holistic lifestyle

Grow Healthy With These Tips On Growing An Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Larger handled tools like rakes, hoes, and shovels make great measuring sticks.

Due to the fact that consuming organic foods is gaining popularity, choosing to live a holistic lifestyle is also becoming more prevalent. In order for someone to live a holistic lifestyle, and obtain the desired health benefits, they usually have to learn to grow their own herbs and plants. They have to know how to start and maintain an organic garden. This article provides several useful tips on organic horticulture that can help.

TIP! If you have any mildew on the plants, do not go out and buy anything. Rather, you should mix a bit of baking soda with a small quantity of liquid soap in water.

Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Tools with substantial handles, like rakes, hoes and large shovels are great for taking measurements. Measure the handles with a tape measure laid out in the floor. You can label distances using a permanent marker. This will allow you to have a ruler at your fingertips when you are working out in the garden.

TIP! In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Place your seeds in a container filled with water.

Transfer your favorite plants inside so they survive the winter. You may be able to save your most resistant or expensive plants. Dig around the roots carefully and transfer the plant to a pot.

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

All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it’s the best for what you’re planting. You can get a soil analysis, and if you find your soil needs a supplement, do it! Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.

TIP! If you are growing a vegetable garden, you may find that pests can be difficult to control. Don’t spray harsh chemicals since they will spoil your veggies.

Start peas inside in a container, rather than planting the seeds outdoors. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate. You will also have hardy seedlings that will be able to resist disease and pests much better. Once they are strong enough, you can transplant them outside.

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

Place organic mulch close to your vegetables. Mulch keeps soil moist for longer periods of time. In addition, it will keep the weeds from growing. This will save you a ton of time and work.

TIP! You can attract the insects you need by planting heather. Heather is very attractive to bees, and when bees first emerge in the spring, it is an early source of nectar.

Try to relax with gardening. There are countless ways that people find to relax. Many find that horticulture is a great method for achieving this. You will not need to spend a lot of money to grow your garden, and it provides many benefits. Knowing that you have grown these plants yourself can give you a great feeling of joy and inner peace.

TIP! A mixture of aspirin and water can protect your plants from common diseases. One and a half aspirin, dissolved in two gallons of water, can be a great addition to your plants.

Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention. Usually, the focal point will be a plant that is unique from the plants around it.

Tools Handy

TIP! If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth.

To be as efficient as possible in the garden, always have your tools handy. You can wear an apron or pants that have a lot of pockets, or use a big bucket or can. Keep gloves, small pruning shears, a trowel and any other tools handy in order to increase the quickness of the work that goes into your garden.

TIP! When planting seeds, it is wise to take your time. Make sure the soil is wet before you begin.

Paying attention to spacing is important. As plants grow and spread out, you will not always know how much space will be required. This will give you enough room to work around your garden without smashing any plants. Try to plan your garden and place sufficient distance in between your seedlings.

TIP! Have plastic bags on hand to put over dirty gardening shoes. You will save time and be back in the garden much more quickly by doing this.

Increase the value of your property! Landscaping increases your house’s curb appeal and give you a good return for the money invested. Certain plants could increase the value by 20%. Be sure to choose plants that will thrive in your yard, taking into account soil and climate conditions.

TIP! An old laundry basket makes a great way to gather your harvest. Laundry baskets which have holes in them act as giant strainers for your home grown produce.

For container planting, be sure to plant your seeds at a depth around three times the radius of the seed. Certain seeds are an exception to that rule, since they require sunlight to germinate, so they should be barely covered or not at all. Ageratum and petunias are two examples of seeds that should not be planted deeply. Read the instructions that came with the seeds, and do some research on the Internet to find out the sunlight that your seeds need.

TIP! Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Green plant material can include old flowers, fruit waste, grass clippings, vegetable waste, and leaves.

Among the most important features of organic produce is the fact that it has not been exposed to harmful pesticides. Although this is great for your health, you need to make sure that you check all the produce careful for any bugs or pests before consuming.

TIP! Do you want to kill weeds in a natural way? You will need many layers of newspapers. Weeds require sunlight to grow.

Each year, you should rotate the plants in your garden. Fungus and diseases will appear if you have the same kind of plants in the same place from one year to the next. The soil might contain fungus or diseases specific to one type of plant. By using the crop rotation method, you will be able to ward off disease and fungus naturally.

TIP! Try to use untreated wood, brick or stone and make a raised bed. Be sure that any wood you use isn’t chemically treated, and will be able to resist rot naturally.

Be specific about the things you desire to grow when it comes to your organic garden. Even within the family of a specific flower or vegetable, the different varieties available have differing environmental requirements. For example, some varieties of roses will thrive in a particular home garden, whilst others will wilt and die. Know your specific surroundings and what will thrive there.

TIP! Organic gardening is more difficult than gardening with chemicals, but you will reap a greater reward. While chemical companies may make astounding claims about their products, growing organically is the most rewarding option for you and those who consume your crops.

Your organic gardening efforts will get easier as you pick up more and more tips and techniques about this activity. Keep in mind that the tips in this article are only intended as a starting point.

Tips From Experts On A Healthy Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Try planting your plants in flower pots first, then transferring them to your garden once they have had a bit of time to grow. By allowing them to sprout first, you are increasing the odds of a seedling reaching maturity.

Due to the fact that consuming organic foods is gaining popularity, choosing to live a holistic lifestyle is also becoming more prevalent. In order for someone to live a holistic lifestyle, and obtain the desired health benefits, they usually have to learn to grow their own herbs and plants. They have to know how to start and maintain an organic garden. Read the following article, and get some great tips on how to grow an organic garden.

TIP! Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Combine a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda with water.

Lay sod properly. The soil requires preparation before sod can be laid. Weeds should be removed, and you should break up the soil into a tilth. Next, you want to make the soil compacted by applying light but firm pressure. Make sure the soil creates a flat surface. The soil should be adequately moistened. The optimum layout of sod rows is to stagger them with offset joints. Firm sod until there is an even, flat surface; fill in gaps with soil. Once it is in place, the sod requires frequent watering for at least two weeks. This is usually the amount of time it takes for the sod to grow roots, making it ready to grow seamlessly into place.

TIP! Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. You can actually get an analysis of soil for a little fee, and with the report you get back you can figure out how to create a vibrant garden by enriching it properly.

If you want to keep your garden free of pests, start with healthy soil! If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease. So if you want your garden to provide plants that are as healthy as possible, you need a good quality soil that contains few chemicals and that can accumulate salts over time.

TIP! If beautiful flowers throughout the warmer months are important to you, make sure you put bulbs into the ground. Planting and growing bulbs is very simple, and once planted the bulbs will grow for years.

Ensure you have the proper soil for the plants you have selected. What plants you desire determines what type of soil you need in your garden, and whether or not it needs to be amended. It can happen where one artificial area is designated to have just one type of soil.

TIP! Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Cold weather is very hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs should be shielded and protected.

If you are horticulture, be wary of stink bugs in your garden, especially in the autumn. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. 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.

Tender Shrubs

TIP! Pest control is one of the hardest things about growing a vegetable garden. The vegetables are intended to be eaten, thus you should refrain from using harsh pesticides and chemicals.

Make sure to protect your tender shrubs from the elements. When these tender shrubs are kept in pots, cold weather can be very damaging. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. This method is superior to covering plants in plastic, because air can freely circulate, which prevents rotting.

TIP! Plant for fall color. That doesn’t have to be it though.

Split up your irises. Try increasing your stock by dividing your overgrown clumps of plants. When foliage is dead, lift bulbous irises. The bulbs often divide in your hand with no intervention on your part, and when you replant them, they will usually flower the following year. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. Cut several new pieces out of the outside and get rid of the old center. Each piece must have a minimum of one strong offshoot. Replant them immediately.

TIP! Have one plant be the most interesting eye-grabber in your garden. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention.

Think about starting your peas indoors rather than planting them directly in the garden. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden. The seedling may also be hardier, which means that they can better resist disease and attacks from pests. The seedlings can then be transplanted outside after becoming strong enough to withstand the elements.

TIP! Avoid sun damage by dressing appropriately whenever you will be gardening in the sun. Sunglasses, a nice shady hat, and sunscreen are very helpful.

Controlling pests can be quite challenging when trying to grow a healthy, hardy vegetable garden. You want to avoid spraying harsh chemicals since the vegetables are meant for consumption. One way to control horticulture pests is to be vigilant. If you catch the pests early, the best removal technique is just to take them off your plants by hand.

TIP! One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. You will see many of the birds and insects that are present will assist in pollination and plant production, helping to create a much better garden.

When planting seeds, make sure to take your time. First, add moisture to the soil where you will be planting. Next, you should evenly distribute the seeds ensuring that each one has enough room to grow. The seeds should be buried to a depth that is equal to three times the diameter of the seeds. Some seeds require direct sunlight to grow, and these should be left on top of the soil.

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

Do you want to kill weeds in a natural way? Take layers of newspapers and use them for weed control. Weeds need sunlight to grow. By placing newspaper over them, they will not get light and suffocate. As an added benefit, the newspapers will decompose over time, becoming organic compost. Cover the newspaper with a thick layer of mulch for a more attractive look.

TIP! Before planting your favorite perennials, you must first prepare the ground. With a garden spade, slice under the dirt then flip it over.

Keep the soil healthy by adding mulch. Protection is provided by placing the layer of mulch upon the soil. It can also keep the ground from overheating during hot weather, which will protect the roots of your plants from damage. It helps the soil retain moisture longer by reducing the evaporation rate. It will also serve as a method of controlling unwanted weeds.

TIP! Your seeds, once they begin sprouting, don’t need the same amount of warmth as they did before. You should move your sprouted plants farther from the heat when they are past the sprouting stage.

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 check to see if rain is in the forecast before watering your plants. If the weather forecast calls for rain, it’s probably wise to not water your plants that day.

Organic Horticulture

Horticulture, especially organic horticulture, helps you feel more “at one” with the earth. Organic horticulture will give you a great idea of the gardening process.

TIP! Within your composting heap, ensure that there is an equal split of dried and green plant materials. Grass clippings, vegetable and fruit leftovers, and grass clippings are all examples of green plant material.

If you’re planning on adding some tomatoes to your garden, try planting a new set of tomatoes exactly three weeks after you plant the first batch. Doing this will cause your harvest to come in at differing times, allowing you to gather up the majority of them and cut your losses. If something happens to ruin your harvest, you have time to fix the problem before the next set of tomatoes is due, sparing part of the harvest.

With more knowledge comes a higher level of skill and success. Keep in mind that these pointers are simply the tip of the iceberg.