-change solution to making your flower beds bright and beautiful. They allow you to select different flowers from one year or season to the next. They are useful for filling gaps in between shrubs and perennials in sunny areas. Some plants to get you started include petunia, marigold, sunflower, rudbekcia, and cosmos.

TIP! The prevent your dog from trampling through your garden, spray some old aftershave, perfume or other heavily scented things on the grass around your plants. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

It is a good idea to invest in a good pair of knee pads, made specifically for horticulture. They can be very helpful when working close to the ground on low-growth plants. The time that you will have to spend on your knees in your garden can cause you unnecessary knee pain. Pick up a good pair of gardening knee pads to help cushion your knees.

TIP! Do not rush planting seeds in your garden. Make sure the soil is wet before you begin.

You can use boiling water to get rid of weeds naturally. The safest herbicide that you can probably find is a cup of boiling water. Just pour boiling water directly on top of the weeds cautiously to avoid damaging your plants. Boiling water is not good for the weed roots and will stunt further growth.

TIP! You can kill weeds naturally. You can place newspaper in several layers, and it will help control your weeds.

To grow peas, try growing them indoors first, instead of outside. Pea seeds germinate better indoors. Your seedlings will be stronger, and this will mean they can withstand diseases and bug attacks. After the seedlings have grown strong indoors, it will be time for you to transplant them to outdoor beds.

TIP! Brick, stone or untreated wood is great for building raised beds. If you choose wood, ensure that it has not been treated with a sealant or other chemicals.

Consider planting evergreens that produce berries in your yard. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming. Some evergreens that will add life to your yard in the wintertime are the American Cranberrybush, Common Snowberry, Winterberry, and American holly.

TIP! Take the season and weather conditions into account when determining how much water to give your plants. 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.

To deter meddlesome dogs from destroying your garden, you should use heavily scented substances around the perimeter. You can even use perfume! This covers up the smells that bring dogs to gardens in the first place, which means dogs are less likely to enter the garden.

TIP! If plants are inundated with too much water, it becomes more difficult for roots to pull nutrients out of the soil. If you are going to water your plants outdoors, you should first check the weather for you area to see if any rain is coming that day.

If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly horticulture practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. Wildlife can help the plants in your garden to thrive, as insects support plant reproduction, while the excrement of many species contains nutrients which can help to fertilize your soil.

TIP! Make sure you look at what lies beneath in order to start off on the right foot. When you are buying seedlings for tomatoes, look at the roots as well as the green parts.

Add three inches of mulch to your flower beds. By doing this, you can lock in moisture, discourage weed growth, and nourish your plants. What’s more, your garden will look professional all year.

TIP! At least 3″ of organic mulch should be added to the flower beds and garden. Mulch adds nutrients to the soil, keeps the soil moist, reduces weed growth, and makes beds look tidier.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Certain plants are acidic, and thrive in acidic soil. For such plants, pine needles function both as a handy mulch and as a soil amendment to lower the pH. Cover your beds with the needles, as they will decompose and disperse their acid throughout the soil.

TIP! Think carefully about any product you buy to use in your garden. Try using natural alternatives instead of the chemicals you normally use.

One of the most important things to consider when plotting your garden is to make note of your available space. When the garden is bare, it is sometimes hard to envision how much space a mature plant actually needs. You will also need to ensure that you allow ample space around full-grown plants for air circulation. Keep this in mind when appropriating spots to plant your seeds.

TIP! Try making your organic garden a shade garden. These gardens are low maintenance, which is very appealing to people.

If you wish to honestly proclaim your produce to be truly organic, you need to secure organic garden certification. Having certification will increase your sales and verify to your customers that what you are selling is the best produce available.

Organic fruits and vegetables grow without being exposed to pesticides and other chemicals. This provides benefits for your family, but you ought to double check for pests.

Organic Horticulture

TIP! Try thinking about the vegetables you buy from the store most, and planting them. You will make get the most from your garden, and you will cut your monthly grocery bill.

Gardening is a good way to connect with nature, but organic horticulture remains the best way to observe natural cycles. Organic horticulture allows you learn the entire plant cycle, from the beginning to the end.

TIP! Plant a small fruit tree if you have a small garden. Many areas only allow for small gardens, and that is where dwarf fruit trees fit in best.

As previously mentioned, horticulture is something that has been enjoyed by many throughout the centuries. A long time ago, it was often the only way to feed yourself and family. Today, horticulture is still done for need but also for profit and pleasure. Read on to find tips and tricks to help you turn horticulture from a chore to a joy. Learn to appreciate the simple rewards horticulture offers!

Huge Profits From Growing Your Own Microgarden

~ craigb

TIP! Find some plants that will give you a higher yield. A hybrid designed for your weather, and resistant to local diseases, will give a better yield than non-hybrids.

As the desire to make gardens organic becomes more popular, it is found that the overall holistic lifestyle is starting to be the way to go. People who want to develop a more environmentally friendly attitude may not know where to start to reap the benefits of organic gardening. This article will provide some great tips to help you explore the world of organic gardening.

TIP! 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.

Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours. Then over the next week, gradually increase the time they are in their new habitat. By the end of the week, your plants should be ready to make the big move with no problem!

TIP! If you want the best results, you need to choose the right soil. Your soil may not be correct, but it depends on what sorts of plants you want to grow.

It can be very hard to shovel clay soil, especially when it sticks to your shovel as you are working. Simplify the process by putting a bit of wax onto the shovel. The clay won’t stick then. The wax will enable the clay soil to simply slide off the shovel, and will also prevent the shovel from rusting.

TIP! Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

As fall arrives, it is the time to prepare for planting fall edibles. Why not plant lettuce and kale inside a hollowed-out pumpkin? 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. After that, your pumpkin planter is ready to use!

Knee Pads

TIP! A great garden starts from the seeds and not from the plants. Starting from seed is far less harsh on the environment than using plants you buy at the nursery.

If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for horticulture. Gardening can really put a lot of pressure on your knees that will leave you cramped and uncomfortable. A set of quality knee pads designed for horticulture can be a world of relief for your central leg joints.

TIP! To grow peas, try growing them indoors first, instead of outside. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating.

The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. When you begin a garden, it’s most eco friendly to do so with seed. The planters used to hold nursery plants are generally not made from eco-friendly materials, and thus get thrown into landfills. Starting from seeds, or buying from one of the few nurseries that use biodegradable planters, prevents this.

TIP! Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when gardening, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable.

Spread a little bit of organic mulch, around two inches worth, in and about each vegetable plant. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This can prevent you from having to constantly pull weeds.

Produce Berries

TIP! Prior to working in the garden, make sure any cuts on your hands heal completely, or shield any cuts from contact with chemicals and dirt. Your cut could get infected if you’re dealing with grime and dirt when gardening.

Think about planting evergreen plants that will produce berries in the backyard. This will allow your garden to have color, even in the dreary winter months. Some examples of evergreens that produce berries and color in the wintertime are the American Holly, Cranberrybush, the Winterberry and the Common Snowberry.

TIP! Having a garden of perennials can be an easy and quick process. Simply slice into the ground with a spade, flip the top layer of soil, and then cover it with several inches of wood chips.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies. Persistence and care is a much better solution for pest control, but many avoid it because it actually requires some work on their behalf. When pests are noticed early, the best way to get rid of them is to remove then from the plants by hand.

TIP! Plant your seeds carefully, taking your time. To begin with, you need to dampen the soil sufficiently.

Use only pesticides designed to kill the specific type of pest in your garden, and avoid the broad-spectrum kind. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests. Useful insects are more sensitive to these pesticides than the pests, so by killing them, you could be growing your pest population. If this happens, you just fuel an expanding cycle of needing even more pesticides.

TIP! Pine makes a much better mulch than you might think. Some garden plants have a higher acidity, and prefer a more acidic soil.

Scent the grass around your garden with old perfume or discarded aftershave to prevent your dog from wandering into your garden. This will mask the garden smell that is attracting your dog, and it will make it a less appealing place for your dog to visit.

TIP! Is there a natural way to kill weeds? Try using several newspaper layers to control weeds. Weeds can only grow when there is adequate sunlight.

If you are gardening with a cut, make sure that you adequately protect it from dirt and chemicals. A cut that has come into contact with extraneous materials like dirt can become seriously infected. However, there are bandages available that will seal the cut completely. Using these should protect the cut from any infection while gardening.

TIP! 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. Before watering plants outdoors, check with some weather stations to find out if it will rain anytime during the day.

Prepare the ground for a perennial garden quickly and easily. Using a garden spade, dig underneath the turf and flip it. Then, create a layer of wood chips at least three inches deep over the area you just flipped. Give the area a couple of weeks, then dig into it and plant your new perennials.

TIP! Try cultivating organic gardening. Plant some individual garlic cloves into well-drained soil in early spring.

One of the most important things to consider when plotting your garden is to make note of your available space. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. Your plants will need the space not only because of their physical size, but also because the space will provide air circulation for the garden. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

TIP! 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.

When planting seeds you should cover them with fine soil. Determine its depth by looking at the seed’s size and multiplying it by three. Some seeds need to be in direct sunlight, though, so you need to know information about each type of seed. These seeds include petunias and ageratum. The directions for how to handle the seeds will usually be found on the seed’s package. You can also find this information online.

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. This type of hose allows you to water roots directly without wetting the plants’ leaves.

Use these tips and think about some ideas of your own. Organic horticulture can become a part of your life. This article is just the tip of the ice-berg when it comes to organic gardening information.

Get The Perfect Garden With These Simple Tips

~ craigb

TIP! All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting.

Whether you garden for business, to feed your family or just for your own pleasure, the tips below will help you to make the most of your garden. These tips will help you save money on equipment, and select the best methods to use in your garden.

TIP! Remove your garden’s weeds! Weeds will cause your garden to become overgrown and cluttered. A clever way to accomplish this is with the help of some white vinegar.

Your plants need to adapt and must be gradually introduced to changes in temperature or condition. Put them in the sun outside for a couple of hours during the first day. Throughout the week, you should increase a little at a time how long you have them outside. If you do this correctly, the plants should be able to make their final move at the end of a week’s time.

TIP! Plant bulbs if you want spring and summer flowers. Most bulbs are hardy and require little to no care in order to develop into beautiful perennials that will reappear each and every year.

Clay soil makes working with a shovel difficult. The clay is hard and sticks to the shovel. Take the hard work out of using a shovel in clay soil by rubbing a light coat of car or floor wax over the surface with a clean cloth and buff the surface. Not only will the clay slide off the surface, but it will keep the end from rusting.

TIP! If you want to grow vegetables in you backyard, it is vital that you place them in an area where they could get roughly six hours of sun on a daily basis. Almost all vegetables need this much sunlight, so that they can grow correctly and in a shorter amount of time.

When gardening, be watchful of stink bugs, particularly in the fall. They enjoy tomatoes, peppers, beans, and many different varieties of fruits. If you do not check, they do a lot of damage to plants so try to get rid of them if you can.

TIP! For an unusual, but effective, organic solution to weeding young plants, try “boiling” the weeds away. The safest herbicide that you can probably find is a cup of boiling water.

Do you like mint, but not how they ruin your garden? You can slow their growth rate by planting them in a garden container or large pot instead. Then, you can plant the container into the ground. However, the container walls will keep the roots held, and prevent the plant from consuming too much of your garden space.

TIP! Fertilize your garden regularly. Manure helps your plants grow.

An English garden mixes plants of various kinds and sizes close together, which helps to give it a more multi-dimensional feel. Using plants which grow to the same length or height will make your bed look uniform.

TIP! Chill out by taking time to garden. There are a variety of ways to achieve a state of inner peace.

If little ones live in your home, consider including everbearing strawberries in the garden plot. 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! One particular plant should be the focal point of your garden. Your focal point will be the main center of attention for anyone who sees your garden.

While horticulture you must make sure your knees are protected. Bending over for a long while is quite difficult for a lot of people. Kneeling allows you to reach your plants easily and is healthier for your back and legs. Use a knee pad so that your knees don’t get sore.

TIP! Use approximately two or three inches of natural, organic material as some mulch in every single flower bed. Mulch discourages weeds and helps retain moisture while adding nutrients to your flower bed.

When you are growing organic plants within the home or an enclosed area, considering how much light the plants will receive must be emphasized. If you’re living in a home that doesn’t receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light. If you have a different type of plant, extra lighting can always help.

TIP! Do not underestimate pine as great mulch. There are some plants that thrive in acidic soil.

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. Wait two weeks or so, and then you are ready to jump right in with digging and planting.

TIP! Annually rotate your garden layout or plan. When you continuously plant some plants from the same family in the same area every year, disease and fungus is encouraged in these areas.

Take your time when planting seeds. To begin with, you need to dampen the soil sufficiently. Then, evenly spread the seeds according to the type of plant and how much room they require for good growth. Bury them 3 times as deep in relation to the seed’s size. However, there are some seeds that need light to germinate, so be sure to check your seeds planting instructions.

TIP! Mulch should be added to your flower bed and garden using at least 3 inches of material that is organic. This can help you add nourishment to your soil, retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

Sprouting seeds need less warmth than before. As your plants grow, you will want to put a little distance between them and heat. Take off any plastic that is on the containers to keep away from warmth and moisture. Observe your seeds carefully so that you can make these changes as soon as they start sprouting.

TIP! Biodiversity is important in your garden. Wildlife will be attracted by different varieties of plants, so make sure you have a wide choice for them.

Pine makes a much better mulch than you might think. There are many common acidic plants that prefer acidic soil. If that’s the case, the easiest thing to do is use pine needles for beds. Cover your beds with two inches of needles; acid will be dispersed into the soil as they decompose.

TIP! Always think about what alternatives to chemicals you can use to solve problems in your garden. Remember that chemicals have no place in organic gardening and should not be used.

Put coffee ground into your soil. Coffee has a lot of essential nutrients that plants need. Nitrogen is often the most important nutrient when it comes to plants thriving, and a solid source of nitrogen, like coffee grounds, urea, or compost, can boost growth speed and increase height.

TIP! This will make organic gardening easier. One of the best techniques is to plant native flowers, grasses and bushes to your landscape.

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. It makes a great strainer for your vegetables. You can clean and rinse the harvest when it is the laundry basket and the water will go out of the holes.

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

If you’d like to create an organic garden of your own, it’s important you learn how to build beds. Remove the grass turf from the area you want to plant. After doing this, you will need to turn it upside down, then cover it with wood chips, about three to four inches worth. Within a week or two, you should be able to cut the ground and plant your seeds.

Research, hard work, and some dedication are the main requirements. But soon you will see the work begin to pay off, as the garden begins to grow.