harsh chemicals

Organic Gardening Tips To Improve Your Family’s Health

~ craigb

TIP! When winter comes, you can save a few plants by transferring them inside the house. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant.

If you are environmentally conscious and worried about the toxic effects of chemicals, organic gardening may be for you. Organic gardeners eschew the harsh chemicals and fertilizers used by large corporate farms. There is also the fact that maintaining an organic garden is inexpensive. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find some suggestions that will help you make the most of your garden.

TIP! Grow wheat or cat grass in the area around the plants that your cat is eating. In addition, you could put an item on the soil’s top around the plants which has a smell that cats hate, such as citrus peel or mothballs.

Try not to cause shock to your plants by gradually changing their conditions and temperature. Start by placing your plants outside for a few hours only. Over the week, try gradually increasing the time they’re left outside. When the week is done, your plants will be ready for the big move without any problems.

TIP! Protect your deciduous shrubs which are tender. Tender, potted shrubs must be protected when the weather is cold.

Start your plants in containers before transferring them to the garden. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. In addition, you can shorten the intervals between your plantings. Your next crop of seedlings will be started and ready to be planted immediately after you remove your last crop from the garden.

TIP! Get some gardening knee pads if you find yourself kneeling on the ground a lot to do your gardening. Long hours spent in the garden will wreak havoc on your knees.

Use slug-proof varieties of perennials wherever possible. A particularly vulnerable plant can be killed by snails and slugs overnight. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. A few great choices are achillea, campanula, and heuchera. Other options from which you can choose are hellebourus and euphorbia.

Baking Soda

TIP! Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. The soil around plants can stay damper through the use of mulch.

You do not need store-bought chemical treatments for plant mildew. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick. Spray this onto your plants about once per week or until it subsides. Baking soda treats the mildew effectively and gently and it won’t damage your plants.

TIP! A wheelbarrow and kneeling bench or stool are smart investments for your garden. Spending time on the ground is rough on the knees, a portable and light stool can help make gardening easier.

During winter, you should take your favorite plants inside. You can save the ones you spent the most money on or the ones that are resistant. Remember to be gentle when digging up your plants; carefully dig away from the roots and gently place the plant into a container.

TIP! Get your children interested in helping with your organic garden. You can provide a good learning experience that your children can appreciate the more they learn on how to grow healthy produce.

Use proper soil for the best results. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose. You can designate one area of your garden to use one specific type of soil.

TIP! If you choose to use organic methods to care for your houseplants, you should bear in mind that certain plants require more sunlight than others. If your house or apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light, one option is to grow something that only requires medium or low light.

Natural materials or some other plants can be used in your garden for keeping away pests. Slugs stay away from marigolds and onions when they are planted in a garden. Insect pests will stay away from seedlings and trees if you use wood ash around the base as a mulch. These methods prevent use of harsh chemicals.

TIP! Get more value from your property. Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The mulch will keep the soil around the plants moist a little longer. It will also prevent weeds from popping up around your plants. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.

TIP! Don’t let your organic gardening tasks stack up for very long. Even if you are too busy to tend to your gardens needs every day, you can try little things that will prevent you from having a lot of work when you return to your garden.

During the hottest hours of each day, your vegetables become too soft, and even gentle harvesting will cause damage and bruising. Twisting could cause plant damage, so ensure that produce is removed by cutting only.

TIP! Is there a natural way to kill weeds? Use a lot of layers of newspaper in order to achieve weed control. The main thing that a weed needs to thrive is sunlight.

Take care of your knees while working in the garden. Many people can not bend over for long periods of time while they are standing up. Kneeling down on the ground is a more comfortable way for many people to tend to their horticulture chores. Use a pad to kneel upon and protect your knees from possible pain.

TIP! In order to claim your crops are legitimately organic and be credible, it is important to your customers that you become organic garden certified. This will up your sales and prove to your loyal customers that what they have been getting is only the best that you possibly could get.

If you are a fan of organic, sustainable horticulture methods, consider leaving part of your backyard untouched so that natural plants and wildlife can flourish in the area. This can be a good area for the types of insects that pollinate plants. It can also be a sanctuary for birds, which will help some plants thrive. This can greatly improve the production of your organic garden.

TIP! Organic gardening can be more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but the end result makes it worth it. Chemical giants claim miracles, but those miracle crops come at a price to whoever eats the produce.

If you are horticulture with a cut, make sure that you adequately protect it from dirt and chemicals. A cut could get infected if it gets in contact with grime and dirt in the garden. Bandage all cuts completely, using bandages that cover and seal cuts.

TIP! Among the most important features of organic produce is the fact that it has not been exposed to harmful pesticides. This provides benefits for your family, but you ought to double check for pests.

Do not plant your seeds in a rush. Start by getting the soil good and moist. Then you want to spread your seeds evenly while making sure that they have enough room to grow. Bury them at a depth that is three times that of the height of the seeds. Make sure you are not burying the seeds that need light to grow.

TIP! Try using botanical pesticide products that can keep your insect problem under control. Some natural insecticides are stronger and more effective than the chemically engineered synthetic pesticides that are commercially available.

When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Have your tools laid out in an orderly way so you do not have to search for them. Keep your tools well-maintained and stored away in a designated place. That way you always know where they are and they are ready to use when you need them. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while gardening.

TIP! Make certain to learn what to look for when purchasing the plants you wish to include in the organic garden you will cultivate. This is especially important when buying annual or perennial plants.

If you use this advice concerning organic horticulture, you will have a healthier yard in no time. You can also look forward to a rise in the number of wild visitors you receive in your garden.

Home Gardening For More Than A Hobby, But For A Better Life

~ craigb

Organic gardening can either be a major headache, or a very relaxing hobby. The advice in this piece is sure to pave the way to organic gardening success.

TIP! It’s sometimes possible to save certain plants from winter cold by bringing them inside. This is especially useful if you have a particular plant that you love or was expensive.

If you have any mildew on the plants, do not go out and buy anything. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Spray this on the plants once per week until that mildew goes away. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.

TIP! Analyze the soil before you even get started with working in a garden. A soil analysis is inexpensive and can be used to figure out which nutrients should be added to provide a healthy garden environment.

Take the time to remove weeds. Weeds can be extremely detrimental to your garden. White vinegar has been known to kill weeds quickly. Yes, white vinegar actually kills weeds! If you are too busy to pull weeds by hand, make a white vinegar solution and keep it handy for a quick spray when needed.

TIP! Be diligent in your efforts to banishing weeds! Weeds can truly ruin a good garden. You might want to think about using white vinegar to do this.

Don’t cut your grass too short! If you leave more height to your grass, the roots will grow deeper into the soil, making the lawn stronger and more resistant to drying out. If the grass is too short, it produces shallow roots and that leads to a lawn with brown spots and dried-out patches.

TIP! Always make sure to mow your lawn to the appropriate length, always making sure that the cut is not too close. If you leave a bit more height, the grass roots will get deeper, making your lawn stronger.

To help young plants, try pouring boiling water on top of nearby weeds. Boiling water is a very safe alternative to other potent herbicides. Pour hot water right on the weeds, but do not get any on your plants. This can cause enough damage to the roots of any plant to kill it.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden.

Keep your plants dry and aerated daily. Moisture not only attracts parasites, but also makes it easier for your plants to contract diseases. One common organism that thrives on moisture is the fungi family. To control fungi, use a fungicide spray on the area before you notice any problems.

TIP! If you decide to grow peas, think about planting them indoors when you first start them off, as opposed to planting them outdoors. Pea seeds germinate better indoors.

Irises can benefit from being separated. You can get more irises by dividing the overgrown clumps. Lift the dead bulbous irises. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Divide rhizomes with a knife. You can split the Rhizomes production by cutting off thin portions from the exterior and discarding the remaining insides. There needs to be a minimum of one healthy offshoot on each of the new sprout sections. Plant immediately.

TIP! A good tip to help your plants stay healthy and fight diseases is to use aspirin water. An aspirin and a half, dissolved in about two gallons of fresh water, is great for your plants.

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 can be used as mulch, and if put on the base of shrub and tree seedlings, will keep insects away. You will be able to stay away from harsh chemical based pesticides by incorporating these techniques into your gardening.

TIP! One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. As the natural wildlife begins to flourish, the various insects, birds, and other natural life around will all blend together and actually assist your garden as it begins to grow.

A touch of organic mulch will boost the potential of the vegetable plants in your garden. The mulch will keep the soil around the plants moist a little longer. This method will also prevent weeds. You’ll save a ton of time if you don’t have to constantly pull out weeds.

TIP! Organic indoor plants may need additional light sources to make up for the light they miss out on by being indoors. This needs to be considered.

It is particularly important for new gardeners to read and follow instructions that come with tools, as well as chemicals. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that. Ensure that your body is protected by always following instructions.

TIP! Sprouting seeds need less warmth than before. Sprouting plants can be removed from the heat source.

Pest control is one of the hardest things about growing a vegetable garden. You want to avoid spraying harsh chemicals since the vegetables are meant for consumption. There is only one way to effectively control pests in your garden, and that is to stay vigilant in your efforts. Taking the pests off of the plants by hand is one of the best fixes if you are able to catch the infestation in its early stages.

TIP! Try using coffee grounds on the soil. Coffee grounds will add nitrogen to your soil which will make them helpful for some of your plants.

When you boil vegetables, use the leftover water on your potted plants. Used teabags or grounds from coffee are a great way to add acid to the soil. Chamomile tea can be an effective treatment against fungus attacking plants.

TIP! Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. You can underestimate how much space you need when they are growing.

Dress to protect your skin from sun damage when you garden. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. When using the right protection in the sun, you will lower your chance of getting a sunburn and decrease your risk of getting skin cancer.

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.

If you like the concept of organic horticulture, then why not take it one step further by leaving some of your land undeveloped for the area’s wildlife? Doing this will allow creatures that help plants to produce and pollinate to continue their actions, which will have a positive effect on the garden you develop.

Organic Horticulture

TIP! To plant a shrub or tree, make sure the edges of the hole you dig are rough and uneven. Roots may not be able to tap into nearby water sources if the hole is cut to cleanly with the shovel.

Organic horticulture is a more involved form of horticulture than is often realized. Organic horticulture demands hard work and perseverance in the face of adversity, but your sacrifices will be rewarded when you can look out of your bedroom window and see a stunning organic garden in your own backyard, that you created with your own bare hands. The next time you are working in your garden, use the advice from this article to grow things without the use of harsh chemicals.

Helpful Organic Gardening Tips You Can Use

~ craigb

TIP! Use the correct type of soil for best results. The kind of plants you want in your garden should let you know what kind of soil you need to get.

Many people are beginning to enjoy growing an organic garden. With these tips, you can learn fast about how to start your own organic garden. Read on to discover some helpful tips and learn how to take advantage of them.

TIP! In order for plants to grow, they must have enough CO2. When exposed to high levels of CO2, most types of plants will grow better.

Choose the varieties of plants that will produce a higher yield. A disease-resistant hybrid plant can be a good option to consider over a more traditional variety due to its tendency to produce higher yields.

TIP! When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. Clay pots are boring, so replace those ordinary lettuce and kale pots with pumpkins.

When planting perennials, seek out those that are resistant to slugs. Slugs and snails will quickly destroy your garden if you let them. These pests prefer plants with thin smooth leaves. Plant some helleborus or euphorbias along with your other perennials. Certain perennials are unappetizing to slugs and snails, especially those with tough, hairy leaves or an unappetizing taste. Good choices in this category are plants such as achillea, campanula, and euphorbia. Heuchera and helleborus also work well.

TIP! When mowing your lawn, be careful not to cut the grass too far down. Higher grass has deeper roots, meaning a healthier lawn that will be less likely to dry out.

Be vigilant about keeping moisture off your plants. Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. A common parasite to plants is fungi. It is possible to control fungi with sprays, but the key is to treat your garden before any problems arise.

TIP! Vegetables in a garden need to have at least six hours of sun every day in order to thrive. Most vegetables need at least that much sun exposure to grow properly.

You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. Wood ash, when used like mulch, can keep away pests after it is spread around a tree base and shrub seedlings. These methods are environmentally-friendly and mean you do not have to resort to harsh chemicals.

TIP! Make sure to protect your tender shrubs from the elements. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

Peas have a better chance of survival when their seeds are started indoors as opposed to outside, exposed to the elements. Seeds that are planted indoors will enjoy superior germination. It will create heartier seedlings, which means they will more easily resist the pests and diseases they will encounter in an outdoor environment. The seedlings can then be transplanted outside after becoming strong enough to withstand the elements.

Follow Instructions

TIP! Look for evergreen variants that produce berries. They add color to your yard, throughout the year.

It is particularly important for new gardeners to read and follow instructions that come with tools, as well as chemicals. It may seem simple enough, but not following it could lead to chemical burns and skin irritations. Directions, especially safety rules, are there for your own good, so make sure you follow instructions on your tools and chemicals to the letter.

TIP! If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. The temperature needs to be this warm so they are able to grow.

Pest control can become a major issue. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals on fruits and vegetables destined for your table. Instead of resorting to these harmful chemicals, you can keep garden pests at bay simply by paying close attention. If you catch pests right away, the easiest way to eradicate them is to pick them off plants by hand.

TIP! When it is time to gather your produce, you should use an older laundry basket. A laundry basket will act as a strainer for your produce.

If you can’t wait for a cut to heal before digging in the dirt, then at least protect your cuts from exposure. A cut could get infected if it gets in contact with grime and dirt in the garden. Get a bandage that seals the cut properly.

TIP! Be sure your new compost pile contains roughly the same proportion of dried and green plants. Add grass clippings, waste from fruits and vegetables, leaves, and weeds for the green materials in your compost pile.

If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively grow. If you don’t want you house to be really warm during the cold season, you could use a heat lamp on organic plants instead.

TIP! 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.

Get every last drop of value from your land. You can get a very high return from improving your home through landscaping. When you invest into plants they can do a lot to your home, they can raise the resale value of your home by 20% and possibly more. Plants that are low in moisture and suit your environment are a good investment.

Laundry Basket

TIP! One of the best parts about using foods that are organic or from organic gardens is that they do not have any type of pesticides used on them. While this is great for your loved ones’ health, still check for pests and bugs.

Use an old laundry basket to bring your fresh produce in from the garden. A laundry basket will act as a strainer for your produce. If you hose off your produce in the laundry basket, the water will leave the basket through the holes in the sides.

TIP! Gardening can not only be an excellent hobby for consuming time, but is great for saving money and aiding a healthy diet. Organic gardening techniques allow you to be involved in the entire planting and growing process, while using only the safest and most sustainable resources.

Keep your compost pile balanced with a combination of dried and green plant mulch. Your green material can be made up of produce waste, used floral arrangements, lawn cuttings, leaves, and other yard waste. Dried materials are things like hay, wood shavings, cardboard and paper. Your compost pile should never contain meat, ashes or charcoal.

TIP! Make your organic garden easier to maintain. Plan to use mainly native flowers, grasses and bushes when creating an organic garden.

Do you want to get rid of weeds in a natural way? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Weeds can’t grow without sunlight. When you cover weeds with newspaper layers, they suffocate due to lack of light. Newspapers also break down over time, becoming part of your compost. To improve the appearance of newspaper, simply spread a bit of mulch over it.

TIP! Take the leaves you’ve raked from your yard as a simple organic compost that can be mixed with your soil. Leaves decompose, and this makes a healthy organic compost rich in nutrients for your plants.

A rule of thumb followed by many planters is to bury the seeds in soil to a depth of around three times the diameter of the actual seed. However, you should always know that some seeds cannot be covered, even the slightest bit, because they need to be in direct sunlight. Some of these seeds are petunias and ageratum. 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! You can get fertilizer by making compost from scratch. To start a simple one try a little worm composting bin.

As long as you can find the proper information and implement it correctly, you should have no trouble growing a great organic garden. Put the tips you have learned above to use today, and see firsthand just how wonderful your new garden can be. The tips in this article will lead to great success no matter which varieties you choose to grow.

Tips, Tricks, And Advice For A Thriving Garden

~ craigb

You are finally ready to try organic horticulture. What perfect timing! These tips will help you start an organic garden.

TIP! Look for the variants of a plant that offer the highest yield. Normally, hybrid plants that are disease-resistant and cold-tolerant have a greater yield than traditional varieties.

Start your seedlings in pots inside and then transplant them into your garden. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. It also allows you to tighten up the time periods between plantings. As soon as the mature plants are removed, you can replace them with fresh seedlings.

Climbing Plants

TIP! Your soil needs to be of good quality before you start a garden. Consider getting a soil analysis and working on enrichment techniques for giving your garden a vibrant and healthy environment.

Climbing plants make a strong addition to walls, fences or other free-standing structures. Climbing plants are extremely versatile, helping to hide an ugly fence or wall, often within one growing season. You may also be interested in training them over an arbor or trellis. You can also grow them among existing landscape trees and plants. There are natural climbers, which use tendrils or stems to wrap around any given surface, while others must be tied with a string or rope. Reliable varieties include wisteria, honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis, and jasmine.

TIP! If you have planted vegetables within your garden, make sure that they are getting at least six hours of sunlight each day. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace.

Soak the seeds and store in a dark area overnight. Simply place a handful of seeds in a container, cover the seeds up with water, and stash it away. The idea here is for your seeds to become fully hydrated by the time they hit the dirt. The seeds will most likely have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.

TIP! Boiling away unwanted weeds is an odd, but productive method used in many gardens. The safest herbicide that you can probably find is a cup of boiling water.

Interested in using Mother Nature to keep pests at bay the natural way? Planting marigolds or onions around the border of your garden will repel slugs. Keep insects away from shrub and tree seedlings with mulch containing wood ash. You can avoid using pesticides that contain harsh chemicals if you employ these techniques.

TIP! Whether you have been gardening for a few days or a few decades, you must never deviate from the instructions on the labeling of all implements and chemicals. Failing to heed this simple advice can mean skin irritation that you are going to remember, and not pleasantly at that.

A wheelbarrow and kneeling bench or stool are smart investments for your garden. In order to relieve stress on your knees when horticulture, always use a small garden stool to be more comfortable. Gardening also usually requires that you transport heavy loads, such as dirt or mulch, and a wheelbarrow will make this much easier to do.

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

Pest control can be very difficult when dealing with a vegetable garden. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies. So to help you control the pests that may invade your garden, you will want to stay vigilant. If you catch the pests early, the best removal technique is just to take them off your plants by hand.

TIP! Gardening can be a relaxing hobby. There are a wide variety of things you can do to release stress and relax.

One particular plant should be the focal point of your garden. In any great garden design, a good focal point captures the eye. More often than not, it is a plant that is distinctively different from its neighbors.

TIP! To deter meddlesome dogs from destroying your garden, you should use heavily scented substances around the perimeter. You can even use perfume! This helps mask the attractive scents and can make your garden unappealing to them.

If you have a high priority for sustainability in your organic horticulture, try leaving a corner of the property undeveloped as a mini wildlife refuge. This is a great natural way to allow the insects and animals found in nature to assist with the growth of your garden.

TIP! Try planting some heather to draw beautiful insects to your yard. Bees love heather, and it is a favorite stop when they emerge in early spring.

It is important to allow cuts to completely heal before you do any gardening in order to protect the cut from exposure to dirt or chemicals. Your cut could get infected if you’re dealing with grime and dirt when gardening. Instead, opt for a bandage that entirely covers your wound.

TIP! Over-watering can essentially drown the roots of plants, making them unable to grow well. You should always check the weather forecast, in advance, for chances of rainfall before you water the plants.

When you sow seeds in your garden, try not to rush the process. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist. Next, you should evenly distribute the seeds ensuring that each one has enough room to grow. Seeds should be buried about three times deeper than their own size. Some seeds should not be buried at all as they need light to grow.

TIP! Feeling in harmony with the earth is a benefit of gardening as a hobby, and this holds especially true when it comes to organic gardening. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. Take your plants out of the heat once they start to grow. This also includes removing any plastic that you had covering the plant or container. Keep an eye on your seeds so you will know when this should be done.

Plant Material

TIP! Plant twice- three weeks after planting tomatoes in the organic garden, plant more seeds. The reason is, this will prevent your entire harvest from coming in all at once.

When composting lawn clippings, leaves, and other materials, it is best to add the same amount of green, freshly-cut material as you do dried material. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves. Examples of dried plant material are sawdust, shredded paper, straw, cut-up woody material, and cardboard. However, stay away from meats, manure from carnivores, charcoal and other potentially harmful substances.

TIP! Incorporate shade elements into any organic garden area. Shaded gardens require very little upkeep, making them ideal for many amateur gardeners.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the planting depth should be around three times bigger than the seed size. You should know that certain seeds need not be covered, because they need the sunlight. Some examples are petunias and ageratum. If you do now know how to plant your seed, consult the information that came with the seed when you bought it or check online for helpful information.

TIP! Use at least three inches of organic materials to mulch trees and flowers. This is not only beneficial for the earth, but it also saves you water and money on the water bill.

Be careful with the amount of water that you’re giving your plants when gardening. Roots need to draw in nutrients via the soil, and they cannot do this if they’re flooded with water. Prior to watering your outdoor plants, you should check with weather stations to see if it will be raining later in the day. Depending on what the weather is going to be like, you might not want to water your plants for the day.

TIP! If your soil is healthy, your plants will be healthy too, which means they’ll be better equipped to resist diseases and other types of damage that insects cause. Even though there will still be insects, plants will not be damaged by them.

Creating a new bed for your perennials is easy. Simply use a spade to cut underneath your turf, then flip the turf over and spread a few inches worth of wood chips across the area. In a couple of weeks, plant your perennials in this new bed.

TIP! Weeds can plague all types of gardens. This organic weed killer is safer for the environment and you and your family.

Now you should be much more prepared when it comes to organic gardening. If you thought that you were ready before, well you should now be an expert! The different tips and methods you can use are endless, and as long as you can follow and implement the information correctly, you should have no trouble growing a fantastic garden this season.