organic garden

Organic Gardening Tips Everyone Should Be Aware Of

~ craigb

TIP! In order not to shock your plants, you have to gradually accustom them to the change of temperature and conditions. When starting the transition, leave the plants in the sun for just 1-2 hours.

If you’re looking to have a healthier diet, think about starting an organic garden. However, effort is required in order to effectively grow. This may make you wonder how you can begin to grow your personal organic garden.

TIP! Check the nutrients in the soil before you plant your garden. For a small fee, a soil analysis can be obtained – based on that report – the soil can be properly enriched to support a vibrant garden.

Lay sod properly. Prior to laying the sod, prepare your soil. Thoroughly weed the soil, and work it into a fine, smooth 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. Sod must be arranged in staggered rows; each joint should offset one another. Cut away extra sod and save it to fill in gaps you may create later. Sod must be watered every day for about two weeks, and then it will have rooted and be completely ready to be walked on.

Clay Soil

TIP! 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.

Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because 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. The clay will no longer stick to the shovel, and this also helps to prevent other problems like rusting.

TIP! Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. Gardening can be very tough on the knees as you spend much time leaning near the ground, so a portable stool can make all the difference to your comfort.

The kind of soil you use will influence the results. What plants you desire determines what type of soil you need in your garden, and whether or not it needs to be amended. It is also possible to make an artificial area using only one type of soil.

TIP! Make sure that you wear appropriate clothing when you garden so as to avoid any sun damage. Wear sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

You can alleviate this problem by planting grasses that your cat will naturally gravitate towards. Another option is to place offensively smelling objects on the topsoil near and around the plants you want to protect. Citrus peels or mothballs are a couple of examples.

TIP! Keep your garden tools close at hand to make the most of your gardening time. Use a bucket large enough to hold all your equipment or wear pants with multiple pockets.

Aerate and dry your plants each day. Moisture on your plants is a sure way to attract parasites and disease. A common parasite to plants is fungi. Sprays and liquids exist that are perfect for killing the fungi, but be sure you use it on the area before the fungi actually appear.

TIP! In your flower beds and garden, utilize a few inches of organic mulch. Mulching helps to hold moisture in the soil, enhance the soil quality, and slow down the growth of weeds.

Do you enjoy fresh mint, but don’t like how they engulf your garden in their growth? Instead of planting mint in your garden, keep it in a large container or pot to prevent it from spreading. This container can be placed in the soil if you prefer the look of mint in your garden, and it will continue to contain the roots of your mint and prevent it from taking over.

TIP! Pine can make a great mulch. There are some plants that thrive in acidic soil.

You can create a great English garden by mixing types and sizes in one bed. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.

TIP! Get the most out of what you have, and your property. Of all the home improvement options that you might consider, landscaping is the most cost effective.

Let your children be involved in your organic horticulture efforts. Gardening is a great way for children to learn, and it gives you two a chance to spend some quality time together and produce healthy food.

TIP! In an organic garden, ruffle any seedlings with a piece of cardboard, or even your hand, a couple times each day. This may sound strange, but research has proven that doing this will help your plants grow bigger than if they were not petted at all.

If you’re growing indoor organic plants, you should ensure that you think about how much light is available for them. If the garden will receive little sunlight, find plants that can grow in medium or low-light environments. You could also consider using grow-lights for this exact purpose.

TIP! Use untreated stone, brick or wood to build raised beds. If you choose to use wood, see to it that it’s untreated and that it can resist rotting.

Perennial gardens should be prepared easily and quickly in the ground. Use your spade to slice chunks of turf up, then flip each piece over, and spread wood chips on top to a depth of four inches. Allow the newly turned soil to sit for two weeks, then plant your perennials.

TIP! Gardening is a fun hobby that allows you be more earth friendly. When you grow organic, you will learn much more about the planting and growing process, from A to Z.

You’ll save time and energy if you keep tools nearby while working in your garden. You can do this by using a bucket, or you can wear rugged pants or a horticulture apron that has several pockets. 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! You can easily make a new garden for your perennials in just a few steps. Use a spade to cut beneath the turf, and cover the entire area with wood chips after flipping it over.

Regularity is the key to keeping your organic garden in order, don’t let your list of chores pile up. Even if you’re to busy to focus on your garden’s needs each day, you could do small things that could prevent you from piling up work when you wish to work on your garden. For example, while your canine is outside going to the toilet, take the time to pull out a few weeds.

TIP! You are aware of how helpful compost is in growing your organic garden, but do you have any idea what is actually in it? Compost is actually a mixture of grass clippings, wood-chips, leaves, produce scraps, twigs, and straw which all breaks down to “psuedo-soil”. Use this instead of commercial fertilizer.

The mulch in your organic flowerbeds should be made of organic material and be no shallower than three inches. This can help you add nourishment to your soil, retain moisture and inhibit weed growth.

TIP! Plant trees so they can shade your home. Shade provided by those trees will help lower your utility bills as a result of the natural cooling they provide.

You might be aware of the many benefits that compost provides to an organic garden, but do you have any idea what materials are actually in it? It’s a mix of grass clippings, leaves, produce scraps, straw, small twigs and wood chips that break down and turn into a “fake” soil. Use this instead of commercial fertilizer.

TIP! The watering of organic garden plants should be done with care. Test out a soaker hose in your garden.

Learn proper techniques for watering organic plants. You need to know how to water them properly as well as how frequently to water them. A soaker hose is your best option for watering. A soaker hose will keep the base adequately watered and prevent the plant from drying out through evaporation. The early morning hours are the best time to water plants.

TIP! Water is essential to maintaining a vibrant garden. Water is the main element of life for all life forms.

As has been outlined in the above article, you need to research all about organic horticulture, and know that it will take a lot of work and effort in order to grow organic plants of your own. So you can see these results, you must keep working with them. By keeping in mind the above tips, you’re on the right track towards being successful in your organic garden.

Use These Tips To Grow A Better Organic Garden!

~ craigb

TIP! Choose higher yield plant varieties. A plant that is resistant to disease, or one that is tolerant of extreme weather, will deliver a higher yield.

If you’re planning on eating healthier and saving a lot of money on groceries, growing an organic garden will accomplish that and much more. It can be a little daunting, however. From the type of mulch to use to the right equipment, there are many questions you need answered. As well, there are a lot of choices when it comes to seeds. The following tips will help you make the most of your organic garden.

TIP! Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. You can convert any large handle tool, such as a hoe, shovel, or rake into a measuring tool.

Your plants will respond better to gradual changes of environment. On the first day, place them in the sun outside for only an hour or so. As the week progresses, gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. Once the transition is complete, your plants will probably be able to tolerate the outdoor conditions.

Handy Ruler

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.

Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. Large handled tools like rakes, hoes or shovels may be used like measuring sticks. Place the handles on the floor to measure the distance between them. Label the distances using a permanent marker. Now, the next time you’re down in the garden, you’ll have a handy ruler without needing to look anywhere else.

TIP! Shelter your deciduous shrubs. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected.

Try using annuals and biennials to add color to your flower beds, and brighten them up. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.

TIP! Fresh mint is a wonderful addition to a herb garden, but it can quickly take over your entire yard. You should plant the mint in a rather large garden container or pot instead so you can monitor growth.

When mowing your lawn, avoid mowing the grass too short. When the grass is a little longer, the roots will be stronger and the lawn becomes more resistant. If you keep your lawn too short, the roots will not go deep enough to survive in case of a heat wave.

TIP! The best way to start a garden is from first principles: seeds. Your can contribute to environmental soundness by beginning your garden with fresh seeds.

Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Many vegetables need about this much sun to grow quickly. This is true of some flowers.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! Choose plants that will provide color in autumn. It doesn’t have to be this way, however.

If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. Using coffee grounds is a low-cost way to increase the acidity of the soil. This will allow your vegetables and greenery to really thrive.

TIP! To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Heather is very attractive to bees, and when bees first emerge in the spring, it is an early source of nectar.

Do some research to find out the best time for harvesting your vegetables. Every type of vegetable has a different moment of ripeness. For instance, zucchini and baby peas will taste a lot better if you pick them when they are young. Plant winter vegetables at the right time for a sweeter flavor. Find out what the best harvest time is for your vegetables.

TIP! If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. A natural area will allow beneficial birds and insects, many of which pollinate plants, to live on your property and help your garden grow stronger.

Be smart when you water your garden. You can save time by using soaker hoses when watering plants. By doing this, you won’t need to water your plants individually. Use low water pressure for your hose so that you do not cause harm to the tender members of your garden. Just use it on your foliage for a few hours.

TIP! When growing plants inside of the house, you should ensure the thermostat is set at around 65-75 degrees in the daytime. Young plants need a temperature within that specific range to grow.

When you are organic horticulture, ask your children to lend a hand. Gardens are terrific teaching tools for kids, and provide great opportunities for interaction, growth, and instruction on healthy living.

TIP! Have your gardening tools near you to minimize the time spent searching for them. For example, you could use an over-sized tote bag or an apron with multiple pockets.

As you are working in your garden, you must take care to protect both knees. Most people can’t bend over while standing up for a long period of time. Concentrate on kneeling. This will still make it easy to reach plants as well as minimize back stress. Use a pad to kneel upon and protect your knees from possible pain.

TIP! Use a beer trap to get rid of unwanted pests, like slugs. Bury a canning jar so that the open mouth and the soil top are level.

Preparing a plot for planting a perennial garden can be done quickly and without difficulty. Use a spade to dig up some soil, flip the soil over, and finally, sprinkle around 3-4 inches of wood chips on the soil. Wait for a few weeks and plant new perennials in this area.

TIP! If you’d like to create a raised bed, use materials like brick, stone, or untreated wood. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

As your seeds sprout, they require less warmth than before. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources. If you used plastic wrap to insulate your seedlings, you should now remove it. Watch your seeds closely to find the right time to do this.

TIP! Adopting organic gardening methods may take more effort than traditional approaches, but the payoff is considerably worth it. Although the chemicals may claim greater results, using organic methods to tame your garden will do less harm to your body, and the environment.

It never hurts to keep a few bags around the house to protect your floors from dirty horticulture shoes. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Pine Needles

TIP! Add mulch into your garden, you want to use at the very least organic material of three inches. This helps give nutrients to the soil in your garden and holds in moisture.

Do not overlook the benefits of pine mulch for your garden. Some garden plants have a high acidity, and prefer acidic soil. Pine needles to line the bed of your garden are easy to find for these kinds of plants. Cover soil beds with a few inches of pine needles, and they will disperse acidity to the soil below as they decompose.

TIP! Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. Most insects are repelled by its odor.

Try to avoid letting your organic garden chores build 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. Try pulling a few weeds from the garden while your dogs are out doing their business.

TIP! Dwarf fruit trees are an option for space-constrained gardens. Almost any garden, including urban ones, can accommodate dwarf trees.

Grow garlic. Take single garlic gloves and plant them in moist but drained soil at the start of spring or fall. Lay each bulb into the ground ends up at a distance of about 4 inches away from the next bulb and 1-2 inches down into the soil. Cut the green garlic sprouts as they grow, you can use them like you would use scallions or chives. When the top turns brown, it is time to harvest the bulbs. After harvesting, leave the bulbs out in the sun until the skin hardens. This helps them dry out. Store them in a cool, dry location. You can store them as loose bulbs, or fasten them together into bunches.

TIP! Fertilize your garden with a chicken tractor. Chicken tractors are moveable chicken coops with sheltered areas and open floors.

You should now realize how important an organic garden is for your health. You need to know what vegetables are essential for your overall health and how to grow them properly. The tips you’ve found above are sure to help you get off to a good start on growing chemical-free healthy food.

A Few Easy Tips For All Gardeners

~ craigb

TIP! To get the best results, you must use the right soil. Different types of plants require different soils, so check soil requirements for the ones you choose.

Many people are beginning to see how great an organic garden really can be. Using the information in this article will help you to quickly get up to speed on how to grow your own organic garden. Just put these tips to work in your own garden to yield delicious and nutritious results.

Baking Soda

TIP! Make sure to be weary of stink bugs whenever you garden, particularly during the fall months. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits.

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. Spray this solution on plants once weekly until the mildew is gone. Baking soda is not harmful to your plants and will take care of the issue as well as any other treatment.

TIP! In a place that’s dark, pre-soak the seeds. Place a couple of seeds in a tiny container, and fill it with water nearly to the top.

Cover the fences and walls with climbers. These climbing plants will help beautify an old fence, and they are fast workers too. 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 those that have to be fixed to a support, but others will find a surface to cling to all on their own through twining stems or tendrils. There are many varieties you can choose from. Honeysuckle, climbing roses and jasmine are among the best.

TIP! Both cat grass and wheat grass are good for giving your errant feline pause. Another option is to place something smelly, like citrus peels or mothballs, on the soil surrounding the plants that have previously been eaten.

Stinkbugs can be a nuisance in the garden. These bugs are known to be proliferate in the cooler fall months. Stink bugs prefer peppers, beans, tomatoes, and various varieties of fruits. If you don’t treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! A set of knee pads are a life saver if you’re an avid gardener and a lot of your plants sit close to the ground. Spending lots of time on your knees while gardening can injure them and create lasting pain.

If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. Coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to increase the acid level in your soil. This solution will make the vegetables you grow healthier and more flavorful.

TIP! Always fertilize your garden. One type of fertilizer that really helps plants grow is manure, but be sure to utilize a type that is commercially composted to reduce the chances of pathogens.

All of your vegetable plants should have approximately two inches, just outside the stem, of organic mulch placed around them. Mulch is used to keep extra moisture and provide nutrients for your plants. In addition, mulch will help you to prevent weeds. You will benefit by not having to spend so much time fighting weed growth.

TIP! Invest in a kneeling stool, and a wheelbarrow to work in the garden. You can make gardening much more comfortable on your knees by using a portable garden stool.

Pest control is very difficult if you are dealing with your veggie garden. It is wise to limit the use of harsh chemicals, because the vegetables will be eaten. Remain alert in order to control garden pests. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.

TIP! To draw good insects to your garden, plant heather. Heather is great for getting bees to stop by at the beginning of spring, as heather plants have nectar available early in the season.

When you are horticulture out in the sun, wear the proper clothing so that you do not get any type of sun damage. Wear sunglasses and hats with wide brims, and apply sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to prevent sunburns and skin cancer.

TIP! 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.

When growing indoor plants, the thermostat should be set between 65-75 degrees throughout the day. They need the temperature to be that warm so that they can grow. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.

TIP! Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature.

Tuck away some plastic grocery bags and use them to slip over your muddy boots. This allows you to work steadily and without distractions, making you a happier and more productive gardener.

TIP! An old laundry basket works great for gathering produce from your garden. The basket will make a great strainer when you wash your vegetables.

Believe it or not, pine makes great mulch. There are many types of plants with a high acidity, which means they thrive in acidic soil. For these types of plants, pine needles are wonderful for mulching. Go ahead and cover the beds you have with needles a couple of inches and while they decompose, they actually disperse some acid into the soil.

TIP! Try using a beer trap to naturally eradicate slugs from your organic garden. Get a clean, empty glass jar to use as a trap.

When planting seeds in containers, remember that the depth should be at least three times bigger than the seed. Some seeds need to be in direct sunlight, though, so you need to know information about each type of seed. Ageratum and petunias are two examples of seeds that should not be planted deeply. If you’re not sure, a guide either comes with seeds, or you can find this information online.

TIP! It’s not what’s on the surface that counts. When buying tomato seedlings, avoid the ones with a bad root system or green starts.

Organic foods are beneficial because they have not been contaminated by pesticides. Although this is better for your health, you do need to check organic produce for infestation of bugs before eating it.

TIP! Carefully decide which plants you want to grow before you plant your garden. Not all plants thrive well in the same environment.

You can create a garden for perennials easily. Lift the top layer of turf with your spade, flip it, then cover the exposed soil with three or more inches of mulch. In a couple of weeks, plant your perennials in this new bed.

TIP! You can grow many different types of plants in an organic garden. Mulch is a must-have for plants that require acidic conditions.

Biodiversity is a key element of your organic garden. Variety in your garden has more potential to attract wildlife. You want to have a diver garden so do your best to plant a bunch of different plants. If you can manage this, the garden will be the perfect place to relax, and you’ll have done a little something for the environment.

Pine Needles

TIP! You can use the leaves out in your yard to mix and make an organic compost with when you combine it with your soil An organic compost is created when leaves decompose, and this is a very nutrient rich item for your plants and will make them healthy. This won’t cost you a penny, and will benefit your garden in many ways.

There are many different plants that will grow well in an organic garden. Many acid-loving plants love mulch. Use pine needles or decomposed leaves to mulch around these plants in the fall. When pine needles break down, they fortify the soil with their natural acids.

TIP! You can fertilize your organic garden with compost you make yourself. An enjoyable way you can do this is by starting a little worm compost bin.

Know how and when you must water the organic garden. Try using a soaker hose. A soaker hose can get water to the bottom of the plant and it will ensure you do not lose any moisture. Watering is best done early in the morning.

TIP! You can conserve more water by mulching your garden. Covering the ground with mulch cuts back on the need for watering your plants.

You just have to be patient if you want to get your organic garden into tip top shape. Put the tips you have learned above to use today, and see firsthand just how wonderful your new garden can be. There are a huge number of plants to grow, and with these tips, you’ll succeed no matter which plants you ultimately choose.

Get Started With Organic Horticulture By Using These Suggestions

~ craigb

TIP! The first thing you can do to ward off garden pests is to ensure you are using healthy soil in your garden. If your plants are healthy, they can more easily resist insects and disease.

Many people are beginning to enjoy growing an organic garden. The easy to follow advice in this article will show you how to get out there and start planting. Keep reading to learn some tricks of the trade that will help you get a great garden.

TIP! Use biennials and annuals to beautify your flower beds. Biennials and annuals that grow quickly can add color to a flower bed, plus they permit you to modify the way the flower bed looks each season and each year.

Gradually acclimate plants to temperature changes and conditions, if you want to avoid shocking them. Try placing them outside in sunlight for about an hour or maybe two the first day. After a week, leave your plants outside for twice as long. By the time the week ends, your plants will be ready for their big move and should have no problems!

Clay Soil

TIP! If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase gardening knee pads. Long hours spent in the garden will wreak havoc on your knees.

Many times when digging in clay soil the clay will adhere to the shovel, which will make it much harder to dig. 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. By waxing the shovel head, the clay will not be able to adhere to the surface.

TIP! Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. It is important to protect your knees when you are kneeling in the garden, and a foam kneeling pad will help with that.

The handles on your horticulture tools can be used as a convenient measuring instrument. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller. Just lay your tool down on the floor then lay a yardstick beside the handle. Label the distances onto them using a permanent marker pen. Now when you go garden the next time, you’ll have a giant ruler at your command.

TIP! Gardening is an incredible method of relaxing. Everyone wants to find a way to relax and enjoy themselves.

If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for horticulture. You will end up spending a good deal of time on your knees and this can cause a lot of pain by the end of the day. Pick up a good pair of gardening knee pads to help cushion your knees.

TIP! One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

Think about using evergreens in your yard that produce berries during the year. These year-round berries will give the rest of your yard a much-needed pop of color, especially in the winter. These plants come in several different varieties, including the Winterberry, American Holly, Cranberrybush, and Common Snowberry.

TIP! If you have a cut on your hand, take the time to make sure it is either healed or completely covered before you put your hands in the soil. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening.

Always protect yourself from the sun when you are outdoors working in the garden; you can do this by wearing clothes that will shield you from the sun. Wear hats and sunglasses, and make use of sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to prevent sunburns and skin cancer.

TIP! Easily and quickly prepare your ground for a garden of perennials. Use a spade to dig into the turf, turn the turf over, then spread the area with approximately three inches of wood chips.

To make an interesting English garden, mix various plants and plant heights in the same bed. Plants that are all at the same height makes a garden bed look flat and uninteresting.

TIP! When you are doing work in your garden, be efficient. If it takes you thirty minutes to find a needed tool, then you are doing something wrong.

Your children will enjoy being involved with your organic gardening endeavors. Helping a garden grow is an excellent learning experience for kids, and it allows your family to spend time together while creating healthy, nutritious foods.

TIP! Get the most value from your property. Improving your landscape is one of the best ways to get a high return from your house.

Using a solution of aspirin and water can prevent certain plant diseases. Dissolve aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water) in a bucket and administer to your plants. Simply spray your plants with the mixture, and this will help them fend off various diseases. Give your plants a spray of the aspirin-water mixture about one time every three weeks.

TIP! Create raised beds with stone, brick or untreated wood. If you choose to use wood to construct your bed, choose a species that is naturally resistant to rot and avoid treated wood entirely.

Keep your plants in a warm, moist environment, if possible. The temperature needs to remain steady and warm so the plants can grow. These temperatures may not be comfortable for you, however. As an alternative to keeping your entire home that warm, consider getting heat lamps for your organic plants.

TIP! Grow organic garlic. Garlic cloves should be planted in the spring or fall.

Make sure you have some plastic bags around so that you can cover any muddy gardening shoes you have. This way, you won’t break momentum by fussing with your shoes, and you’ll be quickly back in the garden to finish your work.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! See to it that you know how to buy the plants you wish to add into your organic garden. This is very true of perennials or annuals.

Use coffee grounds on your soil. Coffee grounds have a lot of nutrients that plants can use. The coffee grounds act as a powerful nitrogen source that will help your plants bloom much quicker.

TIP! Grow items that are high in value, either in terms of money or in terms of your love for them. Think about the different types of grasses, vegetables and flowers that you enjoy most.

When developing your compost pile, use equal measures of dried and green material. Examples of good green material to use for compost include grass clippings, flowers, leaves, and weeds. Dried material includes straw, shredded paper, and cardboard. Charcoal, meat, ashes or other diseased plants should not be included in a compost pile.

TIP! The skins from fruit are a great way to recycle waste and turn them into something positive by using them for your compost pile. By using these natural bits of food, you can make virtually cost-free organic compost that will leave your plants healthy and beautiful.

It can be hard at times to grow your own organic garden, yet it is so much more rewarding in the end. While chemical pesticides and fertilizers may claim to do great things for your garden, organic methods will give you the best crops possible.

TIP! Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. The smell is unpleasant for many kinds of insects.

What plants are native to your area? When choosing plants for landscaping, stick to native flowers, shrubs, and grasses. If you select plants able to thrive in your climate, soil variety and indigenous neighbors, you can cut the amount of fertilizer and pesticide you might need. A tasty surprise is learning how the native plants actually benefit further from using a compost forged from similar, native ingredients.

TIP! Horde rainwater for your garden. Use barrels, buckets or any other appropriate containers to provide water for your garden.

When getting ready to plant a tree or a shrub in your organic garden, try digging an ugly hole to plant them in. If your hole has several “glazed” sides created by the shovel, it could keep roots from penetrating the soil nearby.

TIP! Mulching can be one of the effective things to do for a garden. Mulch keeps the water in the soil from evaporating too quickly and keeps the weeds away.

As long as you can find the proper information and implement it correctly, you should have no trouble growing a great organic garden. Start implementing the hints and tips you’ve been given to find out what an incredible garden you can grow. There are a huge number of plants to grow, and with these tips, you’ll succeed no matter which plants you ultimately choose.

Helpful Gardening Tips Blooming Now

~ craigb

TIP! Select plant types that will bring a higher profits and 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.

Many people think of starting an organic garden, but few actually go out and do it. It can be intimidating to someone who does not know anything about organic horticulture. You can prevent that from holding you back, and find renewed passion for your horticulture activities, by reading the easy tricks and simple tips in the article below.

TIP! Fight pests before you even plant, by getting your soil in shape. The healthier the plants you grow, the more resistant they’ll be to illness, fungus, or bugs.

Start your plant in pots before you plant them in your garden. Doing this will increase the survival rate of all your outdoor plants. It also permits you to tighten the time between plantings. You can plant the seedlings once you have removed the old plants.

TIP! Cover fences and walls with lots of climbers. Climbing foliage is a great way to disguise unsightly features on your property, sometimes in the span of just one season.

Use your tool handles as rulers in the garden. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller. Lay the handles of said tools on the ground where it is flat and there is no interference, such as gravel, and stretch a measuring tape along one side. Mark the measurements with a permanent marker. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

TIP! Save some plants in the winter by bringing them indoors. Think about saving your resistant plants or the expensive ones.

Soak your seeds in a dark spot during the overnight hours. Put some seeds in a container and fill the container to the brim with water. When you do this, you hydrate your seeds and they can start growing. This improves the chances of successful plant development.

Coffee Grounds

TIP! If your landscape includes low-growing plants, you should invest in a set of knee pads specifically designed for gardening. Excessive time spent kneeling often results in significant stiffness and pain.

If your soil has a problem with high alkaline levels, mixing in some coffee grounds that have been used is a great solution. The coffee grounds are an inexpensive way to give some acid back to the dirt. The greens and vegetables need the proper balance and will grow bigger and stronger with the right mix.

TIP! A good green garden should start from seeds and not plants. Your can contribute to environmental soundness by beginning your garden with fresh seeds.

Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be protected. Delicate shrubs that are sitting in pots should be sheltered from the cold weather. Tie the tops together, and loosely cover the wigwam with a blanket or sheet. This method is much better than wrapping the plant in plastic, as it allows air to circulate, which can prevent rotting.

TIP! Fertilizer is important when you garden. Manure can help your plants grow quickly, but you must use only commercially created products to reduce the chance of contracting pathogens.

It is best to aerate and dry your plants daily. Excess moisture creates an appealing environment for disease and parasites. A fungus is one of the most important and debilitating parasites for plants. It is possible to control fungi with sprays, but the key is to treat your garden before any problems arise.

TIP! Purchase a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool to use in your garden. Get a portable stool if you want to garden comfortably without damaging your knees.

Be consistent with garden fertilization. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. It is important that you use some sort of fertilizer, although it doesn’t really matter which variety you choose.

TIP! When gardening, don’t use any broad-spectrum pesticides. These pesticides will kill every type of pest in your garden, including beneficial bugs that eat garden pests.

If you have an organic garden and children, plant some everbearing strawberries for them. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.

TIP! Heather can bring you beneficial insects. Bees love heather, and it is a favorite stop when they emerge in early spring.

Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. Dissolve aspirin (1.5 pills per 2 gallons of water) in a bucket and administer to your plants. You can easily spray the plans with this concoction to help them fight of disease. Be sure to repeat this process every two or three weeks.

Pine Needles

TIP! If slugs are an issue in your garden, a beer trap can make them go away. Bury a single glass jar with the open mouth level with your soil in the garden.

Pine needles should not be overlooked as a great source for mulch. Some plants do better in soil with high acidity as they are highly acidic themselves. Use pine needles to increase the acid level in your soil if you have plants that require higher acid. Spread a few inches of pine needles on your organic beds so that it will put the acid into your soil.

TIP! The best option available to water an organic garden are soaker hoses. These hoses let water out slowly at a regular rate.

Over-watering your plants can be harmful, because roots that are drowning in water cannot effectively pull nutrients out of the soil. Check the weather for the next couple of days to see if you actually need to water your plants. Depending on the weather, you might want to skip watering for the day.

TIP! For the best results when gardening, the hole you dig for your plants should be very rustic; think jagged, rough and unappealing. If there are any glazed sides in the hole, it restricts the growth of the roots.

Horticulture is a fun hobby that allows you be more earth friendly. You will be a witness of the growing process of many different plants and understand how a whole ecosystem functions.

TIP! You have probably heard that compost is an advantageous to gardening, but did you ever think about the ingredients. Compost is actually a mixture of grass clippings, wood-chips, leaves, produce scraps, twigs, and straw which all breaks down to “psuedo-soil”.

Spread three inches of organic material on your garden for mulch. Doing this will nourish the soil in your garden and improve its ability to retain moisture. It will also prevent weeds from growing, which will make your garden look neater and more attractive.

TIP! A good gardening tip is to be sure to grow high-value crops. It is true that the amount of value that a certain plant has is different to everyone.

Incorporate shade elements into any organic garden area. Shade gardens don’t require much work at all, which may surprise you. You will also eliminate time and effort by a reduced need for watering your garden. While growth is a bit slower, there are also fewer weeds to remove.

TIP! A great tip for gardeners is mulching. Mulching can also lessen the rate at which water evaporates from the soil, and keep weeds from taking over the garden.

Hopefully this article has taken all of your apprehension about organic horticulture completely out of the equation. With your new-found knowledge, your organic garden is sure to be a success, and you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor in no time!

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.

The Ins And Outs Of The Art Of Gardening

~ craigb

TIP! Properly lay your sod. Before laying sod, you have to make sure the soil is accurately prepared.

Taking the time to use good gardening practices really shows in the end. When you care about plants, they can grow up and be healthy. This is an admirable thing. With anything else you can always improve. Some advice that will be of use to you follows.

TIP! The quick and drastic change in the weather conditions can shock your plants and cause them to die. It’s important that you gradually change temperate conditions over time, so that your plants can adjust.

Plant perennials that slugs and snails won’t be interested in eating. Slugs or snails can kill a plant very quickly. They tend to enjoy perennials that have thin, smooth, tender leaves, especially those of young plants. Perennials with hairy leaves or bitter taste are unattractive to snails and slugs, keeping them safe from harm. Examples of these slug-proof plant varieties include achillea, euphorbia, and helleborus, to name a few.

TIP! Having healthy soil in your garden will help your plants avoid insect pests. Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects.

Beginning your garden with healthy soil is your first defense against pests! Healthier plants are greater in strength and resistance to illness and insects. So give your garden a kick start by beginning with a healthy batch of natural and organic soil.

TIP! Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. A soil analysis is inexpensive and can be used to figure out which nutrients should be added to provide a healthy garden environment.

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! For weeds that aren’t in the middle of your plants, use boiling water to kill their roots. This is a safe way to eliminate weeds, as this will not damage the soil.

Do you enjoy your mint leaves, but can’t stand how they dominate your garden? That’s why it’s better to place mint in containers rather than letting it have free rein in your garden. If you would like, go ahead and plant the container and the plant right in the ground to prevent root overtake.

TIP! You can prevent pests using other plants or natural materials. Slugs who want to enter a vegetable garden, for example, can be repelled by a simple border of marigolds and onions.

Pouring the excess water from your dinner of steamed veggies on them can help. In order to help acidify the soil for plants like gardenias and rhododendrons, you can use coffee and tea grounds. Chamomile tea can be effective if you have problems with fungus in your garden. Simply sprinkle it on the affected plant.

TIP! Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal.

When horticulture outdoors, you must always wear sunscreen and appropriate attire; this will help to protect you from sun damage. Choose hats with overlapping brims, don those sunglasses and smear on the sunscreen. Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays means you are less likely to get sunburned or suffer skin cancer later in life.

TIP! Gardening is a great way to relax. A plethora of paths to individual relaxation and inner peace exist.

Make sure you protect your knees well while you are horticulture. Many people experience back pain and stiffness from bending over and working in the garden for extended amounts of time. You should kneel while tending to your plants for the sake of reducing stress to your spine. You can use knee pads to kneel without the pain.

TIP! Vegetables tend to soften during the hottest part of the day, which means they are easily damaged, even when handled with care. Cut vegetables off at the vine, and don’t twist them off, as this could hurt the plant.

If you’re really serious about environmentally-friendly gardening practices, refrain from developing some of your land and use it as an animal habitat. 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.

TIP! Involve the whole family in your gardening hobby; children find growing things to be very interesting. Children will benefit from the fresh air while bonding with you in your efforts to provide healthier food alternatives for them.

If you’re planning on gardening inside, the first thing you should consider is an adequate light source. If your dwelling does not enjoy a great deal of natural sunlight, it makes sense to grow only those varieties meant to thrive in such environments. If this is not an option, or you have your heart set on a particular type of plant, consider adding additional growing lights instead.

TIP! It is essential to keep your knees protected as you garden. Bending for extended time periods causes pain for many people.

Leave plenty of growing space when you plant your garden. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size. Failure to provide adequate room will restrict growth because it forces plants to compete for valuable nutrients and oxygen. Plan your garden accordingly, and make sure the right distance is between the seeds.

Laundry Basket

TIP! When your seeds sprout, they will not be in need of the warmth they needed to germinate. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

An old laundry basket makes a great way to gather your harvest. The laundry basket will function as a makeshift strainer for the fruits and vegetables. If you hose off your produce in the laundry basket, the water will leave the basket through the holes in the sides.

TIP! Pine is a surprisingly good source of mulch. Acidic soil is a favorite of garden plants that are high in acidity.

If you want to sell your crops, you should become a certified organic gardener. This attracts customers who are willing to drive a little farther and pay a little more for products that are safe and healthy.

TIP! Use a laundry basket to help you collect produce from your garden. An old laundry basket makes an excellent strainer for cleaning your produce.

One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. This is great for the health of your family, but you will still have to regularly check your plants for bugs and pests.

TIP! Keep your compost pile balanced with a combination of dried and green plant mulch. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves.

When setting up an organic garden, plant tomatoes three weeks apart. This staggers your harvest over time. Additionally, if weather or something else ruins one harvest, you still get a second chance to get a good tomato crop.

TIP! Think about using all-natural botanical insecticides in your organic garden; they are very handy when it comes to getting rid of harmful pests. Natural insecticides are often more powerful than ones that have chemicals in them.

Use a soaker hose to water your organic garden. With a soaker hose, you actually help your plants grow to their potential because the water slowly seeps out the hose which helps guide it to the roots, allowing the leaves to remain dry. Compared with sprinklers, a soaker hose wastes less water and is far more convenient to use.

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.

You probably already have the skills, the tools and the products needed to utilize the above tips to create your own thriving organic garden. Good for you! The basic tips provided here will give you a good start in building your own body of knowledge as you work. It is likely that you have gained some valuable insights that you can apply to your organic garden.

Organic Horticulture Advice To Grow The Garden Of Your Dreams

~ craigb

TIP! Try to plan a variety of perennials that are slug-proof. Slugs and snails can decimate a plant in one night.

Gardens are most than just a beautiful backyard decoration! It is not reserved for just a few select green thumbs. Its a way that people can find peace, and feel tranquil. Even better if you’re a good gardener, you can see tremendous effects.

TIP! Use proper soil for the best results. You may need to alter the kind of soil you use based on the types of plants you intend to grow.

If you want to keep your garden free of pests, start with healthy soil! Healthy plants grown in robust and enriched soil have an advantage in fighting pest infestation. For healthy plants, start with healthy soil that is properly amended and free of chemicals in order to avoid salt accumulation.

TIP! Before you plant anything in your garden, have the soil checked. Pay a small fee to have your soil analyzed, and you’ll be glad that you did when you understand what nutrients your soil is lacking.

To grow properly, plants need adequate levels of CO2. Often, plants achieve better growth when they are surrounded by high levels of CO2. Greenhouses provide the best levels of CO2 for plants. It’s best to keep CO2 levels high for the best growth of your plants.

TIP! When autumn has arrived, you must plant everything you want to eat before winter. Try planting your fall veggies, especially leafy greens, inside of a pumpkin! After cutting an opening and removing the meat and seeds from inside the pumpkin, use Wilt-Pruf, sprayed throughout the inside and cut edges, and prevent rot from occurring.

Take all of the weeds out of your landscaping! Weeds and gardens do not mix; they will destroy your garden. A clever way to accomplish this is with the help of some white vinegar. The acid in white vinegar kills weeds. You may also be using plants that need that very same acid. If you’re annoyed with pulling up weeds manually, douse them with a white vinegar solution.

TIP! Be sure your garden is fertilized. Manure can be effective, though you should use products which minimize pathogens.

Make sure you protect any tender deciduous shrubs. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected. The tops should be tied together, and the wigwam should be loosely covered with a sheet or blanket. Doing this is a lot more effective than wrapping up the plant with plastic because it lets air circulate, which could avoid any rotting.

TIP! If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. When the plants are started inside, the seeds will have an easier time germinating.

Do you like mint, but not how they ruin your garden? Instead of planting mint in the ground, confine it to a large pot. The container will keep the roots from spreading throughout you garden, and prevent the mint leaves from sprouting in other areas.

TIP! Learn the ideal times for harvesting your vegetables. Each kind of vegetable should be picked at a specific point for maximum flavor.

Gardening is a great relaxation activity. There are a variety of ways to achieve a state of inner peace. Many find that gardening is a great method for achieving this. The returns are huge for a very minute up front investment cost. Your beautiful lush garden will allow you to reap a harvest of peaceful tranquility.

TIP! You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall.

Vegetables are softer in the heat of the hottest part of the day; even gently picking them at that time can damage them. Cut vegetables to remove them from vines rather than twisting and pulling them. Twisting vegetables off vines damages them.

TIP! Choose one plant and make it the focal point of your garden. There should be a solid focal point for every good garden design.

To create an attractive, quintessentially English garden, you need to use a mixture of different plants that all grow to varying heights in each bed. If you use plants that are all the same size your garden will look flat.

TIP! To attract the right kind of insects, plant heather. Bees like heather, and they get their nectar from it early in the spring.

If you want a sustainable garden, leave a part of it undisturbed for wildlife to enjoy. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

TIP! Are you a parent? If you are, try planting some strawberries like everbearing strawberries in your garden. Children are thrilled to harvest fruit from their own garden, and doing so often makes them more enthusiastic about helping out with the more hum-drum aspects of tending a garden.

The ambient temperate of a room with live plants should be kept between sixty-five and seventy-five degrees throughout the day. Warm temperatures encourage plant growth. If you want to save money on gas bills in the winter, you can provide local heating for the plants with a heat lamp instead.

TIP! Try to put an aspirin in the water to get rid of plant diseases. Dissolve one aspirin and a half for 2 gallons of water.

It can be easy to prepare the soil in a perennial garden. It isn’t as hard as it may seem; you basically just slice down under the turf, flip it over, and spread wood chips four to three inches. Give the area a couple of weeks, then dig into it and plant your new perennials.

TIP! Protecting your knees while gardening is essential. Many people find it difficult to bend over for extended periods of time when standing up.

For the best results, properly prepare your garden for planting. First, you should loosen the soil, and ensure that it is sufficiently moist. Space the seeds at regular intervals to ensure that they won’t be overcrowded as they grow. Bury them 3 times as deep in relation to the seed’s size. Some seeds you won’t have to bury because they need light in order to grow.

TIP! Always completely protect any cuts, or wait until they are healed before attempting any gardening, as this can introduce dirt or chemicals into the wound. A cut will likely become infected if it is exposed to dirt when gardening.

When working in the garden, try to work as efficiently as possible. Don’t waste time searching for lost tools. Prepare them all ahead of time and have them handy before you need to garden, and then put them back in their place when done. You can use a tool belt, or you may want to wear pants with extra pockets.

Green Plant

TIP! Use a beer trap to capture slugs and stop them from eating your plants. Use a glass jar buried in the soil so the rim of the jar is at ground level.

To get the most from your composting efforts, aim for a 1:1 ratio of dried materials and green plant products. Green plant material can include old flowers, fruit waste, grass clippings, vegetable waste, and leaves. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Charcoal, meat, ashes or other diseased plants should not be included in a compost pile.

TIP! If you’re planning on selling crops to people and labeling them as organic, you will need to receive an organic gardening certification. This will result in generating more sales and creating a loyal customer base.

It is a great idea to help your garden by ruffling seedlings, either with cardboard or with your own hands, a couple of times each day. While it might sound strange, research has shown that this method can increase the size of your plants.

TIP! Grow garlic that is organic. Plant individual cloves of garlic in the early spring or fall in moist, well-drained soil.

Get your organic garden certified so you can credibly claim that your crops are organic. Obtaining this certification will give you further credibility as an organic gardener, boosting sales and proving to your customers that you provide only the best.

TIP! Transform your organic garden into a shade garden. You will be happy to learn that gardens of this type are relatively easy to maintain.

It can be hard at times to grow your own organic garden, yet it is so much more rewarding in the end. Chemicals are extremely efficient, but the organic method is the best way to get healthy produce.

TIP! The organic mulch around trees and flowers should be approximately three inches deep. This method is good for the planet, conserves water and can save money all at once.

Use these tips to bring life back to your garden. The joy of watching your plants grow and blossom will make you happy to have tried. Gardening has the potential to change your whole outlook on life, if you let it. So get started today!

Useful Advice For Organic Horticulture

~ craigb

TIP! Digging in hard clay soil is made even more difficult because it sticks to the shovel. To ease the digging, apply some car wax or floor wax to the head of the shovel and buff.

Organic horticulture is a movement that is rapidly gathering satisfied followers. With the advice provided here, you’ll soon be learning how to create your very own organic garden. Use these tricks and tips to get the best results.

TIP! You don’t need expensive chemicals to treat powdery mildew on plants. Plain water with a bit of liquid soap and baking soda will do the trick.

When selecting among several varieties of a plant, choose the ones that will produce the largest 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! If your soil has high alkaline amounts, mix some coffee grounds into it. Using coffee grounds is a less expensive way to make your soil more acidic than trying to replace your topsoil.

Don’t bother with expensive chemicals if your plants start to sport powdery mildew. Mix a bit of liquid soap and some baking soda into water. Spray this on your plants once a week until the mildew disappears. Do not worry about your plants; the baking soda cannot harm them.

TIP! Keep your fragile shrubs protected from the winter weather. If you’ve got tender shrubs which are potted, you need to protect them from cold weather.

Make sure your soil is healthy enough before you start planting anything. A soil analysis report can be acquired for a nominal fee. You can then use the results of that report to determine if the soil needs to be modified before you begin planting. Save yourself the trouble of a failed crop by contacting your local Cooperative Extension to preform the soil test.

TIP! Protect yourself from sun overexposure while gardening by wearing the proper clothing. Make sure you wear a wide brimmed hat along with sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.

A certain amount of CO2 is necessary for plants to maximize their growth potential. In general, higher amounts of CO2 are related to better plant growth. Growing plants in a greenhouse is the best way to contain CO2 for use by your plants. Higher CO2 levels can provide optimal conditions for growing plants.

TIP! Consider planting strawberries, especially ones that are everbearing, for your garden if you have small children. 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.

Stink bugs can damage your garden, especially if you garden in the fall. Stinkbugs are most prevalent on tomatoes, beans and peppers. If left uncontrolled, they can cause substantial damage in your garden, so make plans for how to protect your plants from these pests.

TIP! If you’re growing indoor organic plants, you should ensure that you think about how much light is available for them. Almost every type of plant you grow requires ample sunlight, so think about how much natural light you home receives or if you perhaps need to supplement with UV lamps.

Protect your delicate shrubs from harsh, wintry elements. Shrubs in pots especially need special care in the colder weather. Tie together the tops. Once the canes are snugly together, put a sheet over the wigwam. Using fabric, rather than plastic, allows air circulation and prevents rotting from moisture build up.

TIP! It’s simple to quickly prepare your soil for the planting of a perennial garden. Use your spade in a slicing motion to cut a flap of turf.

Ensuring your plants are both dry and aerated is a great way to keep them healthy. Moisture on the surfaces of your plants is an invitation to pests and illness. A common parasite to plants is fungi. You can rid your garden of fungi with fungicidal sprays. However, it is best to treat your garden before there are problems.

TIP! After seeds have sprouted, they require less warmth than they did prior to sprouting. After growth begins, you can remove plants from any excessive heat sources.

If you are going to grow peas, start them inside rather then planting them outdoors. Install your plants inside and wait for the seeds to germinate. The seedlings will also be heartier, which means they can resist pests and diseases better. After the seedlings have grown strong indoors, it will be time for you to transplant them to outdoor beds.

TIP! Spend your time working efficiently in your organic garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need.

If you have a vegetable garden, it can be quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. One major benefit of growing your own produce is knowing that they haven’t been treated with pesticides and other harsh chemicals. One way that you can help control garden pests is to remain vigilant. If you discover the pests when they first infest your plants, the best way to remove them is to pick them off manually.

TIP! 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%.

You should protect the knees if you are kneeling in the garden. Bending over from a standing position is something many people cannot do. Concentrate on kneeling. This will still make it easy to reach plants as well as minimize back stress. You can buy a knee pad, put it on the ground and kneel on it so that you wont have to deal with knee pain.

TIP! In order to construct your raised beds, make use of untreated brick, stone, wood and other materials. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

When you are cultivating an organic garden inside, you should think about the lighting situation. If your residential space has limited sunlight, it will be best that you grow plants that are ideal for this type of environment. If you cannot achieve success merely through plant selection, consider using artificial light sources.

TIP! Know what you can and cannot use in your organic garden. Try using organic substitutes for the typical chemical fertilizers.

As your seeds sprout, they require less warmth than before. It’s important to move the plants away from any heat source as they grow larger. Take any plastic film off of your containers because they hold in heat and humidity. Monitor the seeds carefully so you know the best time to do it.

TIP! Open your imagination as to what type of plants you would like to plant into your organic garden. Mulch is something that you will likely rely on quite heavily, particularly for acid-loving plants.

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. This will be like a strainer for all your produce. Just rinse the produce right in the basket; the water will drain through the holes.

Green Plant

TIP! Plant trees on your property in such a way as to maximize the amount of shade they provide your house. Your home will benefit from natural shade and so will your utility bill.

Your compost pile should contain green plant materials and dry plant materials. Green plant material can include items such as leftover produce waste, grass clippings and leaves. Dried plant matter, on the other hand, includes shredded paper, used wood chips and straw. Avoid using ashes, charcoal, diseased plants and meat-eating animal manure.

TIP! Add fruit peels and leftover pieces of fruits to your compost pile. The leftover bits from your kitchen make a great compost material that is virtually free and give your plants important nutrients.

You can find a lot of information on how to keep any unwanted pests away by researching local botanical insecticides. Sometimes natural insecticides are more efficient than the synthetic pesticides you can buy. The distinguishing factor of botanical varieties is that they will decay much more quickly and will be eliminated from your environment faster.

TIP! Plant garlic all around your garden to deter most determined pests. The smell is unpleasant for many kinds of insects.

When setting up an organic garden, plant tomatoes three weeks apart. This allows your harvest to grow in stages. Additionally, if one crop is damaged in some way, you will still have more to look forward to.

TIP! Make a tent over your organic garden during the winter by using some materials around your home. Take a few bean poles and place them at the corners of your plant beds.

You just have to be patient if you want to get your organic garden into tip top shape. Apply the tips and techniques from this article to your efforts, and witness for yourself just how awesome your horticulture can be. Just remember to apply these tips as you have read them and your garden should do just fine.

Build A Beautiful Organic Garden With These Tips

~ craigb

TIP! To prevent your plants from getting shocked by a big change, get them gradually used to climate and temperature changes. Put them out in the sun for approximately one to two hours on the very first day.

There are a number of methods available that will allow you to create your own thriving, healthy organic garden. Just learn some techniques, and put the ones that resonate with you into practice.

TIP! Create useful rulers from your tool handles. Tools with long handles such as hoes and rakes can double as measuring sticks.

Bulbs planted in the spring can flower all the way into summer. Bulbs are usually very hearty and very easy to grow, and bulbs will grow year after year. Specific types of bulbs usually bloom at specific times of the season, so if you make appropriate selections, you can be rewarded with blooms from the early part of spring to the later part of summer.

TIP! When planting perennials, seek out those that are resistant to slugs. These creatures can wreak havoc on a garden in a short time.

Grow some wheat grass or catnip for your cat to eat instead. Another option is to protect your plants by lacing them with offensive entities, such as peels from citrus fruit or even moth balls from your closet.

Knee Pads

TIP! Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Typically, bulbs are simple to grow, and they’ll grow every single year.

If you have a lot of low-growing plants to take care of in your garden, purchase horticulture knee pads. Long hours tending your garden can leave your knees sore and achy. Investing in good knee pads will help cushion your knees so you are more comfortable.

TIP! Do not mow your lawn too short. Keeping grass with a little more height makes it healthier.

Instead of leaving clumps of irises intact, divide them so that your flowers can grow in a more healthy manner. Overgrown clumps of irises can be divided up to increase your numbers of this lovely flower. If you find any dead irises in your garden, immediately pull up the bulbs. The bulbs should split naturally, and the replanted bulbs will usually flower within a year. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. Throw away the center after carefully cutting new sprouts from the exterior. Every piece should contain a strong offshoot. Plant immediately.

TIP! Sometimes the soil you want to use for your garden has a high alkaline content. Combine coffee grounds with the soil to reduce this.

See to it that you fertilize your garden. Manure can help grow plants, but to eliminate risk of pathogens, try using a type of commercially composted product. Of all the fertilizing options available, it doesn’t really matter which one you choose as long as you use something.

TIP! A set of knee pads is a great investment if your garden has a lot of low-growing plants. Excessive time spent kneeling often results in significant stiffness and pain.

In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. A border of marigolds or onions around your veggies can prevent slugs. Wood ash, when used as mulch, can help keep insects away from trees and shrubs. You can avoid using pesticides that contain harsh chemicals if you employ these techniques.

TIP! In order to rid your garden of pests, take advantage of plant materials and other organic matter. A border of marigolds or onions around your veggies can prevent slugs.

If you want to grow peas, consider starting them indoors instead of planting them outside. If you give them a chance to grow indoors where they are protected, they will germinate better. The seedling sprouts will be heartier, giving them a better chance to grow into a healthy adult plant capable of rebuffing diseases. Once they grow a bit bigger, the seedlings can be easily transplanted to an outdoor garden.

Pectrum Pesticides

TIP! Think about putting some berry-producing evergreens into your landscape. These evergreens will color your lawn, even when other flowers are not blooming.

Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides for your garden. It’s true these pesticides kill the pests you don’t want, but they also lay waste to the advantageous insects that make those same pests a regular meal. Bugs that provide a benefit to your garden are more easily killed by these broad-spectrum pesticides, you may simply end up with a bigger pest problem. As a result, gardeners often have to resort to using more toxic pesticides to get rid of garden pests.

TIP! To make a creative English garden, include many different kinds of plants and vary their height in the same garden bed. If you use a combination of plants that grow to the same height, your garden bed will be uniform and dull looking.

If you have an organic garden and children, plant some everbearing strawberries for them. 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.

TIP! Be sure to plant some strawberries for your children and grandchildren. Ever-bearing ones are especially nice.

For the best results, properly prepare your garden for planting. A key first step is to add moisture to your soil. Then you want to spread your seeds evenly while making sure that they have enough room to grow. Multiply the size of each seed by three and bury the seed that deep. There are some varieties of seed that are not planted underground since they require light to grow.

TIP! If you want to start a small organic garden indoors, evaluate the amount of natural light that is present. If you live in a home or apartment that does not get great sunlight you may want to consider growing plants that are designed to grow in low or medium-light environments.

Spacing is one of the primary considerations when planning an organic garden. It is easy to underestimate the amount of space that the plants will take up once they start to grow. Space is necessary for the plants, but air circulation is also important. Try to plan your garden and place sufficient distance in between your seedlings.

Property Value

TIP! When choosing plants, dig a little deeper. Evaluate each tomato and check for green starts, as they generally have bad root systems that impede growth.

Enhance your property value and beauty with gardening and landscaping. One of the best things you can do to increase property value is to have proper landscaping. Investing in the right plants could raise the resale value of your property by at least 20%. Get plants for your yard and garden that are low moisture, and well suited to your environmental conditions.

TIP! Build a garden full of diversity. Wildlife will be drawn to the multiple species of plants that you incorporate into your garden.

Tend your organic garden on a regular schedule. Sometimes it might prove difficult to get in a little horticulture time every day. However, you shouldn’t fret, as there are a few things you can do that can minimize the time you spend horticulture when you do manage to get to it. For example, if you have a dog, pull a few weeds while you are outdoors with the dog. Over time, you keep your garden weed free without adding any additional time on to your day.

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

Old laundry baskets are handy tools at harvest time. The basket strains the produce as well as stores it while you are going through your garden. Rinse off your produce while it’s in the laundry basket, and any excess water will be strained out through the basket’s holes.

Horticulture is within everybody’s reach, but you will only make the most of your gardening experience with knowledge. Make sure to use these organic tips.