organic gardener

Horticulture Advice For A Luscious, Healthy Garden

~ craigb

TIP! Healthy soil will be your best defense against the pests that can invade your garden. If you have healthy looking plants, they are stronger and more resistant to diseases and bugs.

In the world of organic horticulture, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced organic gardeners alike. There are many e-guides, books, videos, and other resources available. This set of tips contains some of the best advice for helping a good organic gardener become a great organic gardener.

TIP! Plant bulbs in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Bulbs will grow every year and are easier to take care of than seeds.

Transform the handles of your tools into convenient measuring devices. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, shovels or hoes can work as great measuring sticks. 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. Paying close attention to the measurements, use a black marker to establish each interval along the handle’s side in a clearly visible manner. This modified ruler will serve you well as you begin working in your garden.

TIP! If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. This affordable trick will give back the acid that your dirt requires.

Try to plan a variety of perennials that are slug-proof. It is alarming to see how quickly slugs, and their cousin snails, can annihilate a plant. They often enjoy feeding on perennials with very smooth and tender leaves. Young plants are a special favorite of theirs. There are, however, certain types of perennials that slugs and snails hate. Most of these varieties either have tough leaves or taste unappealing. Examples of these slug-proof plant varieties include achillea, euphorbia, and helleborus, to name a few.

TIP! As the weather turns colder, it is important to prepare your sensitive shrubs for the change. Shrubs that are planted in containers are especially susceptible to frost and must be carefully protected.

Biennials and annuals are great if you would like to better your flower bed. 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. In addition, they work well as gap fillers between other areas, as long as those areas receive plenty of sunlight. Some of these that you might consider are petunias, marigolds and sunflowers. If those are not flowers you like, you can also try cosmos, holyhocks or rudbeckias.

TIP! Do some research to find out the best time for harvesting your vegetables. Each veggie has its own prime time for harvesting.

Keep your plants thriving through the winter by bringing them inside. Perhaps save the most resistant or expensive plants. When you dig up the plant, carefully avoid the roots then place it in a container.

TIP! If you have a problem with your dog disturbing your garden, you can repel him by spraying perfume or other scents on the grass near the edge. Using this will cover up the odors that your dog likes and will cut down on the intrigue of your landscaping for your furry friend.

Choose the right soil for best results. Depending on what kind of plants you want in your garden, the soil might or might not be adapted. You can also make an artificial area with one variety of soil.

TIP! It’s important to let your cuts heal prior to doing any gardening without gloves. A cut can become infected if dirt is allowed to enter the cut while gardening.

Plants need C02 for maximum growth. When exposed to high levels of CO2, most types of plants will grow better. The best way to obtain a saturated level of carbon dioxide (CO2) is to use a greenhouse. To maximize your plants’ growth, make sure to monitor these levels to ensure they’re adequate.

TIP! When growing indoor plants, the thermostat should be set between 65-75 degrees throughout the day. This is the optimum temperature to ensure strong growth.

The approach of fall means you need to start planting autumn goodies. A hollowed out pumpkin can become a festive container for kale and lettuce. Scoop the insides out of the pumpkin, and don’t forget to spray the inside with Wilt-Pruf. This will prevent your pumpkin from rotting. Once you have completed this, start planting!

TIP! Use this simple tip to get your perennial garden ready in a flash. Take your spade and work up a thin layer of soil.

You must protect tender, deciduous shrubs. Any potted shrubs should be sheltered in the winter from cold weather. Tie the tops tightly together, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped loosely over it. Covering your foliage in plastic will let the air in – and may lead to decay.

TIP! You need to make sure you are very efficient when working in your organic garden. You do not have the time to spend an hour looking for each tool you need.

Think about adding some berry-producing evergreens to your landscaping. Your yard will then have bright spots of color all year round, which is especially cheerful in the winter when all of your other flora is bare or colorless. These plants come in several different varieties, including the Winterberry, American Holly, Cranberrybush, and Common Snowberry.

TIP! 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. It may sound a little odd to do this, but there is actually proven research that shows this helps the plants grow.

Buy a wheelbarrow and kneeling stool to work with in the garden. Spending lots of time close to the ground while working tends to be hard on your knees, that is why it is important to have a portable and lightweight garden stool that you can use for comfort. Gardening involves moving heavy objects and dirt, so a wheelbarrow makes for a wise investment.

TIP! If you are building a raised bed utilize stone, brick or wood that is untreated. Be sure to use wood that is naturally resistant to rotting and that has not been treated.

Include your kids in growing an organic garden. 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! Organic gardening is harder than relying on chemicals, but the results are worth it. While chemical companies may make astounding claims about their products, growing organically is the most rewarding option for you and those who consume your crops.

If you have plants inside, make sure the thermostat stays between 65 and 75 degrees. The plants need this temperature in order to effectively 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.

Plastic bags are great to cover horticulture shoes when they get muddy. Doing this prevents lengthy work interruptions, and allows you to finish the job quickly.

TIP! One of the best parts about using foods that are organic or from organic gardens is that they do not have any type of pesticides used on them. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. Knowing how much to water your plants can be a difficult task. You will want to look into various things, such as time of day, quality of water and type of soil. In warm climates with high humidity, for instance, plants often develop fungal infections when water is applied to the leaves. A better method is to water the root system only.

Botanical Pesticides

TIP! Use the leaves you rake out of your yard as an organic compost to mix with your soil. When the leaves decompose, they are broken down into a nourishing, rich compost that plants love.

Botanical pesticides that are from your local area can be incredibly effective on pests. Under certain conditions, organic pesticides can outperform chemical products in effectiveness and safety. However, botanical pesticides rot rather quickly and tend to disappear.

TIP! Make new plants by using root cuttings. Cut roots in the winter when they’re dormant.

These tips are intended to help you become an excellent organic gardener. There is a lot of information to be had and you need to know how to apply it. If you remember these tips, you can make the most of organic horticulture methods.

Discover Useful Techniques For Growing An Organic Garden

~ craigb

TIP! A garden with a foundation of healthy soil is the best defense against pests. Healthy plants are stronger and more able to resist both pests and disease.

Organic gardening requires a green thumb and a lot of patience. This pastime should yield amazing and healthy foods, free of pesticides and other chemicals found in store bought produce. Does this seem to be easier said than done? The following hints and tips can help you grow your own organic garden easily and successfully.

When choosing plants, pick those that produce a high yield. Many times, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid can have a higher yield versus traditional ones.

TIP! Vegetables should be placed in a spot in your garden that will get about six hours of sun every day. Most vegetables need this amount of sunlight to grow the right way at a faster pace.

While working in your garden during the fall season, watch out for those stink bugs! These bugs like to eat beans, peppers, tomatoes, and many kinds of fruits. Decrease their presence as much as possible to avoid them wreaking havoc in your garden.

TIP! If the soil in your garden has a high concentration of alkaline, try mixing some coffee grounds into your garden’s soil. This is a great and cheap way to increase the acid levels in your dirt.

When fall arrives, it’s time to plant your autumn vegetables. Try using a pumpkin as a natural plant pot. You can plant fall vegetables such as lettuce in an empty pumpkin shell. 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. When you finish this, you can plant!

TIP! Think about adding some berry-producing evergreens to your landscaping. They offer terrific color during the dreariest times of the year when nothing else you have planted has any hue remaining.

When you go to mow your lawn, make sure you don’t mow it too closely to the ground. If you leave a bit more height, the grass roots will get deeper, making your lawn stronger. Short grass leads to more shallow roots and will result in more brown, dried-out patches.

TIP! Don’t count the fall season out. However, you can still maintain your gardening hobby throughout the fall months.

Irises should be divided. If you split up clumps of them, you will eventually have more of this flower. When the foliage dies, take the bulbous irises and lift them. They will literally split in your hand, flowering the next year after replanting. Rhizomes should be divided using a knife. Discard the center and cut pieces from the exterior. Each piece should have at least one strong offshoot. Replant immediately.

TIP! Gardening can be a relaxing hobby. You may be aware of various ways to find peaceful relaxation.

Fertilizing is an important step in preparing your garden soil. Manure is probably the best fertilizer. Choose a commercial product to reduce the risks of pathogen exposure. There are many fertilizer options available, though in reality, whatever type you choose will do the job as long as you are using something.

TIP! For visual interest, make one plant a focal point of your garden. There should be a solid focal point for every good garden design.

Place organic mulch as close to your vegetables as you can. The mulch will help keep the soil moist for longer periods of time. This method will also prevent weeds. This could save you lots of weed-pulling time.

TIP! When growing plants inside of the house, you should ensure the thermostat is set at around 65-75 degrees in the daytime. It is important for them to be kept in this temperature range if they are to grow properly.

If you want the best tasting vegetables, learn about the optimum time to harvest them. Every vegetable has a proper time to be picked in order to capture the perfect flavor. Baby peas, for example have much better flavor if they are harvested early in the ripening process, as does zucchini. Tomatoes, though, are tastiest when they have been allowed to ripen on the vine as long as possible. You should know the proper time to pick vegetables.

TIP! Take your time when planting seeds. You should start by moisturizing the soil.

You don’t have to plant just for spring and summer. Consider what are often beautiful colors in the fall. That doesn’t have to be way it is though! In the fall, the foliage displays every color of the rainbow. You can find beautiful maple and beech trees in many different fall colors. When you choose shrubbery, try hydrangea, barberry, or cotoneaster.

TIP! As the seeds sprout, they’ll need less warmth. Move your plants further away from your heat source as they grow.

Choose a plant as a focal point. When you design your garden, think of a great focal point that will grab attention and add interest. A perfect example of a focal point is using a plant that doesn’t bear any resemblance to those that surround it.

TIP! Coffee grounds can benefit many types of soil. Coffee grounds have nitrogen that plants will utilize.

When horticulture, remember to take care of your knees! Not everyone has the ability to remain standing in a bent position for an extended time. To get down to plant level without pain, try kneeling instead. For extra comfort, purchase a knee pad for use as a cushion between your knees and the ground.

Organic Garden

TIP! Be careful with the amount of water that you’re giving your plants when gardening. Roots need to draw in nutrients via the soil, and they cannot do this if they’re flooded with water.

One way to create a great organic garden is to allow for a portion of your yard to be undeveloped for wildlife. Most likely, you will find your organic garden producing better once your property is home to the insects, birds, and other wildlife that plants rely on for pollination and the production and dispersal of seeds.

TIP! One of the biggest benefits from eating food that is organically grown is the absence of pesticides. Though this is certainly a great thing for the health of your loved ones, it is important to watch for additional pests and insects that may be present.

Space is important to remember when planting an organic garden. Many people underestimate the space needed for plants to grow to their full size. You will need to provide this space to provide ample room and because you need air circulating to your garden. If necessary, use a ruler to measure the distance between each plant.

TIP! Make sure your garden has biodiversity. The more varieties of plants that are around, the more wildlife will be around.

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. While you are with your pet outside, pull some weeds while the pet does its business.

TIP! There are many plant kinds you may grow in an organic garden. Acid-loving plants really like mulch.

Use equal parts dried and green plant material for your own compost. Green plant material consists of spent flowers, veggie and fruit waste, leaves, weeds, and grass clippings. 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! Keep the soil healthy for optimum plant health so they can combat disease, and even destruction caused by insects. Although insects will likely still remain, they won’t have the ability to cause great damage to the plants.

Water demands from plants will depend on the season and the climate in your area. Depending upon whether it is morning, noon or night, the chemical composition of your local water supply and soil type may determine your water usage needs. An example would be that if you live in a humid and warm climate, then you’ll want to avoid watering the plant’s leaves as this will cause fungus to grow on your plants. Rather, see to it that you water the root system well.

TIP! It is economically smart to focus your gardening efforts on crops that would cost you more to buy at the supermarket. The worth of a plant is not an objective thing.

If you are wanting to create a new flower bed for your perennials, you just have to follow a few steps. Lift the top layer of turf with your spade, flip it, then cover the exposed soil with three or more inches of mulch. Wait a few weeks and then plant your perennials into the brand new bed.

TIP! A number of houseplants need to be repotted, while others are not happy about their roots being tinkered with. It’s simple to check the plants that need re-potted.

An organic gardener enjoys the benefits of working with nature, producing wonderful food through hard work and patience. It is a hobby that uses the land to grow something delicious. All it takes is a little studying and practice to become a successful organic gardener.