measuring sticks

Looking For More Information On Organic Gardening? Consider These Ideas!

~ craigb

TIP! To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day.

You have more than likely already heard a great deal about the benefits of organic food items. It is fairly easy to see which foods are organic. The organic products cost more, and they often come in distinctive packaging. Review the ideas in this piece and see how you can have an organic garden in your own backyard.

TIP! Look for the variants of a plant that offer the highest yield. A lot of times a hybrid that will tolerate cold weather or disease will give you a higher output than heirlooms.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into handy measuring sticks. Lay the handles onto the floor and place a measuring tape beside them. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! You need to consider beginning the plants into pots. Then, you can plant the seedlings into your garden.

Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. Stink bugs are attracted to tomatoes, beans and most fruits. They can do a lot of damage if they are not controlled.

TIP! Do not plant perennials that are prone to snail infestation. A particularly vulnerable plant can be killed by snails and slugs overnight.

You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. It may also work to add citrus peelings or mothballs to the soil of the plants, because the odor is unpleasant to cats.

TIP! Check your soil before you begin planting your garden. Many nurseries offer a soil analysis service, which will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and what you can do about it.

You should divide irises. You can increase the number of irises you have by splitting clumps that are overgrown. When foliage is dead, lift bulbous irises. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Cut rhizomes into pieces with a knife. Cut new outside pieces and dispose of the center. Each piece needs one strong offshoot. Replant them immediately.

TIP! Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Most vegetables require this amount of sun in order to grow properly and at a quicker pace.

If you plant heather in your garden, you will attract insects that are beneficial. Bees are attracted to heather, and they can bring a source of nectar early in the spring. Plant a heather bed, it will house many bugs that are good for a garden such as spiders and ground beetles. Because of this, don’t forget to protect your hands when pruning heather beds.

TIP! If many of the plants in your garden grow close to the ground, some gardening knee pads will prevent pain and knee injuries. Gardening is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable; you don’t want to finish every gardening session with aching, throbbing knees.

Try mixing various plants that have different heights to create an interesting garden setup. If you use a combination of plants that grow to the same height, your garden bed will be uniform and dull looking.

Organic Garden

TIP! You should purchase a wheelbarrow, as well as a kneeling stool to help you garden. You can make gardening much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool.

Allow your children to assist with the work to be done in your organic garden. 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! When tending a vegetable garden, you might find that pest control is a bit difficult. It’s likely you don’t want to spray pesticides around the vegetables you intend to eat.

Planting organic strawberries is a great way to encourage your children to get involved. You will find that they enjoy participating in gardening if they are allowed to pluck the fresh berries and eat them straight from the earth.

TIP! Use a plant for a focal point. A focal point in the garden will capture your attention.

Pine can make surprisingly great mulch. Some plants are highly acidic, and like soil that is acidic too. When you have plants like this, nothing is easier than to gather pine needles for your beds. Using several inches of needles to cover your beds provides acid for the soil as they begin to decompose.

TIP! For the best results, properly prepare your garden for planting. Make sure the soil is wet before you begin.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. As plants grow and spread out, you will not always know how much space will be required. Space is vital for your plants not only due to their literal physical size requirements but also because of how much room your garden needs for air circulation. Plant the plants appropriately when it comes to spacing the seeds.

TIP! Use about two to three inches of organic material as mulch in all of your flower beds. This will help to inhibit weed growth, helps to lock in moisture, and adds needed nutrients to your organic garden.

Create raised beds with stone, brick or untreated wood. When selecting wood, make certain you pick untreated products that have a natural resistance to rot. Good choices are cypress, cedar and locust. If you use treated wood in your vegetable garden, the chemicals in the wood can make their way into the soil, and in turn, to your crops. If you have already used lumber that is treated, you can line it with plastic or another type of barrier.

TIP! Have plastic bags on hand so that you may cover your muddy gardening shoes. This keeps your flow going, so you can get back out to the garden quickly and finish your work.

Horticulture is by far one of the most beloved hobbies among men and women from all over the world, but organic horticulture takes it a step further by using earth-friendly methods. You will be a witness of the growing process of many different plants and understand how a whole ecosystem functions.

TIP! Pine makes a much better mulch than you might think. Some plants need acidic soil to grow properly, because of their own acid content.

Always give your garden the benefit of looking beneath the upper portions of a plant. Make sure that the root system is healthy when you buy tomato seedlings and that the starts are healthy looking as well. The lush starts remain on the baby plants for several weeks, crippling their growth until the starts are gone.

TIP! Don’t let all the little chores in your organic garden build up. 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.

A soaker hose is the best choice for watering an organic garden. As the water slowly seeps out of the hose, it is directed right to the plant roots so the leaves do not get wet. Not only do you eliminate the tediousness of having to hand-water your plants, you will also reduce the amount of water that you use.

TIP! Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. You can also use a laundry basket as a strainer.

You can plant your organic garden in a shady area. Shade gardens do not require a lot of maintenance, which is very appealing to most people. They will require much less watering, which saves a lot of work and time. This will also lead to slower growth, but at least there will be fewer weeds to eradicate.

TIP! You can get rid of slugs with a simple beer trap. Take a glass jar and bury it in your garden, making sure that the lip of the jar is even with the soil.

When you have soil that is healthy, the plants will remain healthy, that way they can stand up to more diseases and damage that is caused by insects. Pests may still be present, but they will not inflict damage on your plants.

TIP! A diversity of materials can be used to construct raised beds. These include brick, stone, and wood.

Growing your garden at home might not be the most convenient thing for you, but you will save a lot of money and always have the confidence that what you’re eating and feeding your family is as fresh and as healthy as possible. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your garden today.

Garden Tools That Save You Time

~ craigb

TIP! Use climbers for covering fences and walls. These types of plants can climb anything, which makes them perfect for covering up a wall or fence that needs to be hidden.

There’s a lot more to gardening than most people realize. If you want a natural garden, you will have to find out about things such as natural bug repellent or pH balances of a soil. It can be difficult to switch to organic horticulture methods for a beginner. Read on to find some tips to make gardening in a clean, organic fashion a little easier and more fun to do!

TIP! When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. It’s a good idea to save any expensive plants or those that will thrive in indoor heat.

A good way to ensure that your seeds sprout effectively is to start them in smaller pots and then transplant them once they reach the seedling stage. They are then more likely to survive and to become thriving, mature plants. In addition, it offers you a smaller time frame between plantings. Once you remove the most recent mature plants from your garden, the seedlings are immediately ready to be planted.

Measuring Sticks

TIP! Let your new seeds soak in a dark spot overnight. Use a small container filled with water to nearly the top and place several seeds in it.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. Just run some measuring tape right on the floor next to the handles. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. Now when you go to work in the garden, you will have a ruler that is large at your fingertips!

TIP! Try growing wheat grass or cat grass in the area of the plants your cat wants to eat. You can also put something on top of the soil around the plants that has an offensive smell to cats, such as mothballs or citrus peel.

Plant a variety of flowers to keep your flower garden colorful and interesting. Annuals and biennials can add excitement and interest to your flower garden every season. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. In addition, you might need something to fill empty spaces in your flower garden. Fill gaps with annuals or biennials. Just make sure the flowers will get enough sun to thrive. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.

TIP! Don’t mow your grass too short. If you leave a bit more height, the grass roots will get deeper, making your lawn stronger.

The first thing you should do when planning a garden is test the soil. You can get a soil analysis, and if you find your soil needs a supplement, do it! A lot of extension offices will offer this service and it is worth it so you know what your soil needs.

TIP! Don’t plant a garden without planning it. This way, when the sprouts start shooting up, you can recall where you planted each plant.

Fall edibles are a wonderful addition to your garden. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead. Cut an opening in the top of your pumpkin, scoop out the inside, and spray the entire thing with Wilt-Proof. This will prevent rotting. When this is finished, you are now ready to plant.

TIP! Your garden can really benefit from evergreens featuring berries. They will provide a splash of color in the drab and dreary winter months when a lot of other plants have lost their colors.

Grow some wheat grass or catnip for your cat to eat instead. Alternatively, you can try putting mothballs, citrus peel or anything else with an odor that cats find distasteful in the soil surrounding the plants.

TIP! When it comes to harvesting your vegetables, know when the optimal time is to do so. For the optimum flavor, be sure to follow the guidelines for planting and picking.

If you have many low-growing plants in your garden, get yourself a pair of horticulture knee pads. The amount of time that you spend gardening on your knees can make your knees hurt by the time you are done. Purchase a great pair of knee pads; they will provide a cushion for your knees while making gardening more comfortable.

TIP! Scent the grass around your garden with old perfume or discarded aftershave to prevent your dog from wandering into your garden. This kind of scent is going to mask the scents your dog is attracted to.

A touch of organic mulch will boost the potential of the vegetable plants in your garden. The mulch will help keep the dirt around the plants more moist. An added benefit is that it also inhibits weed growth. This will save you tons of time from pulling out tons of weeds.

TIP! Any time that you are gardening in direct sunlight, dress appropriately to prevent skin damage. Clothing should keep your skin covered, and don’t forget to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

It can be tough to keep insects and other plant-ruining crawlies from infesting your garden. You can’t use chemicals as they’re the last thing you want to be eating when you enjoy the fruits of your labor. You can prevent pests from appearing in the garden by adopting a vigilant attitude. If you happen to notice them early on, you can control them just by physically removing them from your plants with your hands.

TIP! You can create a great English garden by mixing types and sizes in one bed. Using plants that all grow the same height result in a flat and uniform looking bed.

If you want to keep dogs our of your garden, take some aftershave, old perfume, or any other scented item and spray the grass around the area. This will help mask the scents that attract your dog, and will make your garden a less interesting place for your pet to be.

TIP! Cover your muddy shoes with plastic bags. This way, you can get in and out quickly, and get back to work in the garden.

A mixture of aspirin and water can protect your plants from common diseases. One and one half aspirin crushed and added to a two gallon container of water will be a great help for your plants. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Spraying should be one time every three weeks.

TIP! Leave plenty of growing space when you plant your garden. 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.

You must always take care of your knees when working in the garden. It is not good to bend from a standing position for a long period of time. You can kneel instead to help keep your back relaxed while tending to your plants. You can kneel on a knee pad so that your knees are more comfortable.

TIP! Organic gardening is harder than relying on chemicals, but the results are worth it. While chemicals offer an easy solution to many common gardening problems, the organic method is far healthier for you and everyone you share your food with.

If you’re working to build a sustainable organic garden, try leaving a portion of your garden untouched so that the wildlife will be able to thrive. 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.

TIP! Each year, you should rotate the plants in your garden. 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.

Now, you shouldn’t get your hopes up and believe that a few tips are going to turn you into an instant professional gardener. However, these tips are a great starting point if you do plan to grow organically. As you implement these tips and hone your skills, you’ll be a professional green-thumb-holder in no time.

Grow Organic Produce For Your Family With These Tips

~ craigb

There are various all-natural methods you may use for growing a vibrant, healthy, and bright organic garden. You just have to learn these ways and utilize them.

TIP! Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. These types of flowers grow at high speed, which gives you more flexibility in changing the look of your flower beds as the seasons change.

Start your plants in containers before transferring them to the garden. Once the plant is hardy enough, plant it in your garden. It also allows you to tighten up the time periods between plantings. Your seedlings will be ready to be planted when you remove your old mature plants.

Measuring Sticks

TIP! When winter arrives, transfer some plants into the house to save them. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties.

Your tool handles can double as measuring sticks. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. Place the handles on the ground and measure them. A permanent marker can be used to label distances. You will never find yourself looking for a ruler thanks to this simple tip.

TIP! Whenever you are planting a veggie garden, it is vital that you place them in a location where sun shines down on them for six or more hours per day. Almost all vegetables need this much sunlight, so that they can grow correctly and in a shorter amount of time.

Consider planting slug-proof perennials. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night. Young plants with susceptible leaves are favorite meals for slugs, including those with smoother or thinner leaves. Slugs and snails will leave some perennials alone, particularly those with a bad taste or tough, hairy leaves. Wonderful varieties of such perennials include euphorbia, campanula, helleborus, achillea, and heuchera.

TIP! If you are new to gardening, make sure you read and follow all the directions on any tool or chemical you use. If you do not do this very simple step, you can end up causing skin irritation problems that are very painful.

Don’t mow your grass too short. If you let your grass keep some height after mowing, it will be able to absorb more sun and moisture resulting in a lusher, greener lawn. If you have short grass, you will have short roots and you will dry out your grass.

TIP! Use a wheelbarrow and a kneeling stool when you’re working in your garden. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot.

As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. If the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should consider protecting them, especially if they do best in warm environments. With a sheet or blanket, you want to loosely cover the wigwam after you tie the tops of the canes together. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

TIP! Garden for fall colors. This might not be the reason why.

Before you start working in your garden, purchase a wheelbarrow and a good kneeling stool. Working in the garden means you’ll be down on the ground a lot. This can cause knee pain, so if you have a stool, you’ll have an easier time. You will need a wheelbarrow in order to perform various gardening chores, it is a good thing to have on hand.

TIP! Vegetables get softer as the temperature goes up, so you could damage your vegetables if you pick them during the hottest hours. See to it that you cut their connection to the vine as opposed to twisting them, because twisting could hurt the plant.

Beautiful insects are attracted to heather when you plant it. Heather is quite alluring to bees; when spring comes along, it provides the bees with a source of nectar early. Heather beds are typically left untouched, which is why helpful little critters like ground beetles and spiders call them home. Being mindful of this, wearing gloves appropriate to horticulture is sound strategy when pruning any heather in or around the bed.

TIP! If you want to get children in on the fun, plant a few strawberries, everbearing if possible. Kids are quite eager to pick fruit from a garden, and will help with the planting if they get a nice snack out of it at the end.

Do not underestimate pine as great mulch. Some garden plants have a higher acidity, and prefer a more acidic soil. If you are growing these types of plants, simply gather up fallen pine needles for use in your garden. Cover the surface of the ground with a two-inch layer of the pine needles; as the needles break down, they will release acid into the soil and nourish your plants.

TIP! If you are growing plants inside of your home, you need to keep the thermostat set to 65 to 75 degrees during the day. In order to encourage proper growth, they will need that warmth.

It is common knowledge that grounds from brewed coffee are good for soil. The grounds contain essential nitrogen, which will benefit your plants in many ways. 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! Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. Take your spade and work up a thin layer of soil.

Do not let your gardening chores add up. Even if you can’t tend to your garden daily, you can do little things to help so that there is not a huge amount of work to be done when you are ready to get back to it. For example, pull a few weeds if you’re outside and waiting for your dog to finish his business.

TIP! Do not plant your seeds in a rush. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist.

If you want to plant a new tree or shrub, dig a hole as naturally as possible. A hole with neatly pressed sides may prevent the plant’s roots from penetrating through this packed earth into the surrounding soil.

Pine Needles

TIP! When you want to harvest the produce in your organic garden, always have an old laundry basket to hand. The laundry basket is a perfect strainer for any produce run off.

You can grow a variety of different plants in your home organic garden. A lot of plant varieties love acidic soil, and they will thrive well in mulch. These kinds of plants require a mulch consisting of a lot of pine needles during the fall each year. Pine needles in particular produce a lot of acid as they begin to decompose. Your plants will love this.

TIP! When you plant the seeds in containers, be sure the planting’s depth is three times bigger than the seed. There are exceptions to this rule though, as some seeds need direct sunlight to grow.

The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. Doing this will benefit the environment, as well as reduce your water bills. Mulching is not only frugal, it is also quite attractive.

TIP! The simple beer trap is still one of the best methods of ridding your organic garden of slugs. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level.

Healthy soil results in healthy plants capable of standing up to diseases and insects. You won’t be killing off large amounts of insects, but good practices can help avoid the damage they can cause.

Weeds are pesky for any type of garden, whether or not it is organic. This organic weed killer is safe for both you and the environment.

TIP! Use at least three inches of organic materials to mulch trees and flowers. Doing this will benefit the environment, as well as reduce your water bills.

A valuable piece of advice is to plant crops with a high value to you personally. Buy what crops you personally like in large quantity. Growing crops that are expensive at the grocery store will offset some of the money spent growing them. Remember to have fun. Get plants that you enjoy taking care of and take pride in your garden, once it grows.

TIP! Plant your trees in such a position that their branches stop the sun’s rays from reaching your house. Doing so will reduce your energy usage and save you money, since the trees will shade your home and cool it naturally.

Anyone can plant a garden, but only those with the proper knowledge will receive the most out of their crop. Use what you have learned to make your garden grow!